"Together", An Historical Ecumenical Prayer Event
Uniting Youth from Diverse Middle Eastern Churches in the Historical City of Jbeil
On the evening of September 16, 2023, the Cathedral of Saint John-Mark in Historical city of Jbeil (Byblos), Lebanon, witnessed a remarkable gathering of youth from various Middle Eastern churches, coming together to celebrate unity, faith, and the spirit of togetherness. Organized by OPM – Missio Libani in collaboration with the Taizé community, the event, suitably named "Together," brought 500 participants, along with numerous others who joined later in the evening, for a night of prayer, reflection, and communal bonding.
The evening commenced with a warm welcome as youth from different Christian Middle Easten denominations entered, registered, and chanted their holy churches hymns together, setting the tone for the atmosphere of unity and harmony that would prevail throughout the event.
Earlier in the day, the youth engaged in Lectio Divina sessions, collectively exploring the teachings of Matthew 5:1-12. These sessions took place in several centers, including two sessions in the Sacred Hearts Sisters School in Jbeil (SSCC - Jbeil), one in the Birds Nest Armenian Orphanage “Trchnots Pouyn” | Jbail (for the Armenian Orthodox Church), and one in Saint John-Mark Cathedral in Jbeil. These sessions deepened their understanding with the wisdom shared in the Gospel of Matthew explaining the true meaning of faith in Jesus and the importance of unity, laying the spiritual foundation for the evening's ecumenical event. The youth also prayed in the end of their sessions in a spontaneous way for the salvation of those who have strayed, emphasizing the need to work to bring God's grace closer to the hearts of all people as they experienced in their lives.
As the day turned into night, the participants, gathered at the port in Jbeil to welcome the Cross of Jesus, which arrived on a boat.
This event’s highlight was in the ecumenical solemn procession, where participants marched behind the Cross of Jesus towards the ecumenical Oasis in the Jean-Mark Cathedral's Park. In this procession, they expressed their devotions and prayers to Jesus for a request of unity, he who turned the very tool of pain and crucifixion into a symbol of salvation and togetherness.
Throughout the evening, the youth continued to engage in prayer and hymns, fulfilling the will of Christ as he proclaimed in John 17:21: "That they all shall be one, just as you, my Father, are in me, and I am in you, so that they also shall be one in us."
The ecumenical prayer vigil was dedicated to accompanying the Roman Catholic Church Synod, scheduled for October 2023, with the hope that the church Fathers would be inspired by the Holy Spirit during this significant time to accomplish nothing less than God’s Will. The evening featured prayers from different church denominations in the Middle East lead by their youth, focusing on peace, the cessation of war, protection of nature, the upcoming synod, and for those who are suffering.
The choir that enriched the evening's atmosphere was composed of talented singers from various churches and regions in Lebanon, led by the famous Chanter Gabriel Sassi.
His Eminence Bishop Michel Aoun, Bishop of the Maronite Eparchy of Jbeil, Reverend Superior Abbot Khalil Alwan, M.L.M, General Secretary of the Council of Catholic Patriarchs of the Middle East, The National Director of the Pontifical Mission Societies in Lebanon, Reverend Dr. Rouphael Zgheib, Reverend Dr. Rima Nasrallah, representing the National Evangelical Church of Beirut, Reverend Prof. Gabriel Alfred Hachem, Priest in the Greek Melkite Catholic Church and fellow Reverend fathers and sisters from diverse churches in Lebanon, graced with their presence the event and lead it’s prayers.
The event "Together" illustrated the beauty of ecumenism, bringing youth from different Christian traditions together to pray, reflect, and stand united as one. The event was a testament to the power of the one faith and the one love that can overcome every division and bring people together in the spirit of Christ.
Zouk Mosbeh, September 20, 2023
The Pontifical Mission Societies in Lebanon