Sunday 23 February 2022

As part of the "Week of Prayer for Christian Unity" 2022, Télé Lumière and Noursat, in cooperation with the Middle East Council of Churches, will broadcast a special episode, entitled "Towards Unity", about the role of youth in the ecumenical movement, on Sunday 23 January 2022 at 20:30 Beirut time and 18:30 GMT. The episode is prepared by the MECC Communication and Public Relations Department and presented by Ralph Tawitian, and will be published soon on the MECC website.

On the occasion of the "Week of Prayer for Christian Unity", MECC Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs was the guest of “Kel Yom Bi Yawmo” program (which means “Day by Day”) on Suboro TV, Wednesday 19 January 2022.

During the interview, Dr. Abs highlighted the mission of the Middle East Council of Churches and its ecumenical journey since its establishment, especially towards Christian Unity, in addition to the most prominent historical stations that the Council has passed through.

The new issue of the weekly newsletter Momentum issued by the Communication and Public Relations Department of the Middle East Council of Churches presents the message of His Beatitude Patriarch Raphaël Bedros XXI Minassian Patriarch of Cilicia for the Armenian Catholics in Arabic at the opening of the “Week of Prayer for Christian Unity” 2022 in Beirut, as well as a special coverage about this ceremony. As for the weekly message of Dr. Abs, it was entitled “It Is a Prayer for Humankind”.

Their Beatitudes Cardinal Bechara Boutros Al Rahi, Patriarch Mor Ignatius Youssef III Younan and Patriarch Youssef Al Absi:

Prayer and Love are essential for Christian Unity

The "Week of Prayer for Christian Unity" arrived this year expressing the pain and sorrow of a Christian reality victim of globalization, extremism, and hate speech. However, the eight-day-prayer, once started, brings a dose of hope, fraternity, and light. The Week of Prayer, between January 18 and 25, unites Christians in hearts and spirits like every year, raising prayers, singing, and imploring the Lord Jesus for this unity they were deprived from throughout the years.

Report: 19 January 2022

The corona pandemic continues to serge at elevated rates in all Middle East countries. Due to its impressive ability to transmit from one person to another, vaccinated and non-vaccinated people are getting infected.

Eight-Day-Prayer for Christian Unity

Beginning with St. Peter's Mission and Ending with St. Paul's Conversion

The "Week of Prayer for Christian Unity" 2022 was launched and the eight-day-prayer began around the world. This historic annual ritual between January 18 and 25 in the global Christian calendar is an initiative to quench believers who thirst for unity, a unity our Lord Jesus Christ prayed for and entrusted us with as he said: “that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you.” (John 17:21)

As part of the “Week of Prayer for Christian Unity” 2022 activities, Father Tanios Khalil, President of the Association of Faculties and Institutes of Theology in the Middle East related to the Middle East Council of Churches, and member of the Episcopal Committee for Ecumenical Relations for the Council of Catholic Patriarchs and Bishops, was the guest of “Kel Yom” (which means “Everyday”) program on Voice of Van radio channel, prepared and presented by Hala Haddad, on Monday 17 January 2022.

On the occasion of the “Week of Prayer for Christian Unity” 2022, Télé Lumière and Noursat prepared in cooperation with the MECC Theological and Ecumenical Department and Communication and Public Relations Department a special episode focusing on the meanings and importance of the week of Prayer, as well as the aspects and symbolism of Christian unity, especially amidst the difficult circumstances that Christians are going through in the East and the world.

On the kick-off of the "Week of Prayer for Christian Unity" 2022, the Patriarchal Vicar of the Armenian Catholic Church His Eminence Archbishop Georges Assadourian was the guest of the morning show “Yom Jdid” (which means “New Day”) on OTV, on Monday 17 January 2022 to discuss about the week of prayer and the importance of Christian Unity.

As part of the "Week of Prayer for Christian Unity" 2022 activities, MTV interviewed in its morning program Alive, on Sunday 17 January 2022, the director of the MECC Theological and Ecumenical Department Father Antoine Al Ahmar and the member of the MECC preparatory committee of the prayers’ booklet Reverend Dr. Rima Nasrallah from the National Evangelical Church in Beirut to shed light on the meanings of the week of prayer and the importance of Christian unity.

The annual international Prayer Octave will be happening soon, and its preparations are still ongoing, aiming at achieving the goal of building bridges and shortening distances.

The “Week of Prayer for Christian Unity” will be launched next Tuesday on January 18 and will end on January 25. During this week, we pray and sing together praising our Lord Jesus through a special booklet. The theme of this year is focusing on the Christmas star and entitled “We saw his star at its rising and have come to do him homage” (Matthew 2:2).

The new issue of the weekly newsletter Momentum issued by the Communication and Public Relations Department of the Middle East Council of Churches presents the daily prayers of the “Week of Prayer for Christian Unity” 2022 in Arabic and the Prayer of Unity also in Arabic, as well as the 2022 booklet. As for the weekly message of the MECC Secretary General Dr. Abs, it was entitled “A Prayer for Unity”.

El Movimiento Ecuménico: El legado histórico de la Iglesia y el padrino de la unidad de los cristianos durante generaciones

Un rayo de esperanza en medio de un mar de crisis y divisiones, un movimiento que llama siempre a la aceptación de los demás y al reconocimiento de la riqueza de la diversidad entre las familias eclesiales en un mundo impregnado de odio, violencia y hostilidad (...) El movimiento ecuménico es un estilo de vida basado en la oración, el arrepentimiento y la solidaridad con el objetivo de restaurar la comunión y la unidad entre todos los cristianos.

The Ecumenical Movement: The Historical Church Legacy and Godfather of Christian Unity for Generations

A glimmer of hope amidst a sea of crises and divisions, a movement always calling for the acceptance of others and the recognition of the richness in diversity among ecclesial families in a world steeped in hate, violence and hostility... The Ecumenical movement is a lifestyle based on prayer, repentance, and solidarity aiming to restore communion and unity amongst All Christians.

Report: 12 January 2022

Just like the rest of the world, the Middle East embarked on a war against Omicron. Nearly every nation has reported new surges as the virus spreads among the vaccinated and unvaccinated.