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.

His Beatitude Patriarch Anba Ibrahim Ishak Inaugurates the Jubilee Year of Hope in the Catholic Church in Egypt

MECC Participates in the Celebratory Mass

Under the slogan “Hope Does Not Disappoint,” His Beatitude Patriarch Anba Ibrahim Ishak, Coptic Catholic Patriarch, and President of the Council of Catholic Patriarchs and Bishops in Egypt, celebrated the inauguration of the Jubilee Year of Hope “Pilgrims of Hope,” on Friday, December 27, 2024, at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Egypt, Nasr City.

The Celebratory Mass was attended by Bishops, Heads of various Catholic churches in Egypt, representing the membership of the Council of Catholic Patriarchs and Bishops in Egypt, as well as the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) represented by the Archdeacon Garen Yosolkanian, Coordinator of the Eco Justice in the Council.

Participants were also Priests, Heads of various Monastic Groups in Egypt, both male and female, and their members from various Catholic Churches in Egypt, in addition to a large crowd of parishioners and Deacons.

What Are the Celebrations that Will Be Held on the Occasion?

As we celebrate the “Week of Prayer for Christian Unity” 2025, let us unite together in Prayer to the Lord Jesus Christ, on the intention of Christian unity and for peace in the Middle East and the world, carrying this year’s theme “Do you believe this?” (John 11: 26).

Below you can find in Arabic the Prayer for Christian Unity.

Week of Prayer Booklet 2025 in Arabic and English

Program of the Celebrations in Lebanon

As we celebrate the “Week of Prayer for Christian Unity” 2025, let us unite together in Prayer to the Lord Jesus Christ, on the intention of Christian unity and for peace in the Middle East and the world, carrying this year’s theme “Do you believe this?” (John 11: 26).

Below you can find in Arabic the Prayer for Christian Unity.

Week of Prayer Booklet 2025 in Arabic and English

Program of the Celebrations in Lebanon

This report presents an overview about the press conference held by the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), with the blessings and presence of 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), to launch the “Week of Prayer for Christian Unity” 2025 under the title “Do you believe this?” (John 11: 26). It was held at “The Platform of the Word” in the Middle East Council of Churches – Beirut.

Week of Prayer 2025 Booklet in Arabic

Week of Prayer 2025 Booklet in English

Together We Pray and Work to Preserve Our Common Home!

Due to the war that broke out in the fall season and disrupted life in the region, especially in Lebanon, the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) was unable to celebrate the Season of Creation during the traditional period from September 1 to October 4. Once the situation calmed down, the Program Coordinator Archdeacon Garen Yosolkanian, began organizing many celebrations and activities, during the Christmas period, starting from Egypt.

On December 27, 2024, which is the Sunday of the Righteous Saint, the Spouse of the Virgin Mary in the Byzantine Rite and the Sunday of the Genesis in the Coptic Rite, the first celebration of the Season of Creation 2024 in Egypt was held at the Church of the Virgin Mary and Mother Teresa for the Coptic Catholics in Ezbet El Nakhl. The celebration included an awareness campaign on the importance of the environment and a presentation of the changes that occurred in the areas of Ezbet El Nakhl, which lost its palm tree grove and consequently lost traces of the date tree, due to the lack of a pure approach to creation and local nature.

On December 29, 2024, a Liturgical celebration and a Prayer Service for the Season of Creation were held at the Evangelical Church of El Zahour, according to the Arabic text issued by the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC). It is worth noting that the Church is new, located in a city which is still under construction in El Zahour area. The celebration was led by Reverend Eid Salah, Reverend Jeremiah and the Church elders, in the presence of a crowd of believers from the area, including many young people and children, along with guests from Lebanon and the Head of the Ecumenical Youth Committee in Egypt.

A report that sheds light on the launching history of the “Week of Prayer for Christian Unity” and the theme that was chosen for this year.

Week of Prayer 2025 Booklet in Arabic

Week of Prayer 2025 Booklet in English

At the Invitation of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) and the Episcopal Committee for Ecumencial Work at the Assemblée des Patriarches et Evêques Catholiques du Liban (APECL)

You can click on the following link to participate online via zoom: https://shorturl.at/Ivaoz.

Health, peace and security... This is what our colleagues in the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Office in Syria wished for, raising their prayers to God, the God of justice and peace, and looking forward to blessed seasons of hope.

From the Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Professor Dr. Michel Abs and the MECC team, Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!