With the Blessings and Presence of His Beatitude Patriarch Raphaël Bedros XXI Minassian
The MECC Secretary General Professor Michel Abs Participates in the Book Signing Ceremony of "Walking Together" by Mrs. Rita Kouroumelian
You can find some photos at the end of the text.
Photos: Abouna.org
With the blessings and presence of His Beatitude Patriarch Raphaël Bedros XXI Minassian, Catholicos Patriarch of the Armenian Catholic Church of Cilicia, and President of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) for the Catholic Family, a book signing ceremony for "Walking Together" by Mrs. Rita Kouroumelian was held in a Cultural-Ecclesiastical gathering on Sunday, February 22, 2026, at the Armenian Catholic Cathedral of Saints Gregory the Illuminator and Elias the Prophet in Beirut.
The gathering brought together Their Eminences Bishops and Priests from various Churches in Beirut, the Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Professor Michel Abs, Director of the MECC Theological and Ecumenical Department Father Dr. Antoine Al Ahmar, as well as Religious, official, political, cultural, and media figures, in addition to guests and friends.
Welcoming words were addressed at the beginning, and emphasized, according to Abouna.org website, on the "importance of the new publication, which documents the experience of participating in the Synodal journey of the Church and offers a living testimony to the spirit of walking together in the Church and its mission today." This was followed by discussions focusing on the Ecclesiastical, spiritual, and cultural sides of the book.
His Beatitude Patriarch Minassian also delivered a speech in which he stressed on the importance of the Synodal journey in the life of the Church. According to Abouna.org werbsite, he stressed that walking together constitutes the essential path for renewing the mission and strengthening genuine participation among the various components of the Church. He commended the author's efforts in conveying and documenting this experience, which offers hope and encouragement to the faithful to continue on the path of unity in faith.
For her part, Author Rita Kouroumelian expressed her gratitude to all who accompanied her on this journey, considering the book not a personal work but the fruit of a collective experience the Church underwent during the Synod. She called for continued efforts to cultivate a culture of encounter, dialogue, and shared responsibility in service to the Church and society.
At the end, the book was “baptized” according to Armenian traditions and signed, and attendees exchanged greetings with the author. A symbolic gift was also offered to His Beatitude Patriarch Raphaël Bedros XXI Minassian.
