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”.

La semana del 18 al 25 de enero de cada año es la Semana de Oración por la Unidad de los Cristianos. Se trata de una tradición que se ha convertido en parte del año cristiano y en la que participa la Iglesia de Cristo de todo el mundo.

La premisa de este asunto es el sentimiento entre los cristianos de que la Iglesia se ha fragmentado al máximo y que sus hijos se han vuelto discordantes y enfrentados, no unidos por la «Palabra» y su mandamiento.

En esta afirmación hay una lectura errónea de las cosas y un planteamiento que hay que corregir.

Dedicar una semana de oración por la unidad de los cristianos podría sugerir que los discípulos de Cristo sólo buscan la unidad durante esta época del año. Sin embargo, rezan por la unidad a diario durante todo el año, con una creencia común en la «Iglesia única, santa, católica y apostólica». Lo que distingue a estos ocho días es que los cristianos de diferentes Iglesias y comunidades rezan juntos, reflexionando sobre un mismo tema, siguiendo un mismo servicio y reunidos localmente en un mismo lugar. Así aparece la unidad en su esplendor, reflejando una verdadera oración cristiana.

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 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.

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.

«ÚNETE para poner fin a la violencia contra las mujeres»

Una de cada dos mujeres declaró que ella o una mujer que conocía había sufrido algún tipo de violencia, y casi una de cada cuatro mujeres se siente insegura en casa... [1]. Son cifras registradas por ONU-Mujeres a partir de los datos de 13 países desde el brote de coronavirus. Pero también son cifras impactantes que describen una dura realidad. De ahí que el peligro sobre la vida de las mujeres sea cada vez mayor, sobre todo porque a menudo se las considera uno de los grupos más débiles de las sociedades.

El discurso de Su Beatitud el Patriarca Juan X, Patriarca Ortodoxo Griego de Antioquía y de todo el Oriente y presidente del MECC para la Familia Ortodoxa Griega, durante la XI Asamblea General del MECC, celebrada entre el 6 y el 8 de septiembre de 2016 en Ammán, Jordania, bajo el título «Den gracias al Señor porque es bueno, porque su misericordia es eterna" (Salmo 136, 1).

"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.

You can find the speech of His Beatitude Patriarch John X, Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and All the East and president of MECC for the Greek 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).