MECC
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…”.
Leaders and Positions
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22-9-2025
Honoring the Late Reverend Hovhannes P. Aharonian with the Naming of a Meeting Hall of the First Armenian Evangelical Church of Beirut
One of the leading ecclesiastical and ecumenical figures of the 20th century in the Middle East, the late Rev. Hovhannes P. Aharonian (1909-1986), was honored on Sept. 27, 2025, with the naming of a meeting hall of the First Armenian Evangelical Church of Beirut. Lay and clergy heads of the Union of the Armenian Evangelical Churches in the Near East (UAECNE) were joined by ecumenical leaders in a special service of dedication for the opening of the newly-renovated Aharonian Hall.
Gathering in the church yard, the Rev. Dr. Paul Haidostian, Acting President of the UAECNE, President of Haigazian University in Lebanon, and President of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) for the Evangelical Family, welcomed the approximately forty persons present and undid the ribbon at the doors, after which the attendees sang a hymn of praise in Armenian and proceeded to the Hall. Pausing at the entranceway, Rev. Haidostian noted the commemorative wall displaying highlights of Rev. Aharonian’s Armenian Evangelical and ecumenical leadership.
Leaders and Positions
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Discover the House and Museum of Metropolitan Antonios Bashir - Douma
Exclusive: Media of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC)
By the Journalist Lea Adel Maamary
Douma is preparing to welcome His Beatitude Patriarch John X, the Blessed Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, at the invitation of Metropolitan Silouan Moussi, the Greek Orthodox Archbishop of Byblos and Batroun and Dependencies. His Beatitude carried his pastoral slogan since his enthronement as Patriarch of the See of Antioch: "With grace we grow, with service we rise, and with love we build in harmony."
Yes, His Beatitude visited Saint John Monastery in Douma in the Easter Season of 2012, during the ministry of the Highly Respected Metropolitan George Khodr.
Today, Douma, with all its Congregations, is preparing to welcome him as the 158th Patriarch of the See of Peter and Paul. He is the Father of Fathers and the Shepherd of Shepherds, who preserved the deposit of faith despite crises.
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Leaders and Positions
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The Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Issues Its Weekly Newsletter
“Momentum”
26-9-2025
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 “It Happened in Kazakhstan”.
You can check the issue via the following link: https://mailchi.mp/da24c0dafa97/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.
