The Octave of Prayer for Christian Unity begins tomorrow, January 18, and ends on January 25. The custom was originated by two Anglican priests who advocated corporate reunion with Rome. Of late, the Octave has developed into a more general form of prayer for the reunion of Christendom, Catholic, Protestant and Orthodox. You can read more about the history of the Octave here, and about the founders of the Octave here.
I’ve often wondered what ecumenically-minded Eastern Orthodox might do during the Octave, especially now that it’s no longer merely a Roman Catholic or Anglo-Papalist custom. Most of the orders of prayer I’ve seen are really unsuitable for Orthodox use, both the older form (reflective of pre-Vatican II Roman Catholic ecclesiology) and the newer forms (far too contemporary, not reflective enough of Eastern liturgical ethos and piety, and probably a bit more broadly ecumenical than most Orthodox would be comfortable with).
The website Ancient and Future Catholics presents a version of the Octave primarily devoted to the intention of Orthodox-Catholic unity, but with a secondary focus on the unity of all Christians and the conversion of non-Christians.
We believe the best way to achieve unity between Orthodox and Catholics is twofold: prayer and mutual understanding. This is also how we will accomplish greater unity with our Protestant brothers and sisters. On Ancient and Future Catholics we have always worked towards mutual understanding and now we want to make prayer for visible unity another primary focus. What better way to achieve that goal than to start with the octave of Christian unity? We have several suggestions for these 8 days. The first obvious activity is prayer. Each day we will post prayer suggestions, but above all, we must pray for visible unity between the Orthodox and Catholic Churches, and with other churches as well. Secondly, we will provide a reading from both Eastern and Western Christian writers. This purpose is to help each side become more acquainted with the riches involved in the Western and Eastern heritage. This will also include liturgical texts. Finally, we will give practical suggestions for better relations with individual Orthodox and Catholics, principles which apply also to our relationships with Protestants. Although we are primarily focusing on Catholic-Orthodox relations, our secondary focus will be prayer for the unity of all Christians and the conversion of non-Christians. This effort is not officially associated with any diocese or parish and we are loyal to the Magisterium and our bishops. We are simply laymen trying to live out our faith.
I particularly like the patristic readings assigned for each day. I’d imagine that this form of the devotion would be more accessible to the Orthodox, although, again, it would be better to have a form more reflective of Eastern ethos and piety (I wonder if the various families of Eastern Catholics have a form of prayer for the Octave?).
Cathedra Unitatis 
this is exactly why you should continue maintaining this site.
I had never heard of this before. I know our Metropolitan has an annual prayer service with Bishop Adamec of Altoona and somebody from the Lutheran Church. There was also a recent service held jointly with Metropolitan Basil of the BCC to commemorate the Dar Mine disaster.
I am a long-time reader of your blog, but this is my first time as a contributor to the “comments” section.
I am an Orthodox Christian who at the beginning had the same kind of questions you raised here. I now serve as a subdeacon in a Western Orthodox parish in Whittier under the Antiochian archdiocese. My priest, Fr. Michael Trigg (+RIP) was very understanding during that period in my life, and offered much encouragement, prayer and spiritual counsel. I also got to meet a great number of very godly RC priests, monks and laity who gave me the same advice: Unless you are 100% sure that Rome’s claims of primacy are true, stay where you’re at. The truth demands a response from us, and since I in the end could not agree to Rome’s claims, I stayed put, and have not looked back.
Like you, I ave the greatest amount of love and respect for some of the godly men who have served on the chair of Peter, Pope John Paul the Great being one of them. When the Cardinal Subdeacon announced “Habemus Papam” and disclosed to the world that Cardinal Ratzinger, would from hanceforward be known as Pope Benedict XVI, I prayed a Te Deum on the spot. I continue to respect him and pray for him in his ministry. I too do not buy into tall the venom that we hear from the Orthodox blogosphere, which I chaulk up to “idle talk.”
I hope you will continue this blog as a forum for thoughtful Orthodox and Roman Catholics to continue this important conversation, which needs to go on. There is a plethora of blogs that do nothing but shoot venom. We need to discuss the issues that divide the Roman Catholic and Orthodox communions, but with charity and humility, not hatred and mutual recriminations that do nothing but fuel pur pride and the passions. Your blog, I think, facilitates this ongoing discussion in charity.
But saying that, I too came to the conclusion that that by the end of the day, it is in the Orthodox Church where the true Church of Christ subsists, as the Church that Christ founded. I say this in fear and trembling, knowing what burden this places on me and my commitments.
At the same time, I pray for the Holy Father and the churches under his authority. I pray for a closer bond of love between the two communions.
May the Holy Trinity bless you, and may the intercessions of the Holy Mother of God, the Panaghia, bring you joy, peace, and a full and holy life.
Pax tecum
Thomas