Beginning of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity at the Sacred Heart Coptic Catholic Church_ Egypt
You can find some photos at the end of the text.
January 22, 2026
The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity began at the Sacred Heart Coptic Catholic Church in Egypt, under the theme “There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope of your calling” (Ephesians 4: 4). The opening day, titled "Our Vocation," included a Procession led by the Deacons with the hymn "O King of Peace," creating a spiritual atmosphere that reflected the love and unity among the Churches.
Then, Father Francis, Pastor of the Sacred Heart Church, welcomed the guests at the beginning of the celebration. This was followed by a joint Prayer, " Our Father in Heaven," with the participation of all the attendees, in a scene that embodied the depth of communion and Christian unity.
The Service took place in the presence of His Beatitude Patriarch Anba Ibrahim Isaac, Coptic Catholic Patriarch of Alexandria, and President of the Council of Catholic Patriarchs and Bishops in Egypt, His Grace Bishop Angelos, General Bishop of North Shoubra Churches, Representing His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, His Grace Archbishop Sami Fawzy, Archbishop of the Episcopal Church in Egypt, Ethiopia and the Horn of Africa, His Grace Bishop Ashot, Primate of the Armenian Orthodox Diocese of Egypt, and His Grace Anba Thomas Adly, Coptic Catholic Bishop of the Diocese of Giza, Fayoum and Beni Suef.
Attendees were also Reverend Refaat Fikry, Associate Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), Reverend Yeshua Yacoub, Secretary General Secretary of the Egyptian Council of Churches, Dr. Gergis Saleh, Honorary Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), Father Boutros Fouad, Reverend Najeh Fawzy, Father Paul Gergis, Associate Secretary General of the Egyptian Council of Churches, Members of the Priests and Parishes Committee of the Egyptian Council of Churches, along with Members of the Week of Prayer Committees and the Ecumenical Committee, including Professor Essam Ayad, Sheikh Victor, Mrs. Nancy, Mr. Medhat Fayez, Head of the Ecumenical Committee, Mrs. Nour Behnan, Member of the Ecumenical Committee, and Mrs. Noura Edward, Member of the Week of Prayer Committee and Member of the Women's Committee of the Egyptian Council of Churches.
They all affirmed that the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity embodies a sincere call for love, acceptance of others, deepening the Ecumenical spirit, and consolidating the values of peace and a unified Christian witness.
His Beatitude Patriarch Ibrahim Isaac, Coptic Catholic Patriarch, delivered a Sermon in which he reflected on the significance of the occasion.
Dr. Gergis Saleh, MECC Honorary Secretary General delivered a speech on behalf of the Coptic Orthodox Church, and His Grace Archbishop Sami Shehata, Archbishop of the Episcopal Church in Egypt, delivered a speech on behalf of the Episcopal Church.
Reverend Refaat Fikry, MECC Associate Secretary General, delivered a speech on behalf of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC).
Reverend Yeshua Yacoub, Secretary General Secretary of the Egyptian Council of Churches, delivered a speech on behalf of the Egyptian Council of Churches.
It was a day full of faith and hope.
