Argentina has celebrated the Day of the Evangelical and Protestant Churches for the first time on 31 October (Reformation Day), following a ruling that it would become a new national day earlier this year.
Evangelicals in the South American country had been pushing for greater recognition for the protestant Christian faith, which culminated in the establishment of the national celebratory day.
Special events were held to celebrate the evangelical and protestant churches, including a ceremony at the Libertad Palace in Buenos Aires (one of the largest cultural centres in the world), which was attended by several high-profile figures including Vice President Victoria Villarruel and Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Trade and Worship, Diana Mondino, as reported by Christian Daily.
15.3 per cent of the Argentinian population are Protestant, which is nine per cent more than in 2008, according to a 2019 survey by the National Scientific and Technological Research Council, which is Argentina’s national research institute.
The President of the Christian Alliance of Evangelical Churches of the Argentine Republic (ACIERA), which helped to organise the event, said in his address to those in attendance: ‘We celebrate the historical identity of the faith of millions of Argentine citizens. We celebrate together with the friendly institutions that are with us today, plurality, diversity and equality.
‘We celebrate the five solas of the monk Martin Luther: "Christ alone, Scripture Alone, Grace Alone, Faith Alone and Glory be to God Alone", which were an emblem that remained and strongly influenced culture, knowledge and science. Today, this Christian faith holds millions of people in the world, and in our country.’
