Prague’s Žižkov Tower to glow red for religious freedom on Nov. 25

Prague’s Žižkov Television Tower will join churches, synagogues and prayer houses across Czechia in turning red on Wednesday, Nov. 25, to highlight persecution and discrimination linked to religious belief.

The ninth Czech edition of Red Wednesday will include a conference at Charles University’s historic Karolinum, followed by a candlelight procession through central Prague and a benefit concert.

The event is organized jointly by the Czech Bishops’ Conference, the Ecumenical Council of Churches and the Federation of Jewish Communities, bringing together different religious communities in support of freedom of belief.

This year’s theme is “Stand up for faith and freedom of religion.” The red illumination symbolizes the blood of people who suffer because of their faith.

“Red Wednesday reminds us of their individual stories and also calls on us to stand up publicly for freedom of religion,” said Roman Czudek, secretary-general of the Czech Bishops’ Conference.

In Prague, the afternoon conference, titled Freedom of Religion in Uncertain Times, will take place at Karolinum.

Prague Archbishop Stanislav Přibyl, Rabbi David Maxa and Pavel Pokorný, the senior representative of the Evangelical Church of Czech Brethren, will lead a joint prayer.

Participants will then walk with candles from Karolinum to the Church of St. Gall, known in Czech as kostel svatého Havla, where a benefit concert will follow.

The Žižkov Television Tower will provide a prominent addition to the buildings illuminated for the occasion. Elsewhere, participating communities will mark the day through lighting, prayer and candlelit gatherings.

Nearly 150 institutions participated in last year’s Czech event. As of Nov. 9, the organizers’ online map listed approximately 60 locations for this year, with registration still open.

Parishes, congregations, Jewish communities, schools, municipalities and individuals can take part. Participation can be as simple as lighting a candle, arranging a shared prayer or illuminating a building in red.

The website provides a way to follow participating locations as more organizations confirm their plans.

The Czech event also forms part of a wider international effort to draw attention to religious persecution. Aid to the Church in Need is organizing its separate Red Week campaign from Nov. 15 to 22.

According to the organization, approximately 413 million Christians live in countries where religious freedom is seriously violated, including around 220 million directly exposed to persecution.

The Czech initiative addresses people facing discrimination, violence or persecution because of their faith across religious communities. This year’s edition has the patronage of President Petr Pavel and Charles University Rector Jiří Zima.