Representatives of six Christian denominations in the UAE gathered yesterday at St Mary’s Catholic Church in Dubai for a National Ecumenical Prayer for Peace.

Vicar Apostolic of Southern Arabia Bishop Paolo Martinelli welcomed participants including Bishop Sean, Archbishop Mesrob Sarkissian of the Armenian Church, Archbishop Abune Dimetros of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, Archimandrite Ishaq Zakhur of the Greek Orthodox Church and Fr Mina Hanna of the Coptic Church, along with members and staff of the GCF Executive Committee.

Organised by the Gulf Churches Fellowship and the Interfaith & Ecumenical Dialogue Office (IFEDO) of the Apostolic Vicariate of Southern Arabia, the event drew together the Christian faithful in prayer for peace in the region “as one body in Christ,” said Fr Stefano Luca, Director of IFEDO and member of the GCF Executive Committee.

The gathering also marked a sign of hope, coinciding with the gradual reopening of churches in the Dubai area—an opportunity “to celebrate together the joy of the Resurrection”.

In his opening address, Bishop Paolo Martinelli emphasised the shared responsibility of Christians in promoting peace.

“We gather together to pray, because we know that peace cannot be simply a human construct; it is a gift from God, to be sought, welcomed, nurtured, and spread in society through our good relationships.”

He invited all present “to pray for peace in the UAE, in the Gulf, the Middle East, and throughout the world. We thank our civil authorities who have protected us during these months; we continue to pray for them. May the Lord hear our common prayer; may he grant us peace and reconciliation, harmony and prosperity. May he make us tireless peacemakers.”

The prayer proceeded with the profession of the Nicene Creed, a prayer for peace with Bible readings, prayers from the different Christian traditions and liturgical languages, and the lighting of candles. The Litany of Peace was followed by the exchange of the sign of peace.

The occasion was followed by dinner, generously hosted by St Mary’s.