Venturing beyond conventional paths, the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity (January 18-25), born out of a close collaboration between the Maronite hierarchy and secular believers, was marked this year by an exceptional ecumenical gathering. This half-liturgical concert, half-prayer meeting event was led by a choir of 250 singers and the Lebanese Philharmonic Orchestra. The event, which permeated Beirut’s skies, was held in the expansive waterfront venue of the Forum of Beirut. It was attended by Catholic and Orthodox patriarchs of the East, Apostolic Nuncio Paolo Borgia, and nearly 9,000 faithful from all over Lebanon.
At the core of this event stood a dynamic Lebanese young man, Marc Merhej (29 years old), who is not only a skilled lawyer but also a musician and choir leader. In coordination with the Maronite bishop of Antelias, Bishop Antoine Bou-Najem—his former religious education teacher, Merhej achieved a remarkable performance that demanded two years of preparation. Supported by the symphony orchestra, his choir performed marvelously, alternating prayers and liturgical songs in 11 languages (Arabic, French, English, Latin, Slavic, Syriac, Armenian, Chaldean, Spanish, Greek and Swahili). The inclusion of sign language for the hearing-impaired as well as silence, the "prayer of the heart" or “mental prayer” in the tradition of the Fathers and esteemed contemplatives, added depth and inclusivity to the experience.
This gathering accomplished a remarkable shift from the usual norms. Those who were expecting "just another concert" were deeply moved by the compelling force of Trinitarian praise that emanated from the congregation. Here, the Orthodox worshipers found echoes of their chants, while others experienced the harmonious modulations of multilingual intoning.
"We may not be able to celebrate the Eucharist together yet, but why not worship together?" Merhej asked, expressing his wish to "reinforce unity in charity, testimony and martyrdom, the unity in joined worshiping.”
In Lebanon, the Week of Unity is overseen by the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), a gathering of Middle Eastern Churches encompassing almost all Christian traditions, including Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, Catholic (Latin and Eastern), Anglican and Protestant.
The Virgin Mary, as explained by Merhej, holds a pivotal role in this ecumenical prayer—not merely as an intercessor, a role cherished in both Catholic and Orthodox doctrines, but through the prayer of worship that she herself offers to the Father. This prayer acknowledges the fulfillment of "the benevolent plan preordained by Him to be honored at the appointed time, bringing all things under a single master, Christ, namely, bot heavenly and earthly beings" (Ephesians 1:9+).
All Doors Open Up
"Marc came to me requesting my approval for an initiative that is mainly a church project," explains Bishop Bou-Najem. "I answered quite simply, 'The country is in crisis, and economic difficulties are piling up. If the first door closes up, we will give up this project.'"
"I had a thousand other tasks on my plate," the bishop explains candidly. "Yet every door swung open, including the rental of the Forum of Beirut. Faced with the genuineness of a young man who confessed to coming to him filled with 'trust in providence,' the venue owner made an unexpectedly generous gesture."
Inspired by the bishop, many benefactors contributed financially. Nevertheless, funds had to be secured to pay for the symphony orchestra, chair rentals, the stage, lighting, sound and other expenses.
"The success was such that some questioned whether this money could have been better spent on the poor," said Bishop Bou-Najem. "To which I replied with the very words of our Lord: 'The poor will always be with you.'"
The bishop is heartened that the assembly prayed for Beirut, a "city of death" shattered by war and partially devastated by the port explosion of August 4, 2020.
It’s also important to acknowledge the organizers who prayed for Gaza, which is being destroyed daily under the furious eyes of the whole world.
"The prayer of worship helps unify Christians," said the bishop, who would like to create worshiping prayer groups in all the dioceses of Lebanon. "We must overcome the hostility and indifference emphasized in the prayer for unity and move beyond offenses that span several centuries and have led brothers to sever all ties with each other," stated Bishop Bou-Najem.
“Resentment is equal to death. The Christian people have paved the way for unity,” he concluded.
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