The media coverage on the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity continues as Father Tanios Khalil, the Dean of the Faculty of Theology at La Sagesse University in Lebanon, and the Rapporteur of the Episcopal Committee for Ecumenical Work at the Assemblée des Patriarches et Evêques Catholiques du Liban (APECL), was the guest of the Journalist Lea Adel Maamary, the Media Officer at the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), the Director of the Platform of the Word, and the Coordinator of the Church and Media Relations at MECC, in an episode within her program “Moubadarat” (“Initiatives”) on Radio Voice of Van.

The episode, which you can watch in the video, centered around the most prominent meanings of the Week of Prayer and the spiritual symbolism it carries, in addition to explanations about the topic chosen for this year, “Do you believe this?” (John 11: 26).

In the video, you can find a Church News Bulletin on Mariam TV, which includes reports about the latest activities of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC). The bulletin is prepared and presented by the Journalist Lea Adel Maamary, the Media Officer at the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), the Director of the Platform of the Word, and the Coordinator of the Church and Media Relations at MECC.

As a culmination of the Fiftieth Year of its Founding, and in accordance with the adopted media strategy, the MECC first Church News Bulletin will be launched early next week on Wednesday, January 22, 2025.

The bulletin will include Church and humanitarian news and the MECC activities in various fields.

"The Patriarchate is your home!"

A Meeting that Stresses the Importance of Building Bridges Between the Churches

His Beatitude Patriarch Raphaël Bedros XXI Minassian, Catholicos Patriarch of the Armenian Catholic Church of Cilicia, and President of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) for the Catholic Family, received the Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Professor Dr. Michel Abs, at the head of a delegation that included colleagues from the MECC General Secretariat. The visit was held on Wednesday, January 15, 2025, at the Patriarchate headquarters in Geitawi - Beirut, in the presence of His Eminence Bishop Krikor Badishah, Auxiliary Bishop of the Armenian Catholic Archdiocese of Beirut.

During the meeting, the Secretary General Professor Dr. Abs wished His Beatitude Patriarch Minassian blessed Feasts and a happy new year. He also congratulated him on the Ecumenical and Ecclesiastical event that he held on the occasion of receiving the body of the Servant of God Cardinal Patriarch Krikor-Bedros XV Aghajanian from Rome to Beirut, praising its great organization and emphasizing the spiritual meanings it carries.

For his part, His Beatitude welcomed the Secretary General and the accompanying delegation, wishing the Middle East Council of Churches continued success in its Ecumenical mission and humanitarian tasks, praising all the projects, initiatives and programs being implemented by the Council’s departments. He also expressed his happiness with this visit and mentioning that the Patriarchate is a home for everyone.

On the occasion of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2025, His Eminence Archbishop Youssef Soueif, Archbishop of the Maronite Diocese of Tripoli and President of the Episcopal Committee for Ecumenical Work at the Assemblée des Patriarches et Evêques Catholiques du Liban (APECL), was the guest of the Journalist Lea Adel Maamary, the Media Officer at the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), the Director of the Platform of the Word, and the Coordinator of the Church and Media Relations at MECC, in a special episode from The Platform of the Word at MECC, as part of His Eminence’s first and historical visit to the Council.

The episode, which you can watch in the video, focused on the Week of Prayer for the year 2025 and the theme that was adopted for this year “Do you believe this?” (John 11: 26), in addition to the importance of living love, repentance and self-denial.

What Are the Details?

Marking the Fiftieth Year of the Founding of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), the President of the Heart of Giving Association Mrs. Raifa Al-Daouk, visited the Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Professor Michel Abs, at the MECC headquarters in Ras Beirut, in the presence of the Media Officer, Director of the Platform of the Word, and Coordinator of the Church and Media Relations at MECC Lea Adel Maamary.

The visit included many discussions about various humanitarian and social initiatives and issues being implemented by the associations, especially the Heart of Giving Association.

For her part, Mrs. Raifa Al-Daouk praised the work of the Council and the achievements made on all levels.

At the end of the meeting, colleagues in the MECC Media Department, Elia Nasrallah and Johnny Anton, conducted a media interview with Raifa Al-Daouk, during which she talked about urgent humanitarian and social issues.

Details in this Report!

This report sheds light on the Celebratory Holy Mass held on the occasion of the inauguration of the " Church of Jesus' Baptism" at the Baptism Site in Jordan, which is one of the biggest Churches in the Middle East and the world. A historic event that was a beacon of hope amidst all the challenges, and a call to Pray for peace and justice in the region.

In a Special Episode With Dr. Jean Salmanian and the Journalist Lea Adel Maamary on Radio Voice of Van

Dr. Jean Salmanian, Member of the Executive Committee of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), was the guest of an episode within the "Moubadarat" ("Initiatives") program on Radio Voice of Van, with the Media Officer at the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), the Director of the Platform of the Word, and the Coordinator of the Church and Media Relations, the Journalist Lea Adel Maamary.

In the episode, Dr. Salmanian spoke about the customs and traditions of the Armenian Orthodox Church on Christmas and Theophany, and also presented a detailed vision of the achievements of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) during the Fifty Years since its establishment. He also talked about the importance of the Church unity and the title of the year 2025 “Do you believe this?” (John 11: 26).

This report presents an overview about the press conference held by the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), with the blessings and presence of His Eminence Archbishop Youssef Soueif, Archbishop of the Maronite Diocese of Tripoli and President of the Episcopal Committee for Ecumenical Work at the Assemblée des Patriarches et Evêques Catholiques du Liban (APECL), to launch the “Week of Prayer for Christian Unity” 2025 under the title “Do you believe this?” (John 11: 26). It was held at “The Platform of the Word” in the Middle East Council of Churches – Beirut.

Week of Prayer 2025 Booklet in Arabic

Week of Prayer 2025 Booklet in English