Dozens of churches to be lit up to remember persecuted Christians

15th November 2024

Persecuted Christians worldwide will be remembered next Wednesday as dozens of churches across Ireland will be lit up in red in an event organised by Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) Ireland.

A 32-foot statue  of St Patricks on Slieve Patrick will also be lit up as part of the “Week of Witness”. The highlight of the week is ‘Red Wednesday’.

Michael Kelly, Director of Public Affairs, told Crux, “lighting the statue of Patrick is particularly important, given that from St Patrick a great nation of saints and scholars around and brought Catholicism all over the world.”

“And it was also to Patrick where the Irish turned during times of religious persecution to strengthen our resolve to cling to the faith that Patrick brought to us,” he added.

ACN supports 6,000 vulnerable Christian communities in 140 countries.

The charity says red is the traditional colour of martyrdom, and highlights the fact that one in seven Christians in the world live in an environment where they are persecuted or discriminated against because of their faith.