Six hundred candles in the shape of the Star of David will be lit at York Minster on Wednesday 26th January 2022, to remember more than 6 million Jewish people and millions of other groups murdered by the Nazi’s in the Second World War and the millions who have died in the genocides that followed in Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia and Darfur.

The Minster’s act of commemoration is part of a week-long programme of events taking place across the city of York to mark international Holocaust Memorial Day, which takes place on the 27 January each year.  The date marks the anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp – the largest Nazi death camp – in 1945.

The event at York Minster will begin with a Choral Evensong service at 5.30pm attended by representatives from York’s Jewish community and other faith communities. This will be followed by a procession to the cathedral’s Chapter House for the act of commemoration, which will include readings, music, poetry, prayers and periods of silence for quiet reflection.

The Revd Canon Maggie McLean, Canon Missioner at York Minster, said: “The international theme for HMD 2022 is ‘One Day’, which encourages people to come together to remember, to learn about the Holocaust, Nazi Persecution and the genocides that followed in Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia and Darfur, in the hope that there may be One Day in the future with no genocide. We learn more about the past, we empathise with others today, and we take action for a better future”.

To help us safely manage numbers inside the Chapter House, free tickets must be booked in advance for the Holocaust Memorial Commemoration event. Tickets can be booked HERE or by ringing 01904 557200.