Professor Michel Abs

The Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC)

For the third consecutive year, we turn to Egypt to participate in the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, or as we call it briefly, the Week of Unity. Once again, we experience the interaction and life with what I call "Egyptian Christianity," which encompasses all the churches of the land of Egypt, the land of the Nile, the land of the Holy Family's refuge.

The experience with this kind-hearted people, the Egyptian people, in all its components, is always beautiful and enriched with love, experience, and knowledge.

The visits we have made to the spiritual leaders in Egypt have been a source for launching new areas of cooperation in service to Egyptian society, where the Church and Christians are an integral part. These leaders, always giving, provide support for the Council’s works and reinforce its aspirations.

During our meetings with church and Islamic leaders as well, we have managed to shape directions that must yield positive results for our societies.

Firstly, we reached an agreement with the officials of “Beit El-‘Aila,” (Home of the Family), this pioneering experience, to develop a cooperation document in the field of dialogue and social cohesion. The Council and Beit El-‘Aila both work in this field, and the two institutions found that combining efforts in this area leads to significant gains in terms of national unity in the Middle East, as both of them have the necessary experience to dive into this endeavor. All of this stems from shared basic values and the national vision held by both institutions and their leadership…

Episode Twelve: His Visit to the Arab Republic of Egypt and the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2026, and a Highlight on the International Day of Human Fraternity

Prepared and Presented by the Journalist Lea Adel Maamary

Produced by MECC

Entitled "We Pray Together,"

Within the "Hot Issues" Program on Al Keraza TV

Prepared and Presented by the MECC Associate Secretary General Reverend Refaat Fikry

At the Greek Orthodox Patriarchal Monastery of St. George in Old Cairo

At the conclusion of the Week of Unity at the Greek Orthodox Patriarchal Monastery of St. George in Old Cairo, the Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Professor Michel Abs said: “

Dialogue is a culture ingrained in our hearts and minds, and the Council is a haven for dialogue among the Churches. Hence, the Week of Unity has become an annual tradition, evolving over the years and taken very seriously each year, as the Churches come together and Pray in love and fraternity.

The new Ecumenism is based on service in various fields, and we, as the Middle East Council of Churches, undertake many initiatives that bring the Churches closer together. The Council also aspires to be a center for dialogue and intellectual and cognitive research, in accordance with a new strategy.”

(Part Two)

(Part One)

Cairo, January 30, 2026

“Youth in the Church are not merely an age group; they are a heart beating with hope and a spirit bearing the good news of tomorrow. In their presence, we see the enthusiasm that enlivens the community, and in their Prayers, we feel a simple yet profound Faith that reminds us that God is always working in young hearts.”

With these words, the Youth Day during the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2026, was held under the title "Christ Fills Us All," at the Evangelical Church in Giza_ Cairo.

The Prayer was presided over by the Pastor of the Evangelical Church in Giza_ Cairo Reverend Dr. Bachir Anwar Noudi, Advisor to the Supreme Committee for Supporting State Institutions.

Attendees were the 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 Regional Secretary of the World Student Christian Federation (WSCF) Engineer Moussa Mehany, Dr. Zahi Azar, President of the Ecumenical Institute for the Middle East, Father Fayez Nad, Member of the Priests and Parish Committee at the Egyptian Council of Churches, Father Boutros Fouad, Member of the Week of Prayer Committee and the Priests and Parish Committee on behalf of the Orthodox Church, Father Youhanna Saad, Member of the Week of Prayer Committee and the Priests and Parish Committee on behalf of the Catholic Church, Coordinator of the Dialogue, 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, Mr. Medhat Fayez, Head of the Ecumenical Committee, Mrs. Marta Fayez, Member of the Women's Committee, Mrs. Noura Edward, Member of the Week of Prayer Committee and Member of the Women's Committee, Gergis Mounir, Member of the Prayer Committee, Nour Behnan, Member of the Prayer Committee, Kyrillos Wahba, Member of the Prayer Committee, and believers.

Under the Title: “Christ Fills Us All”

Youth in the Church are not merely an age group; they are a heart beating with hope and a spirit bearing the good news of tomorrow. In their presence, we see the enthusiasm that enlivens the community, and in their Prayers, we feel a simple yet profound Faith that reminds us that God is always working in young hearts.

They are an inextinguishable flame, teaching us that Faith is not simply a tradition to be preserved, but a life lived with love and courage. With them, the Church is renewed, moving confidently towards the future, believing that every generation is called to be a witness to the light and a builder of unity and hope.

“Momentum”

30-1-2026

This issue includes reports, videos, news, articles, and a full coverage of the latest developments of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), as well as the Church, Ecumenical, and social events…

This is in addition to the weekly word of the MECC Secretary General Professor Michel Abs which is entitled in this issue "Ecumenism: A Reflective Pause Along a Long Journey". It is the speech he delivered at the Ecumenical Prayer Service held on the occasion of the Closing of the "Week of Prayer for Christian Unity," on Sunday, January 25, 2026, at the Archangel Raphael Chaldean Cathedral, Baabda - Lebanon.

You can check the issue via the following link: https://mailchi.mp/df327238da53/momentum-mecc-weekly-newsletter.

You can also subscribe to the Momentum Newsletter via the following link:

https://mecc.us14.list-manage.com/subscribe?id=fd3381352a&u=1db32cafe9ea32b38eb90480a.

Professor Michel Abs

Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC)

Today we conclude the prayers of the Week of Christian Unity at St. Raphael Chaldean Cathedral—a church of martyrs, like St. Ephrem the Syrian Church, where we prayed two days ago, and like the Cathedral of St. Gregory the Illuminator at the Armenian Catholicosate of the Great House of Cilicia, where we opened the Week of Prayer. It is as though blood has been our means and martyrdom our destiny: we offer our lives in defense of humanity and as a path to its salvation. The purest testimony is the testimony of blood.

Today we pray in the presence of the spirit of Mar Addai and Mar Mari, among the earliest saints and evangelizers of the Church of the East in the first century AD, founders of the Church in Beth Nahrain (Mesopotamia) and Persia. Mar Addai was one of the Seventy-Two disciples whom the Apostle Thomas sent to Edessa (Urfa), and he became its first bishop. Mar Mari was his disciple, who continued evangelization throughout Beth Nahrain—present-day Iraq—and founded the Church in Mosul. They share a renowned liturgy known as the Liturgy of Addai and Mari, one of the oldest Christian liturgies still in use in the Chaldean and Assyrian Churches.

We pray today under the care of the active shepherd of this blessed eparchy and with its team—an eparchy whose history now spans a century and a half. We thank them for their hospitality and commend their efforts in welcoming successive waves of displacement over past decades—efforts that, I am convinced, continue to this day, though at a lesser pace, given the numerical decline of the faithful in their lands of origin.

As we conclude the one hundred and eighteenth Week of Prayer for Unity, we are called to pause and reflect on this journey, attempting to outline an evaluative perspective—especially since criticisms of it persist, and some reject it outright. Every opinion has its place, and every scholarly opinion deserves respect, provided it is expressed through accepted and civil means…

Cairo, January 29, 2026

"When, O Lord and God, the sweet fragrance of Your love fills us and our souls are enlightened by the knowledge of Your truth, we become worthy to receive the Transfiguration of Your Beloved Son from heaven. We thank You and praise You in Your crowned Church, overflowing with the abundance of Your grace and blessings, for You are the Lord and Creator of all, now and forever."

Prayers, hymns, petitions, and readings marked the sixth day of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2026, held at Our Lady of Fatima Chaldeans Cathedral in Cairo.

The Prayer was presided over by the Chaldean Patriarchal Administrator in Egypt Bishop Paul Sati, with the participation of Archbishop George Chihane, Maronite Archbishop of Cairo for Egypt and Sudan, and Bishop Dr. Damaskinos Al-Azrai, Bishop of Mariout, Greek Orthodox Patriarchal Vicar in Alexandria and Member of the Executive Committee of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), Bishop Krikor Augustinos Koussa, Coptic Catholic Bishop of Alexandria, Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Professor Michel Abs, Secretary General of the Egyptian Council of Churches Reverend Yeshua Yacoub, MECC Honorary Secretary General Dr. Gergis Saleh, MECC Associate Secretary General Reverend Refaat Fikry, Reverend Fayez Nad, Member of the Priests and Pastors Committee on behalf of the Episcopal Church and Member of the Week of Prayer Committee, Father Youhanna Saad, Member of the Week of Prayer Committee and Member of the Priests and Parish Committee on behalf of the Catholic Church; Father Nabil Rafoul, Priest of St. Rita Church in Heliopolis, Father Michael Selim, Franciscan, Father Rafik Jreich, Member of the Media Committee at the Egyptian Council of Churches , Sheikh Victor, Member of the Week of Prayer Committee on behalf of  the Evangelical Church, Professor Laure Abi Khalil, Coordinator of Dialogue, Social Cohesion, and Human Dignity Programs at MECC, Journalist Lea Adel Maamary, Coordinator of Church Relations and Media at MECC, Marta Fayez, Member of the Women's Committee at the Egyptian Council of Churches, Noura Edward, Member of the Week of Prayer Committee and Member of the Women's Committee at the Egyptian Council of Churches on behalf of the Orthodox Church, and Mr. Emad Ayad, Member of the Week of Prayer Committee on behalf of the Catholic Church.

In Our Lady of Fatima Chaldean Cathedral_ Cairo

The Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Professor Michel Abs, from Our Lady of Fatima Chaldean Cathedral_ Cairo: "

The Week of Christian Unity is part of a global Ecumenical tradition. We all yearn for Christian unity, but we live within and through it, and all our Prayers and joint activities affirm this.”

Words Emphasized that Unity is Love and Strength

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.

In St. Gregory the Illuminator Church_ Cairo

On the fifth day of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity in Egypt, the Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Professor Michel Abs, said at the St. Gregory the Illuminator Church:

“Ecumenism is a culture of acceptance and diversity, it is a culture of accepting one another, and reaching joint projects.”

(Part Three)

(Part Two)

“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”.

(Part One)

Shoubra_ Egypt_ January 27, 2026

“You have gathered us together, in all our diversity, and made us Your family and Your Church. You are the True Light that dispels the darkness of sin and kindles joy and hope in our hearts.”

On the fourth day of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, a unity Prayer Service was held at the Evangelical Church in Shoubra_ Egypt, which sowed joy and hope in the hearts of the faithful and participants. The Service was held 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).

Attendees were Priests and Pastors from various Churches in Egypt, Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Professor Michel Abs, Secretary General of the Egyptian Council of Churches Reverend Yeshua Yacoub, Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Reverend Refaat Fikry, Honorary Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Dr. Gergis Saleh, Coordinator of Social Cohesion, Dialogue, and Human Dignity Programs Professor Laure Abi Khalil, Coordinator of Church Relations and Media at MECC Journalist Lea Adel Maamary, as well as Nuns, Members of the Week of Prayer Committee, and Believers.

In the Evangelical Church in Shouba_ Egypt

The Evangelical Church in Shouba_ Egypt hosted the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity.

Readings, reflections, and hymns emphasized the importance of love, "How wonderful it is to be gathered together."

In his word, the Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Professor Michel Abs said, "We do not pray for unity, but rather we pray within unity so that we may better understand it and live it."