This past Sunday was the Global Day of Prayer, where Christians of different cultures and denominations from more than 220 countries around the world unite in one heart to pray.

This year's Global Day of Prayer also fell on Pentecost, which has been celebrated 50 days after Easter as the time when the Holy Spirit came upon the disciples of Jesus.

Believers gathered in large-scale events at stadiums, public auditoriums and open squares. And more attended small gatherings in churches and homes.

"The purpose of the Global Day of Prayer is to have a process of Repentance and Prayer where we ask the Lord to forgive our sins, restore the church and heal the nations." said the GDOP's global website.

Hundreds of believers from many regional churches united for prayer at Norwich Cathedral in the United Kingdom on Pentecost Sunday.

Emphasising the spiritual oneness among God’s people, Pastor Paddy Venner of Eternity, Norwich said, "There is really only one church in this city, with many different expressions and locations.”

As a South African, Paddy also recalled attending the first-ever global prayer event with 55,000 people at a sports stadium in Capetown, South Africa, in 2001- an initiative that grew into the global prayer movement across 220 nations praying globally, gathering locally, with one voice.

The GDOP began in South Africa in July 2000 when God captured the heart of a South African Christian businessman, Graham Power, with a vision based on 2 Chronicles 7: 14: "If My people, who are called by My name, will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land."

Next year’s Global Day of Prayer will be on Sunday, June 8, 2014.