From the heart of Beirut we came, from the Armenian Church, in the name of Saints Elias and Gregory, we gathered to launch the week of prayer for the unity of Christians, and why not, the unity of man.

From the heart of the region that witnessed the destruction, division and fragmentation of Lebanon, we came to utter the word of the Incarnate Word, an act of faith in man.

From this region that witnessed attack and desertion between warring factions, or more exactly between warring countries, we came on this dark night of human history to say the word of the child born in the manger on whose swaddling clothes the executioners and killers had voted, just like those who are about to vote on Lebanon’s cloak as well as on that of the Mashreq intend to do today.

By Mrs. Frieda Haddad Abs

The whole meaning of the spiritual dimension of the city of Jerusalem is summarized in a nutshell in the words of the prophet Isaiah: “Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem… the gloom will not be upon her who is distressed… The people who waked in darkness have seen a great light.” (Isaiah 40 :1 and 9 :1,2)

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.

The Service and Relief Department- Diakonia, at the Middle East Council of Churches, Syria’s office, implemented sessions on positive parenting for mothers in order to help them deal in a better way with their children and families and to break their daily routine cycle through enabling them to engage in a new positive activity.

In total, the activity targeted 80 mothers whose children were participants in the summer school in July and August.

You can find the speech of His Holiness Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II, Patriarch of Antioch and All the East and Supreme Head of the Universal Syriac Orthodox Church, and president of MECC for the Eastern Orthodox Family, during the MECC 11th General Assembly, held between 6 and 8 September 2016 in Amman, Jordan, under the title of “Give thanks to the Lord for He is good, His mercy endures forever” (Psalm 136: 1).

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”.

The week of January 18-25 of each year is the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. This is a tradition that has become part of the Christian year, and the Church of Christ around the world participates in it.

The premise of this matter is a feeling among Christians that the Church has been fragmented to the utmost and that its sons have become discordant and at odds, not united by the “Word” and His commandment.

In this the above assertion, there is a misreading of things and an approach that needs to be corrected.

Dedicating a week of prayer for christian unity might suggest that Christ's disciples only seek unity during this time of the year. However, they pray for unity daily throughout the year, with a common belief in “One, holy, catholic and apostolic Church”. What distinguishes these eight days is that Christians from different Churches and communities pray together, reflecting on one subject, following one service, and gathered locally in one place.

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.

"UNiTE to End Violence against Women"

One in two women reported that they or a woman they know experienced some type of violence, and nearly one in 4 women feel unsafe at home... These are numbers recorded by the UN Women based on data from 13 countries since the Coronavirus outbreak. But these are also shocking numbers that describe a harsh reality. Hence, danger on women’s life is increasing, specially that they are often considered one of the weakest groups in societies.