"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 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

Father Andraos Al Anthouny, The Pastor of the Coptic Orthodox Church in Lebanon and Syria, delivers a word via video on the occasion of the launching of “The Platform of the Word” at the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC).

Reverend Dr. Paul Haidostian, President of the Union of the Armenian Evangelical Churches in the Near East (UAECNE), President of Haigazian University in Lebanon, and President of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) for the Evangelical Family, delivers a word via video on the occasion of the launching of “The Platform of the Word” at the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC).

The Theme of the Week of Prayer 2025: “Do you believe this?” (John 11: 26)

Video Produced By the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC)

Week of Prayer 2025 Booklet in Arabic

Week of Prayer 2025 Booklet in English

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

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.”

On the occasion of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2025, and as part of his first and historical visit to the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) in the Ras Beirut area, 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 a media interview at the Platform of the Word at the MECC. His Eminence was interviewed by the Journalist Lea Maamary, the Media Officer, the Director of the Platform of the Word, and the Coordinator of the Church and Media Relations at the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC).

The episode focused on the Unity Week for the year 2025 and its main slogan “Do you believe this?” (John 11: 26), as well as the importance of living love, repentance and self-denial.

A report that sheds light on the launching history of the “Week of Prayer for Christian Unity” and the theme that was chosen for this year.

Week of Prayer 2025 Booklet in Arabic

Week of Prayer 2025 Booklet in English

On the occasion of Christmas in the Armenian Orthodox Church, 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, Lea Maamary, visited the Director of Radio Voice of Van Mr. Viken Avakian, congratulating him on Christmas and the New Year, and thanking him for the media space that the Radio provided to her in order to spread the message of love, convergence and humanity. She also noted the cooperation between MECC and the media, including Radio Voice of Van.

In his turn, Mr. Viken Awakian thanked the Journalist Lea Maamary, for her efforts and the success of the “Initiatives” program that people await weekly, looking forward to further media cooperation with the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) for the good of the Church and the society.

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, the Journalist Lea Adel Maamary, was chosen among the fifty best people in the world for the year 2024 in recognition of her pioneering and distinguished role in the humanitarian, social, cultural, and media sectors.

A Special Episode for the New Year on Mariam TV, Prepared and Presented by the Journalist Lea Adel Maamary

"New Dawn", a special episode for the New Year on Mariam TV, prepared and presented by 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 the Journalist Lea Adel Maamary.

The episode includes interviews with the Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECc) Professor Dr. Michel Abs, and with international Ecumenical Leaders, in addition to interventions by colleagues in the MECC General Secretariat, as well as special interviews made by the MECC media team.

At the Invitation of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) and the Episcopal Committee for Ecumencial Work at the Assemblée des Patriarches et Evêques Catholiques du Liban (APECL)

You can click on the following link to participate online via zoom: https://shorturl.at/Ivaoz.

The program "Dawn from the East" produced by "The Platform of the Word" at the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), on Télé Lumière and Noursat TV Channel!

Watch with us the second episode, on Friday, January 3, 2025, at 1:00 pm Beirut time.

“Dawn from the East”, a program that addresses the youth, their concerns and aspirations, especially in light of the difficult circumstances that our countries are passing through. It also highlights their various activities and humanitarian initiatives during Christmas.

His Eminence Metropolitan Antonios Al Soury, Greek Orthodox Metropolitan of Zahle, Baalbek and their Dependencies, and Member of the Executive Committee of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), 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 within her program "Initiatives" on Radio Voice of Van.

the Journalist Lea Maamary - Amchit

Coinciding with Christmas and the New Year, Father Charbel Al Khoury, the Priest of the Parish of Our Lady - Amchit, honored 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 the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), the Journalist Lea Maamary, with a special honor shield in appreciation of her unlimited humanitarian and media contributions.

The honoring of the Journalist Lea Maamary came during the Christmas celebration held at the Parish of Our Lady - Amchit.