The Theological and Ecumenical Department at the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) organized a new environmental day in the Bekaa, specifically in the Ablah village, on Saturday, February 1, 2025, as part of its “Season of Creation” program implemented by the department with the support of “Danmission” Organization.

The youth of the village and its residents from the three Parishes in the town participated in this activity. Local bodies and institutions also played a prominent role in preparing and inviting for this popular gathering. Among them were the Municipality, Parishes, civil defense, scouts, schools, and the “Think Environmentally” section at the Daher Foundation. The event coincided with an exceptional drought period that Lebanon suffered from, so it was an occasion to raise Prayers to God for the blessing of the year and rainfall. On the other hand, this day coincided with the eve of the Feast of Lights (February 2), which crowns the special environmental period, i.e. the forty days between Christmas and the Feast of the Entry of Jesus Christ into the Temple. There is an ancient tradition, whereby people on this occasion hold a popular procession in the streets, including singing and dancing, in addition to Worship ceremonies in the Churches.

Highlights the MECC Environmental Activities on Charity Radio TV

What Are the Details?

The video is produced by the Middle East Council of Churches.

Within the framework of the Environmental Days organized by the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), believers in Ras Baalbek, in cooperation with the Environmental Youth of Our Lady of Ablah and the Basilian Order of Aleppo, celebrated an Environmental Day.

These Environmental Days hold a special place as they bring together believers, especially the youth, and invite them to contemplate all that God has made and commit to the care for creation.

In the towering Bekaa village of Ras Baalbek, the Coordinator of the Season of Creation program at the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) cooperated with the Abbot of the Monastery of Our Lady of Miracles to organize the celebration and establish a new "Chrism Grove" which is specific to that area and its people.

The celebration began with learning about the origins and history of the Monastery. As well as, the participants visited the Monastery's sundial that has indicated the twelve hours of the day since many generations. In front of this ancient clock, the youth remembered the importance of good time management and making the most of every moment.

What Are the Details?

A report that sheds light on the Prayer that was held on the occasion of the closing of the "Week of Prayer for Christian Unity" 2025, entitled “Do you believe this?” (John 11: 26), at the First Armenian Evangelical Church - Kantari, Beirut, hosted by 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, with the participation of the Heads of the Churches, and the presence of the MECC Secretary General Professor Dr. Michel Abs.

The Closing Prayer was held under the title “Do you believe this?” (John 11: 26), on Saturday 25 January 2025, at the First Armenian Evangelical Church - Kantari, Beirut.

You can find in the video the word delivered by His Beatitude Patriarch Cardinal Mar Bechara Boutros Al-Rai, Maronite Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, during the closing Prayer of the "Week of Prayer for Christian Unity", which was held on Saturday 25 January 2025, at the First Armenian Evangelical Church - Kantari, Beirut.

You can find in the video the word delivered by 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, during the closing Prayer of the "Week of Prayer for Christian Unity", which was held on Saturday 25 January 2025, at the First Armenian Evangelical Church - Kantari, Beirut.

As part of the "Season of Creation" and Environmental Days Celebrations in the Middle East, the EcoJustice Unit at the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) prepared an environmental activity and a Christmas celebration in the Anafora Oasis on the Desert Road in Egypt.

For the occasion, the youth of Egypt, in coordination with the youth of the Coptic Orthodox, Catholic, Evangelical and Episcopal churches, the Ecumenical Youth Committee in Egypt and all other youth, celebrated the fourth day of Christmas and Epiphany on January 10, 2025, which is a great and wonderful Feast. Upon arrival, the youth were hosted with ecological welcome drinks.

Then, the Coordinator of the EcoJustice Unit Archdeacon Garen Yosolkanian, welcomed the active youth who are the pulse of life and the leaders of the present in developing the society and studies. He also welcomed the President of the Egypt Council of Churches Reverend Yeshua Yacoub, the Presidnet of the Ecumenical Youth Committee in Egypt Mr. Medhat Fayez, and all the officials and representatives of the Egyptian youth.

Archdeacon Garen, the Coordinator of the EcoJustice Unit at the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), visited His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark, congratulating His Holiness on the New Year, Christmas, and Epiphany holidays at the beginning of the year according to the Julian calendar and the Feast of the Circumcision on January 14, 2025.

The visit was attended by the Associate Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches Dr. Gerges Saleh, the President of the Ecumenical Youth Committee in Egypt Mr. Medhat Fayez, the Vice President Mr. Nour Bahnan, the Director of the Armenian Genocide Orphans Museum, Aram Bezikian, Archdeacon Maestro Krikor El-Wazian, Deacon Kyrillos Wehbeh, and Agnostos Samuel Ibrahim.

With love and one voice, the fragrance of hymns at the end of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity wafts through the voices of the Ecumenical choir which included members from different Church Families.

End of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity.

Professor Dr. Michel Abs from the First Armenian Evangelical Church - Kantari:

"In the absence of institutional unity that every believer longs for, we can be united in the spirituality of faith and society, as we embrace the same faith, we follow it, as well as the social values ​​that result from it, and through which we serve humanity. Thanks to this faith, humanity has created all forms of services that care for the tired and burdened people.

At the first half century of the MECC’s life, we promise you to continue the work of rapprochement that we have been doing since its founding, and which is included as a basic rule in its constitution and founding documents...

Today, we are at the peak of the institutionalization work that will ensure the continuity of MECC, so that it can continue the tasks entrusted to it by the founders, and we need your continuous blessings, Prayers and support so that this institution, which is considered one of the highest forms of joint Christian work, will be preserved for decades to come, and remains the home of Christian fellowship in the region that witnessed the Incarnation and Resurrection.”

With one love, one heart and great hope, the Heads of the Churches and faithful people unite in a Prayer Service at the First Armenian Evangelical Church - Kantari, Beirut, on the occasion of the ending of the "Week of Prayer for Christian Unity" 2025 entitled “Do you believe this?” (John 11: 26).

“O Merciful Lord, lead us to work together to spread Your light and freedom wherever there is darkness, tyranny, suffering and injustice” (from the Prayer Service of the Week of Unity 2025).

An Ecumenical Prayer Service on the occasion of the ending of the “Week of Prayer for Christian Unity” 2025 entitled “Do you believe this?” (John 11: 26), at the First Armenian Evangelical Church - Kantari, Beirut, hosted by 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, with the participation of thre Heads of the Churches, and the presence of the Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC).

You can find the Prayer of the eighth 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).

You can find the Prayer of the seventh 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).

You can find the Prayer of the sixth 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).

Below you can find the Prayer of the fifth 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).

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.