LONDON: Red Mercury Day was celebrated globally as a way to draw attention to the plight of persecuted Christians around the world and to express solidarity with those persecuted for their faith in Jesus. Yesterday (Nov. 27), many buildings, including churches, schools, colleges, bridges, and government buildings in various countries were painted a symbol of Christian martyrdom. Red Mercury Day was organized by the Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN). This year’s Red Mercury Day celebration received a positive response globally.
On Wednesday, November 27, most of the world’s major buildings were lit up in red, urging the people of the world to show greater respect and tolerance for religious minorities. From the Westminster Cathedral in London, the parishes, churches and educational institutions of the Philippines glowed red with their brothers and sisters who were being persecuted around the world. Special rituals were held in many churches across the country in celebration of Red Wednesday.
Many people took part in the march which started from London’s Parliament Square at 6 pm as part of the Westminster Diocese’s red Wednesday celebration. Britain’s major buildings, such as the Blackburn Anglican Cathedral in Lancashire, the Church of St. Clair, the Coptic Orthodox Cathedral in London and the Foreign Office in London, all glowed red. Important buildings and shrines in European countries such as Scotland, Hungary, the Netherlands, Portugal, and the Czech Republic became part of this year’s Red Wednesday observance.
Nearly 2,000 schools, churches and parishes are active in the Red Wednesday Day celebration this year, including Manila Cathedral of the Philippines and De La Salle University. In 2016, the Pontifical charity ACN hosted the first Red Wednesday Day celebration. According to ACN, Christians are the most persecuted group in the world.
