Long night of the churches: bell ringing heralds opportunities and hope!

Long night of the churches: bell ringing heralds opportunities and hope!

On May 23, 2025, the "Long Night of the Churches" began at 6 p.m. with a festive bells across Austria. Around 700 churches opened their doors and offered around 3,000 program points. The diverse program that is supported in all Austrian dioceses extends from services to lectures to musical performances and culinary offers. The event takes place not only in Austria, but also at the same time in eleven cantons in Switzerland, South Tyrol and in the Czech Republic. In the Czech Republic, over 1,600 churches with around 4,000 events take part, while around 2,000 offers and around 100 events are available in Switzerland.

This year's motto "We can #Offen" addresses the opening of the churches and the central element hope, which is visible in the different program items. This event has also recorded around 300,000 visitors in recent years; A similar number is expected for this year. The extensive offer ranges from music, prayer and artistic installations to discussion events that deal with current topics such as peace, physical and mental health and social issues. Project manager Markus Pories emphasizes the essential role of prayer as a source of hope.

a strong sign for community

The "Long Night of the Churches" is more than just an event; It is an expression of the common faith and the social responsibility of the churches in Austria. The participating churches actively contribute to the cultural and spiritual landscape of the country, which is also evident in their legal status as corporations public law, enjoy the recognized churches and religious societies in Austria

Overall, the event not only brings together religious people, but also creates a space for dialogue and exchange. It enables visitors to see the church in a new light and to discover different facets of faith and community.

variety of religious communities

In Austria, many recognized churches and religious societies are active, all of which have different roots and rights. For example, the Catholic Church, based on the concordat with the Holy Stuhl, has a special status, while the Evangelical Church, the Orthodox communities and various Islamic and Jewish religious communities also enjoy recognition. This diversity contributes to cultural brown and social dialogue in Austria.