[ACNS, by Gavin Drake] Anglicans from the Church of South America’s Diocese of Chile will join thousands of Christians from other denominations in a public celebration of faith later this month. They will take part in a “March for Jesus” on Reformation Day – 31 October – which is designated as a public holiday in the country. The day marks the anniversary of Martin Luther nailing his 95 theses to the door of the church in Wittenburg.

His theses challenged the sale and purchase of indulgences for the forgiveness of sins and salvation and the act of nailing them to the door of the church in Wittenburg is widely recognised as the birth of the Reformation.

At 10.30 am on 31 October, Christians from evangelical and protestant churches will set off from four different locations to the Paseo Bulnes – a large pedestrianised street and public square in the Chilean capital Santiago, where a massive act of celebration will be held

As they march towards the Paseo Bulnes, the Christians will “demonstrate and exalt the name of Jesus on the nation of Chile,” the diocese said on its website. They will march from the north (Mapocho Station) dressed in blue, the south (Avenida Matta with San Diego) dressed in red, east (Plaza Italia) dressed in white, and west (Alameda Spanish Avenue) dressed in Yellow.

Reformation Day was designated a public holiday in 2008 to “honour and recognise the contribution of evangelical Protestant churches” to the country’s values, education and social development.

Worldwide, 31 October this year marks the start of a year of commemorations marking the 500th anniversary of the Reformation.