His Beatitude Patriarch Mor Ignatius Joseph III Younan Celebrates the Feast of Saint Ephrem the Syrian, Patron Saint of the Syriac Church and Doctor of the Universal Church
The MECC Secretary General Professor Michel Abs Participates in the Divine Liturgy
You can find some photos at the end of the text.
On the occasion of the Feast of Saint Ephrem the Syrian, Patron Saint of the Syriac Church and Doctor of the Universal Church, His Beatitude Patriarch Mor Ignatius Joseph III Younan, Syriac Catholic Patriarch of Antioch, and Honorary President of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), celebrated the Solemn Pontifical Divine Liturgy on Saturday, February 21, 2026, at the historic Cathedral of Saint George, Khandak Al-Ghamik – Bachoura, Beirut, in the presence of His Excellency Dr. Paul Marcos, Lebanese Minister of Information, Representing His Excellency President of the Lebanese Republic General Joseph Aoun.
His Beatitude the Patriarch was assisted by His Eminence Bishop Mar Matthias Charles Mrad, Patriarchal Vicar of the Syriac Catholic Archdiocese of Beirut, and Head of the Episcopal Committee for Christian-Muslim Dialogue in Lebanon, and His Eminence Bishop Mar Isaac Jules Boutros, Bishop of the Syriac Catholic Patriarchal Vicariate.
Attendees were His Beatitude Patriarch Raphaël Bedros XXI Minassian, Patriarch of the Armenian Catholic Church of Cilicia, and President of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) for the Catholic Family, who read the Holy Gospel, His Eminence Archbishop Paolo Borgia, Apostolic Nuncio to Lebanon, His Eminence Archbishop Paul Abdel Sater, Maronite Archbishop of Beirut, Representing His Beatitude Patriarch Cardinal Mar Bechara Boutros Al-Rai, Maronite Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, who was absent due to a Pastoral visit to the Netherlands, and His Eminence Archbishop Mor Chrysostomos Mikhael Chamoun, Syriac Orthodox Metropolitan of Mount Lebanon and Tripoli, Representing His Holiness Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II, Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, Supreme Head of the Syriac Orthodox Church of the World, and Honorary President of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), who was absent due to a Pastoral visit to Australia.
The Mass was also attended by Bishops and Church Figures, as well as Parish Priests and Deacons from the Patriarchal Vicariate, the Patriarchal Archdiocese of Beirut, and the Monastery of Our Lady of Salvation, along with Ephraimite Monks, Ephraimite Nuns, and Seminarians from the Patriarchal Seminary of Our Lady of Salvation.
As well as, attendees were the Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Professor Michel Abs, Member of the Executive Committee of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Lawyer Mr. Ibrahim Traboulsi, political, official, social, and cultural figures, and a congregation of faithful from the Syriac Orthodox Parishes of the Patriarchal Archdiocese of Beirut, and members of the Holy Family Mission for Iraqi and Syrian refugees in Lebanon.
The Mass was served by a choir led by Joseph Belloni, and the youth movements of the Patriarchal Archdiocese of Beirut oversaw the organization.
Following the Holy Gospel, His Beatitude Patriarch Mor Ignatius Joseph III Younan delivered a Spiritual Sermon entitled "Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father," in which he spoke about the meaning and significance of this verse, particularly its message of hope and consolation.
Before the end of the Divine Liturgy, Chorbishop Habib Mrad, Member of the Executive Committee of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), delivered a word of filial gratitude to His Beatitude, praying for his health, well-being, and long life, and extending his best wishes to him and all the attendees, thanking them for their presence and participation.
After the final blessing, the Patriarchs, Bishops, civil, military and official personalities, Clergy, and faithful, offered their greetings to His Beatitude Patriarch Mor Ignatius Joseph III Younan, in an atmosphere of spiritual joy.
