“For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there I am in the midst of them” (Matthew 18:20).

O Savior,

We are gathered here, in Your name and with Your blessing, we pledge allegiance to You, and as we are more than two or three, so You are in our midst.

We are a group of believers who came in droves, chanting for Your kingdom and inspired by Your love that covered Your path, Your preaching, Your crucifixion and Your resurrection, for the sake of a new life for human beings.

O incarnate Word, the living Christ, we, the people of the region have gathered, where You were incarnated and where the beginnings of the message took place, a region that is ravaged by greed and hatred and is experiencing times that may be the worst it has ever experienced in its ancient and modern history.

From all regions of Lebanon, the Lord’s endowment, we came to you, as well as from neighboring societies, declaring that we are one, because the Lord is one, the Church is one, and the believers are one, and that our faith and love are in the service of human beings, every human being, any human being, so that he may have life, and have a better life, as You wanted with Your message of salvation for the human race.

You can find the full video of the Ecumenical Musical Event “Beirut 2024,” which was held on the occasion of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity and the Fiftieth year of the Founding of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), and with the blessings and presence of the Presidents of the Middle East Churches, and the Heads of Churches of the Region, on Saturday 20 January 2024, at the Forum de Beirut. The Ecumenical Event constituted a recital performed by an Ecumenical choir that included more than 300 choristers and musicians belonging to all Church families and Lebanese regions. They presented a group of hymns and melodies representing various Liturgical and Church rituals and traditions. The Ecumenical Event also included Prayer and reflections recited by the Heads of Churches in the name of all believers, on the intention of unity and peace in the Middle East and the world.

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An Ecumenical Prayer Service in the Presence of the Heads of the Middle East Churches

In the Saint Georges Church for the Assyrian Orthodox Church of the East in Sed El-Bauchrieh - Lebanon

The “Week of Prayer for Christian Unity” was launched in the Middle East and the world, as it was inaugurated in the East in a Prayer service held on Sunday 21 January 2024, hosted by the Saint Georges Church for the Assyrian Orthodox Church in the East, in Sed El-Bauchrieh – Lebanon. It was part of the celebrations organized in Lebanon by the Episcopal Committee for Ecumenical Relations at the Council of Catholic Patriarchs and Bishops in Lebanon, in partnership with the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC).

Heads of Churches of the Region and About 10,000 Believers

An Ecumenical Musical Event on the Occasion of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity and the Fiftieth Year of the MECC Founding

Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs: We declare that we are one... Our chanting tonight is risen to heaven, with the power of the Spirit that unites us, and is, in this afflicted region, stronger than the shouts of haters and human killers, and louder than the blast of their bombs

In celebration of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity and the Fiftieth year of the Founding of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), and with the blessings and presence of the Presidents of the Middle East Churches, and the Heads of Churches of the Region, the Ecumenical musical event “Beirut 2024” was held on Saturday 20 January 2024, at the Forum de Beirut. The event constituted a recital performed by an Ecumenical choir that included more than 300 choristers and musicians belonging to all Church families and Lebanese regions. They presented a group of hymns and melodies representing various Liturgical and Church rituals and traditions, emphasizing the spirit of Christian unity and the richness in the diversity of all Churches. The event also included Prayer and reflections recited by the Heads of Churches in the name of all believers, on the intention of unity and peace in the Middle East and the world. The event was prepared by young believers active in their Churches and under the auspices of the Maronite Diocese of Antelias in Lebanon.

With the beginning of the “Week of Prayer for Christian Unity” 2024, 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 in our hearts and deed this year’s theme “You shall love the Lord your God... and your neighbour as yourself” (Luke 10:27).

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

The “Week of Prayer for Christian Unity” 2024 Booklet

“You shall love the Lord your God... and your neighbour as yourself” (Luke 10:27)

One of the most awaited Ecumenical occasions is starting. It is the “Week of Prayer for Christian Unity”, a week which includes a Prayer Octave that extends between 18 and 25 January every year. During this week, we unite in Prayer, reflection and hymns to our Lord Jesus Christ, on the intention of a unity awaited since decades, through a special international booklet that the Middle East Council of Churches translates annually into Arabic. This year’s title of the booklet is “You shall love the Lord your God... and your neighbour as yourself” (Luke 10:27).

What Are the Meanings of this Annual Historical Date?

With the preparations for Christmas, Churches in the Middle East and the world are being ready to celebrate an annual and historic Ecumenical station in January, which is the “Week of Prayer for Christian Unity.” A station that includes eight days of daily Prayers around the world, extending from 18 to 25 January of each year. Hence, we walk together as one united family according to the teachings of our Lord Jesus Christ, especially since He commanded us “that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you” (John 17:21).

“You shall love the Lord your God... and your neighbour as yourself” (Luke 10:27)

The Middle East Council of Churches releases the Arabic version of the “Week of Prayer for Christian Unity” booklet 2024, under the title “You shall love the Lord your God ... and your neighbour as yourself” (Luke 10:27). The title has been chosen at a time when the world and the Middle East are suffering from many wars, conflicts, crises and divisions in light of a wave of injustice, inequity and hate speech...

Hence, the booklet invites us to Pray and work together in mutual love during this difficult period that the world is facing, especially that the love of Christ which unites all Christians is stronger than their divisions and will overcome all violence.

The booklet is centered around the biblical text from Luke 10:25-37, in which Jesus reaffirmed the traditional Jewish teaching from Deuteronomy 6:5, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might”; and Leviticus 19:18b, “you shall love your neighbour as yourself”.

An Ecumenical Prayer Service in Bkerke at the Invitation of the Episcopal Committee for Ecumenical Relations for the Council of Catholic Patriarchs and Bishops in Lebanon

The MECC Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs Participates in the Celebration

The “Week of Prayer for Christian Unity” 2023 comes to an end. In fact, it is an annual Ecumenical occasion full of hope towards an eagerly awaited unity. It invites us to continue praying and meeting together all year long. For the occasion, an Ecumenical prayer service was held at the invitation of the Episcopal Committee for Ecumenical Relations for the Council of Catholic Patriarchs and Bishops in Lebanon, on Sunday 22 January 2023. It was hosted by the Maronite Church at the Patriarchal Edifice in Bkerke, Lebanon, under the patronage and presence of His Beatitude Patriarch Cardinal Mar Bechara Boutros Al-Rai, Maronite Patriarch of Antioch and all the East.

Today begins the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, which runs from the eighteenth to the twenty-fifth of January. It is a week adopted by the churches of the world as an expression of their rejection of Christian division and of their yearning for unity of spirit, testimony, and role.

The Council has been associated with this activity, which was ecumenical par excellence at its outset.

It has been carrying out various tasks in order to make it a success. First, it is firmly convinced of the need for unity among Christians, and second, it  has become part of the annual calendar of ecumenical work.

It was a wonderful sight to see, last Sunday, at the early opening of this week in the St. George's Orthodox Cathedral in one of the towns of Mount Lebanon, how the largest number of church leaders came together to celebrate and pray together in the context of keeping up with the activities of the Week of Prayer for Church Unity.

With the beginning of the “Week of Prayer for Christian Unity” 2023, let us unite together in Prayer to the Lord Jesus Christ, carrying in our hearts and deed this year’s theme “Do good; seek justice” (Isaiah 1:17).

You can find in Arabic the Prayer for Christian Unity.

The “Week of Prayer for Christian Unity” 2023 starts with a hope towards a desired and awaited unity since decades. It is a week which includes 8 daily Prayers and extends between 18 and 25 January every year. We unite in Prayer, reflection, and praise to the Lord Jesus Christ. But what does the date of the Week of Prayer symbolize?

In the video, the Director of the Theological and Ecumenical Department at the Middle East Council of Churches Father Dr. Antoine Al-Ahmar explains the significance and meanings of 18 and 25 January.

Together We Unite in Prayer and Work for Good and Justice  

One of the most awaited Ecumenical occasions starts this month. It is the “Week of Prayer for Christian Unity”, a week which includes a Prayer Octave that extends between 18 and 25 January every year. During this week, we unite in Prayer, reflection and hymns to our Lord Jesus Christ, through a special international booklet that the Middle East Council of Churches translates annually into Arabic. This year’s title of the booklet is “Do good; seek justice” (Isaiah 1:17)

“Do good; seek justice” (Isaiah 1:17)

Let us engage in the struggle for justice in our society

We all belong to Christ

The Middle East Council of Churches releases the Arabic version of the “Week of Prayer for Christian Unity” booklet 2023, under the title “Do good; seek justice” (Isaiah 1:17). The title has been chosen at a time when the world and the Middle East are suffering from various crises, conflicts, injustice and divisions in various fields. Therefore, the booklet is centered around the biblical text from Isaiah 1:12-18, in which “Isaiah challenged God’s people in his day to learn to do good together; to seek justice together, to rescue the oppressed together, to defend the orphan and plead for the widow together. The prophet’s challenge applies equally to us today.”

Under the slogan of “I am the light of the world”, Egypt will be launching the days of the “Week of Prayer for Christian Unity” 2022 during many celebrations that will start on Thursday 3 March 2022 and end on Saturday 12 March 2022, organized by the Egypt Council of Churches and the Middle East Council of Churches. Noting that MECC chose the theme of the Week of Prayer for this year “We saw his star at its rising and have come to do him homage” (Matthew 2:2) and prepared its international booklet of prayers.

As part of the eight-day-prayer for the Christian Unity, HE Bishop Joseph Mouawad, President of the Episcopal Committee for Ecumenical Relations for the Council of Catholic Patriarchs and Bishops in Lebanon, was the guest of Jana Ghazi on Radio Liban Libre RLL, Wednesday 19 January 2022.

During the interview, HE. presented a brief overview about the symbolism of the "Week of Prayer for Christian Unity" and its most prominent historical stations, in addition to its celebrations in the East and the world.

Concluding the days of the "Week of Prayer for Christian Unity" 2022, MECC Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs was the guest of the morning TV show “Al Nour Maana” (which means “The Light is with Us) on Télé Lumiere and Noursat, to talk about the importance of the Week of Prayer and its outcomes this year, especially with the continuous work of MECC towards unity. The episode was presented by Lea Adel, and broadcasted on Tuesday 25 January 2022.

Media agencies are still covering the "Week of Prayer for Christian Unity" 2022 to shed light on this historical Christian station. Hence, HE. Reverend Dr. Habib Badr, President of the National Evangelical Union in Lebanon and President of MECC for the Evangelical Family, was the guest of “Kel Yom Bi Yawmo” program (which means “Day by Day”) on Suboro TV, Thursday 20 January 2022.

Answers in a Special Episode on Télé Lumière and Noursat

As part of the “Week of Prayer for Christian Unity” 2022 celebrations, Télé Lumière and Noursat prepared in cooperation with the Middle East Council of Churches a special episode entitled “Towards Unity”, focusing on the importance of the Week of Prayer and the role of youth in the ecumenical work. The episode was prepared by the MECC Communication and Public Relations Department and presented by Ralph Tawitian, on Sunday 23 January 2022.