France's "sacred night" of religions

For the past four years, the parish of Saint Merry in Paris has organised a "Nuit Sacree" over the Pentecost weekend during which Christians, Jews, Muslims, Buddhists and Hindus pray and sing to God. The goal is to create and foster dialogue between the communities. By Jan Schmidt-Whitley

  • A Catholic priest is flanked by a representative of the Ganesh Temple Sri Manicka Vinayakar Alayam and a monk of the Fo Guang Shan Temple, 4 June 2017 (photo: Jan Schmidt-Whitley / Le Pictorium)
    People of many faiths: a Catholic priest is flanked by a representative of the Ganesh Temple Sri Manicka Vinayakar Alayam and a monk of the Fo Guang Shan Temple during the "Nuit Sacree"
  • Breaking the Ramadan fast together on 4 June 2017 (photo: Jan Schmidt-Whitley / Le Pictorium)
    In 2017 the "Nuit Sacree" took place during the holy month of Ramadan. People of all faiths broke the fast together for Iftar and dates were distributed to those in attendance
  • The Sufi choir Aisa sings in Saint Merry Church on 4 June 2017 (photo: Jan Schmidt-Whitley / Le Pictorium)
    Sufi strains fill Saint Merry Church during the second year of the “Nuit Sacree”
  • The international Sufi association Alawiyya performs Sufi chants during the inaugural event on 29 May 2016 (photo: Jan Schmidt-Whitley / Le Pictorium)
    The international Sufi association Alawiyya, seen performing here, was founded by Sheikh Ahmad al-Alawi in Algeria in 1914. Its current Sufi master is Cheikh Bentounes, known for his active promotion of interfaith dialogue and founder of the Muslim Scouts of France
  • Members of the Fo Guang Shan Temple dance troupe prepare to perform on 29 May 2016 (photo: Jan Schmidt-Whitley)
    Interfaith dialogue focussed on inclusion: members of the Fo Guang Shan Temple dance troupe get ready to perform Buddhist songs and dances during the first "Nuit Sacree" in 2016
  • A Ganesh Temple dancer performs during the second "Nuit Sacree" on 4 June 2017 (photo: Jan Schmidt-Whitley / Le Pictorium)
    Welcomed with open arms: a Ganesh Temple dancer performing in Saint Merry during the second "Nuit Sacree" in Saint Merry
  • Whirling dervishes dance to the sound of Sufi songs in the Church of Saint Merry on 4 June 2017 (photo: Jan Schmidt-Whitley)
    A moment of ecstasy: whirling dervishes dance to the sound of Sufi songs in the Church of Saint Merry in Paris during the "Nuit Sacree"
  • The Dervish Spirit Ensemble performs in front of the audience in Saint Merry on 9 June 2019 (photo: Jan Schmidt-Whitley / Le Pictorium)
    Sacred Sufi songs in Arabic, Turkish and Persian: the Dervish Spirit Ensemble performs in front of this yearʹs audience in Saint Merry, accompanied by a whirling dervish
  • Syrian opera and lyric singer Noma Omran and oud player Mohannad Al Garamani perform during the "Nuit Sacree" on 4 June 2017 (photo: Jan Schmidt-Whitley / Le Pictorium)
    Soul food: Syrian singer Noma Omran and oud virtuoso Mohannad Al Garamani performed traditional and Syriac music at the Saint Merry church in Paris during the "Nuit Sacree" in 2017
  • The Dervish Spirit Ensemble performs in front of the audience in Saint Merry on 9 June 2019 (photo: Jan Schmidt-Whitley / Le Pictorium)
    Sacred Sufi songs in Arabic, Turkish and Persian: the Dervish Spirit Ensemble performs in front of this yearʹs audience in Saint Merry, accompanied by a whirling dervish
  • The ensemble "Lale" plays spiritual music from the Ottoman Empire on 8 June 2019 (photo: Jan Schmidt-Whitley / Le Pictorium)
    Orient meets Occident: the ensemble "Lale" played spiritual music from the Ottoman Empire. It was the fourth consecutive year that the Parisian church of Saint Merry had hosted its "Nuit Sacree" – an initiative that resonates with religious and secular personalities alike
  • Fanny Perrier-Rochas performs Byzantine and Syriac songs on 8 June 2019 (photo: Jan Schmidt-Whitley / Le Pictorium)
    Art and faith in communion: Fanny Perrier-Rochas performs Byzantine and Syriac songs at "La Nuit Sacree 2019". The event featured numerous recitals of sacred, traditional and world music held in the packed church of Saint Merry
  • From left to right: Abd El Hafid Benchouk, representative of the Naqshbandi Sufi Way in France, Rabbi Tom Cohen, founder of Kehilat Gesher, the French-American synagogue of Paris, a representative of the Saint Merry church and Khagan SeiSon Kugo, Zen master (photo: Jan Schmidt-Whitley / Le Pictorium)
    La Nuit Sacree 2019: four religions, represented here by Abd El Hafid Benchouk, from the Naqshbandi Sufi Way in France, Rabbi Tom Cohen, founder of Kehilat Gesher, the French-American synagogue of Paris, a Saint Merry congregation member, and Khagan SeiSon Kugo, Zen master, took part in this yearʹs event
  • Rabbi Tom Cohen, founder of Kehilat Gesher, the French-American synagogue of Paris (left) and Abd El Hafid Benchouk, representative of the Naqshbandi Sufi Way in France during the "Nuit Sacree 2019" (photo: Jan Schmidt-Whitley / Le Pictorium)
    Together in faith: Rabbi Tom Cohen, founder of Kehilat Gesher, the French-American synagogue of Paris and Abd El Hafid Benchouk, representative of the Naqshbandi Sufi Way in France during the "Nuit Sacree 2019"