Fifth Day of the Prayer for Christian Unity in Egypt_ St. Gregory the Illuminator Armenian Orthodox Church
Words Emphasized that Unity is Love and Strength
You can find some photos at the end of the text.
Cairo, January 28, 2026
“O Lord our God, keep us in peace this evening and at all times. With the reverence of Your holiness, keep our minds and thoughts high, so that at all times, by You, we may be protected from the thoughts and deceptions of the devil”.
It is one of the Prayers that marked the fifth day of Prayer for Christian unity held at St. Gregory the Illuminator Armenian Orthodox Church in Cairo.
The Prayer of Unity was presided over by Bishop Ashot Mnatsakanian, Primate of the Armenian Orthodox Diocese of Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia, with the participation of His Grace Bishop Thomas Adly, Coptic Catholic Bishop of Giza, Fayoum and Beni Suef and Member of the Executive Committee of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), Archbishop George Chihane, Maronite Archbishop of Cairo for Egypt and Sudan, Bishop Krikor Augustinos Koussa, Coptic Catholic Bishop of Alexandria, Father Rabban Philips Issa, Priest of the Virgin Mary Syriac Orthodox Church in Cairo, Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Professor Michel Abs, Secretary General of the Egyptian Council of Churches Reverend Yeshua Yacoub, Honorary Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Dr. Gergis Saleh, Associate General Secretary of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Reverend Refaat Fikry. Attendees were also Reverend Fayez Nad, Member of the Priests and Pastors Committee on behalf of the Episcopal Church and Member of the Week of Prayer Committee, Coordinator of the Dialogue, Social Cohesion, and Human Dignity Program Professor Laure Abi Khalil, Coordinator of Church Relations and Media at the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Journalist Lea Adel Maamary, Priests from various Churches, as well as members of the Week of Prayer Committee: Reverend Boutros Fouad (Coptic Orthodox Church), Noura Edward, Member of the Week of Prayer and Women's Committees of the Egyptian Council of Churches, Mrs. Nancy Anis (Coptic Orthodox Church), Sheikh Victor Fahmy (Evangelical Church), Engineer Essam Ayad (Catholic Church), Engineer Kyrillos Wahba (Coptic Orthodox Church), and other believers.
The Prayer began with a welcoming word delivered by Deacon Raffi Boghossian, who emphasized that the doors of the Armenian Church are always open to everyone.
Then, the Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Professor Michel Abs delivered a word in which he affirmed that:
“Ecumenism is a culture of acceptance and diversity, it is a culture of accepting one another, and reaching joint projects.”
He also spoke about the history of the Armenian Church, the historical phases it has passed through, and its relationship with the Council and the Ecumenical movement.
In addition, the Secretary General of the Egyptian Council of Churches Reverend Yeshua Yacoub delivered a speech that included the meanings of the Week of Unity and emphasized that Ecumenism is fulfilled when we stand together.
Moreover, Their Eminences Bishops and Priests recited the Biblical Prayers amidst hymns performed by the choir according to the Armenian Rite.
At the end of the Prayer, the Nicene-Constantinople Creed was recited, and Father Rabban Philips Issa, Priest of the Virgin Mary Syriac Orthodox Church in Cairo, recited the Lord's Prayer in Syriac.
The Prayer concluded with a word delivered by Bishop Ashot Mnatsakanian who mentioned that: "What unites us all is the Lord Jesus Christ, to Whom be glory, and we must cherish the Lord Jesus Christ Who lives in us." Then, Dr. George Simonian read His Eminence’s word in Arabic.
