The Union of the Armenian Evangelical Churches in the Near East Inaugurates the "Aharonian Hall"
In the Presence of Reverend Dr. Paul Haidostian
Secretary General Professor Michel Abs: “Reverend Hovhannes Aharonian... His deep Armenian Evangelical roots did not prevent him from opening to the whole Church of Christ and from formulating the ecumenical strategic vision embodied in MECC”
In honor of the Armenian Evangelical and Ecumenical Leader, the Late Reverend Hovhannes Aharonian (1909-1986), the Union of the Armenian Evangelical Churches in the Near East (UAECNE) inaugurated the renovated reception hall of the First Armenian Evangelical Church in Beirut, named "Aharonian Hall."
The inauguration ceremony was held on Saturday, September 27, 2025, in the presence of Reverend Dr. Paul Haidostian, President of the Union of the Armenian Evangelical Churches in the Near East (UAECNE), President of Haigazian University in Lebanon, and President of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) for the Evangelical Family, as well as Religious and Ecumenical figures, social and cultural personalities, and guests.
The Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) was present at the ceremony, with the participation of the Secretary General Professor Michel Abs, the Associate Secretary General Mrs. Seta Hadeshian, the Director of the Theological and Ecumenical Department Father Dr. Antoine Al Ahmar, and the Social Media Officer Johnny Antoun.
Reverend Haidostian opened the celebration with a Prayer and an expressive speech that embodied the journey of the honoree and his achievements.
During the celebration, the Secretary General Professor Michel Abs delivered a speech entitled "Reverend Hovhannes Aharonian, a Radiant Ecumenical Figure," in which he noted that Aharonian “was the first President of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) for the Evangelical family…”.
He continued, "Reverend Hovhannes Aharonian presided over MECC from the date of its establishment in 1974 and until 1985, a period marked by great challenges, as the Council transitioned from its first identity as the Near East Council of Churches, which included only the Evangelical family, to its new identity as MECC, embracing both Orthodox families, Chalcedonian and non-Chalcedonian."
He added, "This visionary ecumenical leader accompanied the Council’s formation on this new path, ecumenism, which required foresight, openness, and great capacity for dialogue, accepting theological and liturgical differences, and at times, divergent views of life. In doing so, he affirmed the Council’s ecumenical nature and solidified the sincerity of the ecumenical mission exemplified by the Evangelical churches within the Council, despite the arrows directed at them throughout their ecumenical journey.
His deep Armenian Evangelical roots did not prevent him from opening to the whole Church of Christ and from formulating the ecumenical strategic vision embodied in MECC. This Council showed great vitality and ability to evolve, later welcoming the Catholic family and remaining active in many fields."
It is worth noting that the celebration included a Prayer and many speeches by the Union of the Evangelical Churches and the Near East School of Theology, documenting the journey of the Late Reverend Hovhannes Aharonian and his most notable achievements in Church life, as well as in the Ecumenical world, where he left diverse historical marks.