Opening of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity in the Evangelical Church – Rod El Farag - Cairo, entitled “Do you believe this?” (John 11: 26)
Speeches Confirmed that Unity Can Only Be Achieved Through Divine Love.
Photos: Part 1 - Part 2 - Part 3.
Cairo, February 13, 2025
Under the slogan “Do you believe this?” (John 11: 26), the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity for the year 2025 was inaugurated at the Evangelical Church in Rod El Farag - Cairo, at the invitation of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) in cooperation with the Egyptian Council of Churches.
With one love, the Prayer was held with the participation of the Heads of the Churches in Egypt, the Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Professor Michel Abs, the Secretary General of the Egyptian Council of Churches Reverend Yachouh Yaccoub, Bishops, Priests, Pastors, Sisters Nuns and a large crowd of believers.
The Prayer began with a speech delivered by the Pastor of the Evangelical Church in Rod El Farag and the Associate Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Reverend Dr. Refaat Fikry, who welcomed the attendees, praising the importance of the occasion that brings everyone together under the name of love.
Then, the Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Professor Michel Abs, delivered a speech in which he highlighted the following:
“The significant increase in the areas of meeting between Churches and Sects that were once distant to the point of hostility, indicates an advanced degree of unity awareness in the Christian world, and is part of an active leadership path working to strengthen the unity of Christians.”
He asked:
“Is it required to make Christianity a single identical copy for different people, and it is the one who established the principles of freedom and respect for privacy? Or should we be satisfied with the common Faith essence, such as belief in the Annunciation, Nativity, Teachings, Crucifixion, and Resurrection?”
After that, a speech was delivered by the Secretary General of the Egyptian Council of Churches Reverend Yachouh Yaacoub, during which he spoke about the Prayers, activities and programs that the Egyptian Council of Churches holds and achieves, especially its emphasis on the unity of the Church, confirming that we are one family.
Afterwards, Father Karras delivered a speech representing Bishop Makary, General Bishop of South Shoubra, in which he stressed the importance of Prayer through which we meet God with joy and happiness to fulfill His desires and ideas.
Then, a speech was delivered by the Vice-President of the Evangelical Community in Egypt Reverend Dr. George Shaker who presented a detailed explanation about the virtue of love and its application in word and deed, confirming that love is stronger than everything and that unity is only achieved through divine love.
The opening Prayer included the recitation of many Biblical texts and Church Prayers in many languages, as well as hymns, that added an atmosphere of hope.
At the end, everyone raised their Prayers on the intention of the Church, Egypt and the suffering people.