The XVII. NAPS International Ecumenical Concert 2025
The concert was performed at the Slovak Philharmonic in Bratislava with the participation of ambassadors and diplomats from 18 countries.
The charitable and non-commercial event, which connects and deepens dialogue and tolerance between nations and religions through art, has been supported by many domestic and foreign personalities in its history to date.
The ecumenical concert, which is traditionally held under the auspices of the hierarchs of the five largest Christian churches and the Jewish religious community in Slovakia, took place this year in the beautiful premises of the Concert Hall of the Slovak Philharmonic in Bratislava on Saturday, October 25, 2025. The Apostolic Nuncio in Slovakia, Archbishop Nicola Girasoli, appreciated the importance of this event and conveyed a greeting from Pope Leo XIV to the guests present. The importance of harmony, tolerance and brotherhood was also underlined by the Jordanian Ambassador Mohammed Hindawi, testifying to the recent visit of Jordanian King Abdullah II. to Budapest.
“Today, many people are talking about building bridges. I am very grateful that the NAPS Institute has been creating them for more than twenty years. And all of you who participate in any way in the NAPS International Ecumenical Concert are the pillars of these bridges,” said Peter Solej, the founder and director of the NAPS Institute and the scriptwriter of the event, during the concert. He thanked the Pope Leo XIV for his greetings and emphasized that the current Holy Father is the third Pope, after Benedict XVI and Francis, who knows about this event and in June in the Vatican he gave the concert and all those who participate in it in any way, his apostolic blessing.
Several leading Slovak artists performed at the international ecumenical concert. Among them were the Lúčnica choir, the Slovak Radio Children’s and Girl’ Choir, the Cantica Istropolitana choir, as well as several opera soloists: soprano Marianna Prievozníková Geleneky, baritone Roman Krško, tenor Otokar Klein, and the bearer of a unique bass voice Jozef Benci. Eastern Christian songs were offered by Jordanian tenor Ady Naber, who performed Orthodox prayers in Arabic. Over 500 guests listened to Jewish songs performed by Karin Sarkisjan, a singer of Armenian origin. The well-known Slovak organist Marek Štrbák also enjoyed success with the audience. The entire ecumenical evening in Reduta was accompanied by the Slovak Symphony Orchestra under the baton of the leading Slovak conductor Adrian Kokoš. Over 140 artists performed songs in several languages. The moderator of the ecumenical concert was Karin Majtánová.
A personal message for the concert was also sent by Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople, the spiritual leader of 330 million Orthodox Christians worldwide. “We sincerely congratulate the NAPS Institute on entering the third decade of your ecumenical service, which is characterized by your constant efforts to promote understanding and cooperation between Christian traditions. Your determination to promote the spirit of dialogue and brotherhood among people is commendable and deeply in line with the vision and mission of the Ecumenical Patriarchate,” His Holiness stated in his letter, among other things.
The event was also personally attended by the Minister of Investments, Regional Development and Informatization of the Slovak Republic, Samuel Migaľ, and several personalities from the public, diplomatic, social and academic circles. The concert traditionally concluded with a blessing by the hierarchs of Christian churches and a prayer by the rabbi of the Jewish religious community. The dignity of the evening was enhanced by the presence of the Honor Guard of the Armed Forces of the Slovak Republic. The event was supported by the SPP Foundation, the MICROCOMP company, the Ministry of Finance of the Slovak Republic, the CREDO Foundation, the state-owned Vodohospodárska výstavba company and the online store nebonazemi.sk. A recording of the concert will be broadcast by several television stations during the Christmas period.
Event was under the Spiritual patronage of:
His Excellency Monsignor Bernard Bober,
Roman Catholic Archbishop and Metropolitan of Košice,
President of the Slovak Bishops´ Conference,
The Reverend Mr. Ivan Eľko,
General Bishop of the Evangelical Church of Augsburg Confession
and President of the Ecumenical Council of Churches in Slovakia,
His Eminence The Most Reverend Jonáš Maxim,
Archbishop of Prešov and Metropolitan
of the Greek Catholic Church in Slovakia,
The Very Reverend Mr. Róbert Géreši,
Bishop of the reformed Christian Church in Slovakia,
His Beatitude The Most Blessed Rastislav,
Orthodox Archbishop of Prešov
and Metropolitan of the Czech Lands and Slovakia,
The Esteemed Mr. Richard Duda,
President of the Central Union
of the Jewish Religious Communities in Slovakia.