As part of his visit to the headquarters of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) in Beirut, 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, with the Director of the Catholic Information Center in Lebanon Monsignor Abdo Abou Kasm.

The episode focused on the importance of the media in spreading the values of love, fraternity and peace away from the discourse of hatred and injustice, in addition to the Christian media conference that will include more than 150 Christian media organizations in the world, and will be held in Rome as part of the activities of the “Hope” Jubilee of the Catholic Church. The episode also centered around the role of "The Platform of the Word" in the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) and ways to enhance its media role so that it can be a crying voice in the wilderness.

Strengthening the Media Cooperation with the Catholic Information Center in Lebanon

During his visit to the headquarters of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) in Ras Beirut, the Head of the Catholic Information Center in Lebanon, Monsignor Abdo Abou Kasm, met with the Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Professor Dr. Michel Abs, and the General Secretariat team, on Tuesday, January 21, 2025.

The visit began with a meeting between Monsignor Abou Kasm and Dr. Abs, where they discussed the most prominent current social and humanitarian issues, in addition to ways of cooperation between the Catholic Information Center and the Middle East Council of Churches, especially on the media level.

Afterwards, an introductory session was held between Monsignor Abou Kasm and colleagues in the MECC General Secretariat, where the Secretary General Dr. Abs welcomed him, thanking him for this valuable visit to the Middle East Council of Churches, and praising the role of the Catholic Information Center in conveying the real media message and working to reduce the news and information that may cause anxiety among public opinion.

The Middle East Council of Churches (MEC) through its Diakonia and Social Service Department, is committed to supporting education, believing that knowledge is the cornerstone of achieving security and peace worldwide.

In this context, the Diakonia Department – Syria Office organized remedial classes for 9th-grade students at the “Orphanage school of Our Lady of Saidnaya Monastery”.

The remedial classes lasted two and a half months. It benefited 100 students by providing them with essential knowledge in core curriculum subjects to improve their academic performance and equip them with the necessary support during this critical educational stage. The aim was to prepare them to successfully pass their middle school exams.

The remedial classes was distinguished by the MECC team’s close supervision and guidance, along with the inclusion of psychosocial support sessions titled "Life Skills: A Journey with Myself." These sessions aimed to enhance young people's resilience in navigating their surroundings.

An Invitation to Celebrate the "Week of Prayer for Christian Unity" 2025

His Beatitude Patriarch Cardinal Mar Bechara Boutros Al-Rai, Maronite Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, received 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, accompanied by Father Dr. Antoine Al-Ahmar, Director of the Theological and Ecumenical Department at the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), at the Patriarchal Edifice in Bkerke - Lebanon.

During the meeting, Reverend Dr. Haidostian invited His Beatitude Patriarch Al-Rai to participate in the Prayer Service that will be held on the occasion of the closing of the "Week of Prayer for Christian Unity" 2025 entitled “Do you believe this?” (John 11: 26), and in celebration of the conclusion of the Fiftieth Year of the MECC Founding, as well as the announcement of the launch of the 1700th Year of the Council of Nicaea. The Prayer will be held on Saturday, January 25, 2025, at 6:00 pm Beirut Time, at the First Armenian Evangelical Church - Kantari, Beirut.

You can find the Prayer of the fourth day of the "Week of Prayer for Christian Unity" 2025, included in its booklet, and which you may publish and distribute.

The theme of this year’s Week of Prayer is “Do you believe this?” (John 11: 26).

A report that sheds light on the Prayer that was held on the occasion of the opening of the "Week of Prayer for Christian Unity" 2025, entitled “Do you believe this?” (John 11: 26), at the Church of St. Ignatius the Antioch in the Syriac Catholic Patriarchal See in Beirut, hosted by His Beatitude Patriarch Mor Ignatius Youssef III Younan, Syriac Catholic Patriarch of Antioch, and Honorary President of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), with the participation of the Heads of the Churches, and the presence of the MECC Secretary General Professor Dr. Michel Abs.

The Opening Prayer was held under the title “Do you believe this?” (John 11: 26), on Saturday 18 January 2025, at the Church of Saint Ignatius of Antioch, Syriac Catholic Patriarchal See, Museum - Beirut.

The Opening Prayer was held under the title “Do you believe this?” (John 11: 26), on Saturday 18 January 2025, at the Church of Saint Ignatius of Antioch, Syriac Catholic Patriarchal See, Museum - Beirut.

On the occasion of the Sixteenth Anniversary of His Election as Syriac Catholic Patriarch

On the occasion of the Sixteenth Anniversary of the Election of His Beatitude Patriarch Mor Ignatius Youssef III Younan as Syriac Catholic Patriarch, the Secretary General Professor Dr. Michel Abs, on behalf of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) family, extends his heartfelt congratulations to His Beatitude as he is an Honorary President for the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), raising Prayers to God to bestow upon him His blessings and grant him good health and determination in his Pastoral mission and Church service, wishing him many years of goodness, blessings and holiness.

On January 20, 2009, His Eminence Mor Ephrem Joseph Younan, Metropolitan of the Diocese of Our Lady of Deliverance in the United States of America and Canada, was elected Patriarch to be named “Mor Ignatius Youssef III Younan,” the Most Blessed Patriarch of the Syriac Catholic Church of Antioch.

On Suboro TV

Watch with us the Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Professor Dr. Michel Abs, in an episode of “Kel Yom Bi Yawmo” (“Everyday”) program on Suboro TV, today, Monday, January 20, 2025, at 5:30 Beirut time, to talk about the activities of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) within the framework of the “Week of Prayer for Christian Unity” 2025 entitled “Do you believe this?” (John 11: 26).

In the video you can find the word delivered by 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), at the Opening Prayer of the "Week of Prayer for Christian Unity" 2025, under the title “Do you believe this?” (John 11: 26), on Saturday 18 January 2025, at the Church of Saint Ignatius of Antioch, Syriac Catholic Patriarchal See, Museum - Beirut.

In the video you can find the word delivered by His Beatitude Patriarch Mor Ignatius Youssef III Younan, Syriac Catholic Patriarch of Antioch, and Honorary President of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), at the Opening Prayer of the "Week of Prayer for Christian Unity" 2025, under the title “Do you believe this?” (John 11: 26), on Saturday 18 January 2025, at the Church of Saint Ignatius of Antioch, Syriac Catholic Patriarchal See, Museum - Beirut.

The MECC Secretary General Professor Dr. Michel Abs Participates In It

Balamand - Lebanon, January 19, 2025

His Beatitude Patriarch John X, Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, and President of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) for the Orthodox Family, celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the Patriarchal Monastery Our Lady of Balamand, with the participation of Archimandrite George Yaacoub, the Abbot of the monastery, Archimandrite Yaacoub Khalil, Dean of the Saint John of Damascus Institute, and President of the Association of Theological Institutes in the Middle East A.T.I.M.E., and many Priests and Deacons. The Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), Professor Dr. Michel Abs, the Balamand family, and a crowd of faithful were also present.

In his Sermon, His Beatitude focused on the meanings of the Apostle that was read from (Colossians 3: 4-11). He focused on the process of becoming new human persons and wished for stability, security, and peace in Lebanon, Syria, and the region.

After the Liturgy, His Beatitude met with the faithful in the monastery’s hall and hada paternal discussion with them about the general situation.

His Beatitude Patriarch Mor Ignatius Youssef III Younan, Syriac Catholic Patriarch of Antioch, presided over the official Opening Prayer of the Week of Prayer for the Unity of the Churches, according to the Syriac Antiochian Rite, at the Church of St. Ignatius the Antioch, in the Patriarchal See, Al-Mathaf - Beirut.

The Prayer was attended by His Beatitude Patriarch Cardinal Mar Bechara Boutros Al-Rai, Maronite Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, His Beatitude Youssef Al Absi, Greek Melkite Catholic Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, His Holiness Aram I Keshishian, His Holiness Catholicos Aram I, Catholicos of the Armenian Orthodox Church, Holy See of Cilicia, His Beatitude Patriarch Raphaël Bedros XXI Minassian, Catholicos Patriarch of the Armenian Catholic Church of Cilicia, His Excellency Monsignor Paolo Borgia, Apostolic Nuncio to Lebanon, His Eminence Archbishop Mor Clemis Daniel Kourieh, representing His Holiness Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II, Patriarch of Antioch and All the East and Supreme Head of the Universal Syriac Orthodox Church, Reverend George Mrad, representing Reverend Joseph Kassab, President of the Supreme Council of the Evangelical Community in Syria and Lebanon, and Heads of Churches in Lebanon or their representatives.

From the Syriac Catholic Church, the participants were Their Eminences: Mar Ephrem Youssef Abba, Archbishop of Baghdad and Secretary of the Holy Synod, Mar Matthias Charles Mrad, Vicar General of the Patriarchal Archdiocese of Beirut, Mar Ishaq Jules Boutros, Director of Our Lady of Salvation Patriarchal Seminary in the Monastery of Al-Sharfeh and Head of the Youth Pastoral Care, Priests from the Patriarchal Department, from the Monastery of Al-Sharfeh, and from the Patriarchal Archdiocese of Beirut, the Ephraimite Monks, the Ephraimite Nuns.

Participants were also the Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Professor Michel Abs, students of Our Lady of Salvation Patriarchal Seminary in the Monastery of Al-Sharfeh. As well as, attendees were Bishops, Priests, Monks, Nuns, and Deacons from various Churches, in addition to crowds of parishioners from the Patriarchal Archdiocese of Lebanon and the Holy Family Mission for the Iraqis refugees in Lebanon for Syriac Catholic Church, and believers from Sister Churches.

You can find the Prayer of the second day of the "Week of Prayer for Christian Unity" 2025, included in its booklet, and which you may publish and distribute.

The theme of this year’s Week of Prayer is “Do you believe this?” (John 11: 26).

We unite together in Prayer proclaiming “Merciful God, forgive us for the times we have failed to live a common life as Christians. Draw us more deeply to one faith in you so that we may witness to the world” (from the Prayer Service of the Week of Unity 2025).

Opening Ecumenical Prayer Service in celebration of the “Week of Prayer for Christian Unity”, at St. Ignatius of Antioch Church in the Syriac Catholic Patriarchate in Beirut.

The launching of the “Week of Prayer for Christian Unity” 2025 in the Middle East, under the title “Do you believe this?” (John 11: 26). An Ecumenical Prayer Service is being held live from the Church of St. Ignatius the Antioch in the Syriac Catholic Patriarchate in Beirut, hosted by His Beatitude Patriarch Mor Ignatius Youssef III Younan, Syriac Catholic Patriarch of Antioch, and Honorary President of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), with the participation of the Heads of the Churches, and the presence of the MECC Secretary General Professor Dr. Michel Abs.

You can find the Prayer of the first day of the "Week of Prayer for Christian Unity" 2025, included in its booklet, and which you may publish and distribute.

The theme of this year’s Week of Prayer is “Do you believe this?” (John 11: 26).

With a lot of hope, the “Week of Prayer for Christian Unity” begins, today, Saturday, January 18, 2025, under the title “Do you believe this?” (John 11: 26). It ends on Saturday, January 25, 2025.

The Week of Prayer is one of the most Ecumenical stations of the year which is celebrated annually. During this Week, we unite in Prayer, hymns and supplications to our Lord Jesus Christ on the intention of a unity that has been awaited for decades, and for peace and justice in the Middle East and the world.