On Wednesday evening, March 20th, 2024, an Ecumenical gathering was hosted by the Catholicosate of Cilicia on the occasion of the WCC General Secretary Prof. Rev. Dr. Jerry Pillay’s inaugural visit to Lebanon.

The Ecumenical Officer of the Holy See of Cilicia, V. Rev. Fr. Hrant Tahanian, conveyed the opening remarks. His Holiness Catholicos Aram I delivered the keynote address. Subsequently, Dr. Pillay presented contemporary challenges within the ecumenical movement and the WCC’s agenda in navigating them.

The assembly engaged in a discussion session following the speeches, and finally, MECC General Secretary Dr. Michel Abs delivered the concluding remarks.

Attendees included representatives of Lebanon’s church leadership, WCC’s program executive for the Middle East Carla Khijoyan, scholars from universities, participants from Lebanese ecumenical initiatives, members of various WCC commissions, and the organizer of the event, MECC Associate Secretary General Seta Khedeshian.

The evening concluded with an ecumenical prayer led by the Seminarians.