Long Night of the Churches: Memorial concert for peace and remembrance

Long Night of the Churches: Memorial concert for peace and remembrance

The “Long Night of the Churches” took place in Austria on June 2, 2025, an outstanding event that was particularly marked by remembrance this year. The Breitenwaida parish was actively involved in the event and organized a memorial concert that commemorated the 80th anniversary of the end of the war. Under the title “Your death should remind us of peace,” the event was opened by Pastor Michael Wagner, who invited visitors to commemorate the late historian Ernst Bezemek. Bezemek played a key role in planning the event, but was no longer able to experience it himself, which gave the evening a particularly emotional note.

Wagner reminded those present that this evening was not just a concert, but also an opportunity to reflect on the past. A total of around 700 churches and church institutions in Austria took part in the “Long Night of the Churches”. The motto of this year's event was "we can #open", which emphasized openness to encounters, critical questions and new perspectives.

Cultural diversity and musical highlights

The program for the “Long Night of the Churches” was rich and varied. In addition to the memorial concert in Breitenwaida, there were a variety of activities in Vienna, ranging from cabaret to prayers for peace. The Viennese cabaret artist Gunkl organized the events in a humorous way, while readings by well-known personalities took place at other locations. Internationally, the event was celebrated in a similar way, demonstrating the successful spread of the format to countries such as the Czech Republic and Hungary.

The visitors were offered a wide range of music. Over 300 concerts took place in Vienna, covering different musical styles and thus offering a rich sound experience. The commemorative year marking the 80th end of the Second World War gave many of these events a special thematic depth and meaning.

Family-friendly activities and social dialogue

There was also an extensive children's program for younger visitors, which included plays, treasure hunts and puzzle rallies. These activities promoted not only learning, but also the shared experience of traditions and values. This also strengthened social cohesion and created space for dialogue.

Overall, the “Long Night of the Churches” stands for an inclusive and diverse design of faith and community experiences. The broad participation from all nine Austrian federal states shows how important such events are for local and national identity. The content and the decision to dedicate the evening to remembrance and peace give the event an additional dimension and lasting value.

For further information about the event and the various program items, you can download the article noen.at and the details of the “Long Night of the Churches”. courier.at read up.