Launching the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity at the Platform of the Word at the Middle East Council of Churches in a Historical Step
His Eminence Archbishop Youssef Soueif: We are called in this East to live unity more than ever before, so we must experience it pastorally, socially and humanly
The Secretary General Professor Dr. Michel Abs: The Week of Prayer for Unity is a step on the path of a thousand miles towards social cohesion and civil peace
You can find some photos at the end of the text.
In a historical step, and 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), the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) held a press conference to launch the “Week of Prayer for Christian Unity” 2025 under the title “Do you believe this?” (John 11: 26). It coincides this year with the 1700th Anniversary of the First Christian Ecumenical Council in Nicaea.
The conference, which was held on Tuesday, January 7, 2025, in “The Platform of the Word” at the MECC headquarters - Beirut, was attended by Father Tanios Khalil, Dean of the Faculty of Theology at La Sagesse University in Lebanon, and Rapporteur of the Episcopal Committee for Ecumenical Work at the Assemblée des Patriarches et Evêques Catholiques du Liban (APECL), the Journalist George Maalouli, Director of Mariam TV, and colleagues in the MECC General Secretariat.
After His Eminence Archbishop Youssef Soueif blessed the MECC offices and the Platform of the Word by the Holy Water, the conference began with a speech delivered by the Media Officer at MECC, the Director of the Platform of the Word, and the Coordinator of the Church and Media Relations at MECC, the Journalist Lea Adel Maamary, in which she said, “The Churches have advanced concerning the issue of unity regardless of doctrinal differences, based on the fact that when we talk about Theological dialogue, it will be met with a dialogue of love, and this embrace can only be achieved through doctrinal dialogue and love: love of God and love of others.”
Afterwards, Father Antoine Ahmar, the Director of the Theological and Ecumenical Department at MECC, gave a speech in which he pointed out that “The theme of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity for this year 2025 dispels confusion by shedding light on the Christian concept of unity. If unity is based on love that is manifested in fellowship, and its engine is hope that gives courage to overcome divisions, then the foundation on which it is based is faith.”
For his part, Father Tanios Khalil presented the program of celebrations that will be held on the occasion of the “Week of Prayer for Christian Unity” 2025 with the blessings of the Heads of Churches in various Lebanese regions.
Then, His Eminence Archbishop Youssef Soueif delivered a speech in which he expressed his joy at visiting the Middle East Council of Churches for the first time, and mentioned that “The theme of this year, “Do you believe this?” (John 11: 26), is addressed to each one of us, and it is an invitation from Christ to every Church and every person, so we declare our faith that Christ is the Son of the living God. The Week of Prayer is a test that we live, and we are called in this East to live unity more than ever before, so we must experience it pastorally, socially and humanly, especially since the East needs joy, hope and reassurance.”
In his turn, the MECC Secretary General Professor Dr. Michel Abs said in his speech, "The Week of Prayer for Unity, which is a fundamental station in the annual calendar of the Ecumenical movement, and subsequently of MECC, is part of the efforts undertaken by MECC to bring people closer, Christians in this case, on the path of bringing the people of the Middle East closer to each other, and everyone knows the number of religions, sects, denominations, races and ethnicities that the region includes. Thus, the region will be a furnace that burns with everyone and everything in it if the culture of dialogue does not spread and hate speech does not recede. For us, the Week of Prayer for Unity is a step on the path of a thousand miles towards social cohesion and civil peace."
At the end, the Secretary General Professor Dr. Michel Abs, offered the medal of the Fiftieth Year of the MECC Founding, to His Eminence Archbishop Youssef Soueif and Father Tanios Khalil, as a token of love, appreciation and thanks for their continuous support.
On this occasion, the Journalist Lea Adel Maamary made a special episode with His Eminence in “The Platform of the Word”. It was centered around the Week of Prayer and the meanings it carries, and will be broadcasted soon on the MECC platforms and on Télé Lumière and Noursat TV Channel. His Eminence also met with the MECC General Secretariat team in a session to get to know each other and exchange experiences.
