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On Friday 1st of February 2013, 70 people from various religious and spiritual traditions gathered for morning tea at Queens Hall Parliament House to celebrate the United Nations Interfaith Harmony Week.

The event was organised by the Interfaith Centre of Melbourne and supported by Faith Communities Council of Victoria, Islamic Council of Victoria, Religions for Peace Australia, Shepparton Interfaith Network and Australian Multicultural Foundation.

Invited speakers were Bishop John Bayton AM (Anglican Diocese of Melbourne), Venerable Chi Kwang Sunim (Abbess of The Seon Zen Centre) and Mr Andrew Elsbury MLC, representing the MInister for Multicultural Affairs and Citizenship (click links to view respective talks).

The World Interfaith Harmony Week was first proposed by HM KIng Abdullah I I of Jordan before the United Nations General Assembly on September 23rd 2010. On October 20, 2010, the Resolution was unanimously adopted by the UN and the first week of February was proclaimed as the World Interfaith Harmony Week between all religions, faiths and beliefs.

The Resolution "encourages all States to support, on a voluntary basis, the spread of the message of interfaith harmony and goodwill in the world's churches, mosques, synagogues, temples and other places of worship during that week, based on love of God and love of one's neighbour or on love of the good and love of one's neighbour, each according to their own religious traditions or convictions."

To celebrate World Interfaith Harmony Week, a short video called 'Harmony' will be displayed on the big screen at Federation Square and the Atrium from Friday 1st February to Friday 8th February, 2013. The video shows images of people, places and sacred artworks and illustrates 'harmony' as defined in the Confucian concept of beautiful and dynamic interaction between different elements within a whole.

To view this 'Harmony' Video click here.