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The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania organised the National Prayer Breakfast in Vilnius on 27 November. Participants of the event titled “Does religion cause conflict and war?” discussed the role of spiritual values in everyday lives of people and society, today’s threats, mutual understanding and the importance of values.

In his speech, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Linas Linkevičius underlined the importance of values and joint action by representatives of all faith groups to combat manifestations of evil in today’s world.

“We must think what kind of world we shall create, if we allow interests to displace values and take no decisive action in response to the greatest offense – massacre under false pretences of a religious belief. We are approaching a decisive phase where our inaction can lead to the clash of civilizations and religious wars. However, I believe that we can and should seek unity, hear each other out and show solidarity in the face of evil,” said Lithuania’s Foreign Minister.

“Every major religion of the world teaches peace, respect for human rights and about loving your neighbour. Following these values, all people of good will, all nations must take joint action to combat terrorism, to prevent from cynically pursuing self-interest, address other challenges of today’s world,” said Linkevičius.

During the invocation, the Archbishop of Kaunas Lionginas Virbalas stressed that, all around the world, many people faced threats, so it was important to bring peace and understanding.

In their speeches, the Archbishop of Vilnius Gintaras Grušas, the Imam of the main mosque of the French city of Bordeaux and Rabbi Levi Matusof from Paris noted that there were many signs of fear and anxiety, manifestations of evil in the modern world, but religion, faith, a better understanding of one another and a sense of community was the force that could overcome all evil.

The 15th National Prayer Breakfast was attended by the Speaker of the Seimas (Parliament) of Lithuania Loreta Graužinienė, the Chairman of the Reconstituent Seimas, Prof Vytautas Landsbergis, Deputy Speaker of the Seimas Gediminas Kirkilas, Lithuania’s opposition leader Andrius Kubilius, members of the Seimas, leaders of Lithuanian religious communities, Ambassadors of foreign countries, representatives of business communities, culture, the academic world, and other guests.

The first National Prayer Breakfast in Lithuania took place in 2001. Since then the National Prayer Breakfast has become a yearly tradition. The National Prayer Breakfast has been organised by the Office of the President, the Ministry of National Defence and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania.

The tradition of the National Prayer Breakfast began in the middle decades of the 20th century in response to new challenges. The concept of the event began in the 1940s when members of the U.S. Congress began to meet informally to study Jesus Christ and his teachings. The results of these meetings moved the Congress to start the National Prayer Breakfast and invite the President to the event. The first National Prayer Breakfast in the United States of America took place in 1953.