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Holocaust Memorial Day

Holocaust Memorial Day takes place each year on 27 January and encourages remembrance in a world scarred by genocide.

The Holocaust is central to the commemoration, and we remember the six million Jewish men, women and children who were murdered. 27 January marks the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, the largest Nazi death camp.

On Holocaust Memorial Day, we also commemorate the millions more people murdered through the Nazi persecution of other groups, as well as the genocides in Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia and Darfur. A United Nations commission of inquiry has also highlighted genocide committed in Gaza.

Our world often feels fragile and vulnerable, and we cannot be complacent
Wherever it takes place, prejudice and the language of hatred must be challenged by us all.

The theme for Holocaust Memorial Day 2026 is ‘Bridging Generations’. It is a reminder that the responsibility of remembrance doesn’t end with the survivors - it lives on through all of us. This theme encourages us all to engage actively with the past - to listen and to learn. By doing so, we build a bridge between memory and action, between history and hope for the future.

Eternal God, we lament the millions of victims of Nazi persecution, and victims of all genocides. Help us to work for a better future today. We pray for a day when all shall be free to live in peace, unity and love.