MECC
Closing Prayer for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2026 in Lebanon
Hosted by His Eminence Bishop Michel Kassarji with the Participation of Church Leaders
His Beatitude Patriarch Cardinal Mar Bechara Boutros Al-Rai:
Unity means meeting at the core, at the essence, in Christ Himself
His Eminence Bishop Kassarji: The Holy Spirit transforms diversity into communion, pain into joy, and fear into hope
MECC Secretary General Professor Michel Abs:
The Ecumenical movement has laid the foundation and paved the way for sustained dialogue and cooperation among the Churches
On the occasion of the closing of the "Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2026," an Ecumenical Prayer Service was held under the theme “There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope of your calling” (Ephesians 4: 4), hosted by His Eminence Bishop Michel Kassarji, Head of the Chaldean Church in Lebanon, on Sunday, January 25, 2026, in the Archangel Raphael Chaldean Cathedral, Baabda - Lebanon.
Video - Word of His Eminence Bishop Michel Kassarji, Head of the Chaldean Church in Lebanon
At the Conclusion of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2026, in the Chaldean Cathedral of the Archangel Raphael, Baabda - Lebanon
The Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Issues Its Weekly Newsletter
“Momentum”
23-1-2026
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 "A Prayer for Unity under the auspices of the Syriac Community in al-Fayhaa". It is the speech he delivered at the Ecumenical meeting held on the occasion of the "Week of Prayer for Christian Unity," on Thursday, January 22, 2026, at the St. Ephrem Syriac Orthodox Church, Tripoli, Lebanon.
You can check the issue via the following link: https://mailchi.mp/09994f38dbae/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.
The MECC Secretary General Professor Michel Abs Delivers a Word at the Conclusion of the "Week of Prayer for Christian Unity" 2026 - Lebanon
The Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Professor Michel Abs, at the conclusion of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2026, in the Chaldean Cathedral of the Archangel Raphael, Baabda - Lebanon:
Throughout its long history, the Ecumenical movement has consistently relied on dialogue to achieve its goals. This has been complemented by activities such as shared Worship, Ecumenical Prayers, and most importantly, the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity and the Season of Creation, as well as joint social work and Theological discussions…
If we must pause and reflect on the past, with its achievements and shortcomings, we can say that this movement has made fundamental accomplishments. It has laid the foundation and paved the way for sustained dialogue and cooperation among the Churches. It has also led to some mergers between Churches in various parts of the world…
Faith, Hope and Joy in the Ecumenical Prayer Service on the Occasion of the Conclusion of the "Week of Prayer for Christian Unity" 2026
Hosted by the Chaldean Cathedral of the Archangel Raphael, Baabda - Lebanon
(Part Three)
“O Lord, shine the light of Your righteousness and wisdom on all Your creatures. Make us children of light and children of the day, so that we may always live our lives reverently, and become for all the world, worthy lampstands for Your life-giving light” (from the Ecumenical Prayer Service for the Week of Unity 2026).
Closing Prayer Service for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2026 Hosted by the Chaldean Cathedral of the Archangel Raphael, Baabda - Lebanon
(Part Two)
We Pray together, with hearts full of hope, on the occasion of the "Week of Prayer for Christian Unity" 2026.
A Closing Prayer Service hosted by the Chaldean Cathedral of the Archangel Raphael, Baabda - Lebanon.
Closing of the "Week of Prayer for Christian Unity" 2026 Hosted By His Eminence Bishop Michel Kassarji, Head of the Chaldean Community in Lebanon
(Part One)
Closing of the "Week of Prayer for Christian Unity" 2026, in an Ecumenical Prayer Service, under the theme “There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope of your calling” (Ephesians 4: 4)”, hosted by the Chaldean Cathedral of the Archangel Raphael, Baabda - Lebanon.
The Prayer was attended by the Heads of Churches, and the Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Professor Michel Abs, and an MECC delegation.
The Coptic Orthodox Church of Abu Serga Hosts the Second Day of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity _ Egypt
The Church of Abu Serga in Old Cairo hosted the second day of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. It brought together Church Leaders and Representatives of various Churches, in an atmosphere of spirituality, reflection and Prayer. It was a call for love and unity among the children of the Churches, under the theme: “Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love” (Ephesians 4: 2).
The week's theme was: “There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope of your calling” (Ephesians 4: 4).
Attendees were Reverend Refaat Fikry, Associate Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), Reverend Yeshua Yacoub, Secretary General Secretary of the Egyptian Council of Churches, Dr. Gergis Saleh, Honorary Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), Father Youhanna Saad, Member of the Priests and Parishes Committee on behalf the Catholic Church; Father Michel, Member of the Committee on behalf the Episcopal Church, and Reverend Najeh Fawzy, Member of the Committee on behalf the Evangelical Church.
Participants were also Members of the Week of Prayer Committee, including Mr. Essam Ayad from the Catholic Church, Sheikh Victor from the Evangelical Church, and Mrs. Nancy from the Orthodox Church.
A Prayer for Unity under the auspices of the Syriac Community in al-Fayhaa
Professor Michel Abs
Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches
Between the eighteenth and the twenty-fifth of January each year, Christians around the world gather to pray for unity among Christians, as the members of the Church were first called in Great Antioch, in obedience to the Lord’s command that we be one, just as He is one with the Father.
Tonight we gather in the Church of Saint Ephrem, the Harp of the Holy Spirit, to address the Almighty Lord, Creator of heaven and earth, the Light begotten of Light, the theme of this year’s Week of Prayer—and to proclaim that we are one in You. Thus, we are one in the Father, united among ourselves and united with the members of our societies, with whom we share a life united in interests, united in destiny, and united in values.
In the presence of the bishops of the one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church, we have gathered to pray together, fully aware of the importance of praying together and of living hope together, a hope we extend to all humankind, for the Lord who came as an atonement for our sins, came for all people.
To pray together means that we have overcome past mistakes and forgiven historical sins, and that we have come to understand that “every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand.” How much more, then, when we speak of the Kingdom of the Father and the house of the Lord?
He is the Spirit of Truth, present among us, inspiring us to walk in justice and reason, to overcome our differences, and to be united in our humanity, just as we are united in His divinity…
Hosted by the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch and All the East
Tearfund Holds Coordination Meeting with MECC and Partners in Syria
MECC Secretary General Professor Michel Abs from Balamand:
Let us work to strengthen cooperation to ensure a better future for all people of the region
With the blessings of His Beatitude Patriarch John X, Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, and President of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) for the Orthodox family, the international organization “Tearfund” held a general meeting with its new leadership, represented by CEO Silas Balraj, International Director Claire Tiffen, Regional Director Safa Hijazeen, Country Director for Syria and Lebanon Jamie Abraham, and Regional Advisor for Church and Community transformation Rami Kaskas. The meeting took place on Wednesday, January 21, 2026, in the conference hall of the St. John of Damascus Institute of Theology in Balamand, Lebanon.
The Middle East Council of Churches participated in the meeting, represented by its Secretary General Professor Michel Abs, at the head of a delegation that included Ms. Nina Hallak, Director of the Lebanon’s Office of the Diakonia and Social Service Department, and Journalist Lea Adel Maamary, Coordinator of Media and Church Relations.
The meeting also brought together Leaders and representatives from the Melkite Greek Catholic Church, Greek Orthodox Church, Maronite Church, Syriac Orthodox Church, Evangelical Presbyterian Church, and Evangelical Union Church. Attendees were also the Executive Directors of the Evangelical “Tahanan” Association, the Department of Ecumenical Relations, and the St. Ephrem Patriarchal Development Committee.
Prayer for Christian Unity at St. Ephrem the Syrian Church in Mina Tripoli
MECC Secretary General Professor Michel Abs:
To pray together means that we have overcome past mistakes and forgiven historical sins
If we call for unity among Christians, it is all the more fitting to call for love among the people of the country in all their diversity
In celebration of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2026, an Ecumenical meeting was held under the theme “There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope of your calling” (Ephesians 4: 4). It took place at St. Ephrem the Syrian Church in Mina Tripoli, Lebanon, and brought together Bishops, Priests, Pastors, and believers from various Church families, at the invitation of the Episcopal Committee for Ecumenical Relations, chaired by His Eminence Archbishop Youssef Soueif, Maronite Archbishop of Tripoli.
The Prayer Service was presided over by His Eminence Archbishop Mor Chrysostomos Mikhael Shamoun, Syriac Orthodox Archbishop of Mount Lebanon and Tripoli, with the participation of His Eminence Metropolitan Ephrem Kyriakos, Greek Orthodox Metropolitan of Tripoli, Koura, and their Dependencies, His Eminence Archbishop Edward Daher, Melkite Greek Catholic Archbishop of Tripoli and All the North, Father Khoren, Representing His Eminence Archbishop Shahe Panossian, Archbishop of the Armenian Orthodox Church in Lebanon, as well as Church, social, and cultural figures, and believers.
Attendees were also the Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Professor Michel Abs, at the head of an MECC that included Professor Laura Abi Khalil, Coordinator of Dialogue and Human Dignity Programs, and Journalist Lea Adel Maamary, Coordinator of Media and Church Relations.
During the Prayer, Secretary General Professor Michel Abs delivered a speech in which he said: “In the presence of the bishops of the one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church, we have gathered to pray together, fully aware of the importance of praying together and of living hope together, a hope we extend to all humankind, for the Lord who came as an atonement for our sins, came for all people”…