A report that sheds light on the Prayer that was held on the occasion of the closing of the "Week of Prayer for Christian Unity" 2025, entitled “Do you believe this?” (John 11: 26), at the First Armenian Evangelical Church - Kantari, Beirut, hosted by 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, with the participation of the Heads of the Churches, and the presence of the MECC Secretary General Professor Dr. Michel Abs.

The Closing Prayer was held under the title “Do you believe this?” (John 11: 26), on Saturday 25 January 2025, at the First Armenian Evangelical Church - Kantari, Beirut.

You can find in the video the word delivered by His Beatitude Patriarch Cardinal Mar Bechara Boutros Al-Rai, Maronite Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, during the closing Prayer of the "Week of Prayer for Christian Unity", which was held on Saturday 25 January 2025, at the First Armenian Evangelical Church - Kantari, Beirut.

You can find in the video the word delivered by 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, during the closing Prayer of the "Week of Prayer for Christian Unity", which was held on Saturday 25 January 2025, at the First Armenian Evangelical Church - Kantari, Beirut.

As part of the "Season of Creation" and Environmental Days Celebrations in the Middle East, the EcoJustice Unit at the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) prepared an environmental activity and a Christmas celebration in the Anafora Oasis on the Desert Road in Egypt.

For the occasion, the youth of Egypt, in coordination with the youth of the Coptic Orthodox, Catholic, Evangelical and Episcopal churches, the Ecumenical Youth Committee in Egypt and all other youth, celebrated the fourth day of Christmas and Epiphany on January 10, 2025, which is a great and wonderful Feast. Upon arrival, the youth were hosted with ecological welcome drinks.

Then, the Coordinator of the EcoJustice Unit Archdeacon Garen Yosolkanian, welcomed the active youth who are the pulse of life and the leaders of the present in developing the society and studies. He also welcomed the President of the Egypt Council of Churches Reverend Yeshua Yacoub, the Presidnet of the Ecumenical Youth Committee in Egypt Mr. Medhat Fayez, and all the officials and representatives of the Egyptian youth.

Archdeacon Garen, the Coordinator of the EcoJustice Unit at the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), visited His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark, congratulating His Holiness on the New Year, Christmas, and Epiphany holidays at the beginning of the year according to the Julian calendar and the Feast of the Circumcision on January 14, 2025.

The visit was attended by the Associate Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches Dr. Gerges Saleh, the President of the Ecumenical Youth Committee in Egypt Mr. Medhat Fayez, the Vice President Mr. Nour Bahnan, the Director of the Armenian Genocide Orphans Museum, Aram Bezikian, Archdeacon Maestro Krikor El-Wazian, Deacon Kyrillos Wehbeh, and Agnostos Samuel Ibrahim.

With love and one voice, the fragrance of hymns at the end of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity wafts through the voices of the Ecumenical choir which included members from different Church Families.

End of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity.

Professor Dr. Michel Abs from the First Armenian Evangelical Church - Kantari:

"In the absence of institutional unity that every believer longs for, we can be united in the spirituality of faith and society, as we embrace the same faith, we follow it, as well as the social values ​​that result from it, and through which we serve humanity. Thanks to this faith, humanity has created all forms of services that care for the tired and burdened people.

At the first half century of the MECC’s life, we promise you to continue the work of rapprochement that we have been doing since its founding, and which is included as a basic rule in its constitution and founding documents...

Today, we are at the peak of the institutionalization work that will ensure the continuity of MECC, so that it can continue the tasks entrusted to it by the founders, and we need your continuous blessings, Prayers and support so that this institution, which is considered one of the highest forms of joint Christian work, will be preserved for decades to come, and remains the home of Christian fellowship in the region that witnessed the Incarnation and Resurrection.”

With one love, one heart and great hope, the Heads of the Churches and faithful people unite in a Prayer Service at the First Armenian Evangelical Church - Kantari, Beirut, on the occasion of the ending of the "Week of Prayer for Christian Unity" 2025 entitled “Do you believe this?” (John 11: 26).

“O Merciful Lord, lead us to work together to spread Your light and freedom wherever there is darkness, tyranny, suffering and injustice” (from the Prayer Service of the Week of Unity 2025).

An Ecumenical Prayer Service on the occasion of the ending of the “Week of Prayer for Christian Unity” 2025 entitled “Do you believe this?” (John 11: 26), at the First Armenian Evangelical Church - Kantari, Beirut, hosted by 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, with the participation of thre Heads of the Churches, and the presence of the Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC).

You can find the Prayer of the eighth day of the "Week of Prayer for Christian Unity" 2025, included in its booklet, and which you may publish and distribute.

The theme of this year’s Week of Prayer is “Do you believe this?” (John 11: 26).

You can find the Prayer of the seventh day of the "Week of Prayer for Christian Unity" 2025, included in its booklet, and which you may publish and distribute.

The theme of this year’s Week of Prayer is “Do you believe this?” (John 11: 26).

You can find the Prayer of the sixth day of the "Week of Prayer for Christian Unity" 2025, included in its booklet, and which you may publish and distribute.

The theme of this year’s Week of Prayer is “Do you believe this?” (John 11: 26).

Below you can find the Prayer of the fifth day of the "Week of Prayer for Christian Unity" 2025, included in its booklet, and which you may publish and distribute.

The theme of this year’s Week of Prayer is “Do you believe this?” (John 11: 26).

In the video you can find the word delivered by His Eminence Archbishop Youssef Soueif, Archbishop of the Maronite Diocese of Tripoli and President of the Episcopal Committee for Ecumenical Work at the Assemblée des Patriarches et Evêques Catholiques du Liban (APECL), at the Opening Prayer of the "Week of Prayer for Christian Unity" 2025, under the title “Do you believe this?” (John 11: 26), on Saturday 18 January 2025, at the Church of Saint Ignatius of Antioch, Syriac Catholic Patriarchal See, Museum - Beirut.

In the video you can find the word delivered by His Beatitude Patriarch Mor Ignatius Youssef III Younan, Syriac Catholic Patriarch of Antioch, and Honorary President of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), at the Opening Prayer of the "Week of Prayer for Christian Unity" 2025, under the title “Do you believe this?” (John 11: 26), on Saturday 18 January 2025, at the Church of Saint Ignatius of Antioch, Syriac Catholic Patriarchal See, Museum - Beirut.

His Beatitude Patriarch Mor Ignatius Youssef III Younan, Syriac Catholic Patriarch of Antioch, presided over the official Opening Prayer of the Week of Prayer for the Unity of the Churches, according to the Syriac Antiochian Rite, at the Church of St. Ignatius the Antioch, in the Patriarchal See, Al-Mathaf - Beirut.

The Prayer was attended by His Beatitude Patriarch Cardinal Mar Bechara Boutros Al-Rai, Maronite Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, His Beatitude Youssef Al Absi, Greek Melkite Catholic Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, His Holiness Aram I Keshishian, His Holiness Catholicos Aram I, Catholicos of the Armenian Orthodox Church, Holy See of Cilicia, His Beatitude Patriarch Raphaël Bedros XXI Minassian, Catholicos Patriarch of the Armenian Catholic Church of Cilicia, His Excellency Monsignor Paolo Borgia, Apostolic Nuncio to Lebanon, His Eminence Archbishop Mor Clemis Daniel Kourieh, representing His Holiness Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II, Patriarch of Antioch and All the East and Supreme Head of the Universal Syriac Orthodox Church, Reverend George Mrad, representing Reverend Joseph Kassab, President of the Supreme Council of the Evangelical Community in Syria and Lebanon, and Heads of Churches in Lebanon or their representatives.

From the Syriac Catholic Church, the participants were Their Eminences: Mar Ephrem Youssef Abba, Archbishop of Baghdad and Secretary of the Holy Synod, Mar Matthias Charles Mrad, Vicar General of the Patriarchal Archdiocese of Beirut, Mar Ishaq Jules Boutros, Director of Our Lady of Salvation Patriarchal Seminary in the Monastery of Al-Sharfeh and Head of the Youth Pastoral Care, Priests from the Patriarchal Department, from the Monastery of Al-Sharfeh, and from the Patriarchal Archdiocese of Beirut, the Ephraimite Monks, the Ephraimite Nuns.

Participants were also the Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Professor Michel Abs, students of Our Lady of Salvation Patriarchal Seminary in the Monastery of Al-Sharfeh. As well as, attendees were Bishops, Priests, Monks, Nuns, and Deacons from various Churches, in addition to crowds of parishioners from the Patriarchal Archdiocese of Lebanon and the Holy Family Mission for the Iraqis refugees in Lebanon for Syriac Catholic Church, and believers from Sister Churches.

You can find the Prayer of the second day of the "Week of Prayer for Christian Unity" 2025, included in its booklet, and which you may publish and distribute.

The theme of this year’s Week of Prayer is “Do you believe this?” (John 11: 26).

We unite together in Prayer proclaiming “Merciful God, forgive us for the times we have failed to live a common life as Christians. Draw us more deeply to one faith in you so that we may witness to the world” (from the Prayer Service of the Week of Unity 2025).

Opening Ecumenical Prayer Service in celebration of the “Week of Prayer for Christian Unity”, at St. Ignatius of Antioch Church in the Syriac Catholic Patriarchate in Beirut.

The launching of the “Week of Prayer for Christian Unity” 2025 in the Middle East, under the title “Do you believe this?” (John 11: 26). An Ecumenical Prayer Service is being held live from the Church of St. Ignatius the Antioch in the Syriac Catholic Patriarchate in Beirut, hosted by His Beatitude Patriarch Mor Ignatius Youssef III Younan, Syriac Catholic Patriarch of Antioch, and Honorary President of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), with the participation of the Heads of the Churches, and the presence of the MECC Secretary General Professor Dr. Michel Abs.

You can find the Prayer of the first day of the "Week of Prayer for Christian Unity" 2025, included in its booklet, and which you may publish and distribute.

The theme of this year’s Week of Prayer is “Do you believe this?” (John 11: 26).

With a lot of hope, the “Week of Prayer for Christian Unity” begins, today, Saturday, January 18, 2025, under the title “Do you believe this?” (John 11: 26). It ends on Saturday, January 25, 2025.

The Week of Prayer is one of the most Ecumenical stations of the year which is celebrated annually. During this Week, we unite in Prayer, hymns and supplications to our Lord Jesus Christ on the intention of a unity that has been awaited for decades, and for peace and justice in the Middle East and the world.

“Do you believe this?” (John 11: 26)

The "Week of Prayer for Christian Unity" starts, as it is one of the most awaited Ecumenical stations of the year, which includes a Prayer Octave that extends between 18 and 25 January every year. A station during which we unite in Prayer to our Lord Jesus Christ on the intention of a unity that has been awaited for decades, through a special international booklet that the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) translates it into Arabic annually. Noting that this year theme is “Do you believe this?” (John 11: 26).

In this context, you can find below the daily Prayers, meditations, and reflections in Arabic and English for the week of Prayer, included in the booklet, and which you may publish and distribute every day.

Week of Prayer 2025 Booklet

The Prayer for Christian Unity

Program of the Celebrations in Lebanon

The Churches in Egypt are preparing to organize celebrations on the occasion of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2025, which carries this year the theme “Do you believe this?” (John 11: 26). In this context, the committee assigned for the preparation continues to hold its meetings in order to coordinate and cooperate together aiming at developing the program for the upcoming celebrations. The committee includes among its members the Honorary Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Dr. Gergis Ibrahim Saleh, and the Associate Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Reverend Refaat Fikry.

Week of Prayer Booklet 2025 in Arabic and English

The Prayer for Christian Unity

Via Charity Radio TV

Father Dr. Antoine Ahmar, the Director of the Theological Affairs and Ecumenical Department at the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), was the guest of the Journalist Zouhour Bou Mansour in an episode within her program "Hawana Hawak" on Charity Radio TV, to talk about the "Week of Prayer for Christian Unity" 2025 and the most prominent meanings it carries, in addition to the theme that was chosen for this year, which is “Do you believe this?” (John 11: 26).

You can watch the episode through the video.