The Middle East Council of Churches is a regional ecumenical organization, which brings together churches in the East for a common Christian witness in a region where Christ was born, lived, died and resurrected.
UNDER THE SPOTLIGHT
In this Easter we lift our Hope through the Resurrection of Jesus. May we join Together in an Ecumenical Modesty to preach The transforming Love of Christ to the world
In the context of strengthening the ecumenical ties, the Reverend Dr. John Holdsworth, a Communications Consultant and Former Archdeacon of the Anglican Diocese of Cyprus and the Gulf who is now editing a journal about the Middle East, visited the Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Dr. Michel Abs, on Thursday 25 April 2024, at the offices of the MECC General Secretariat in Beirut.
During the meeting, the attendees discussed the relationship between the Anglican Church and the Middle East Council of Churches, in addition to the role of this Church and the activities it implements. As well as, they talked about the program of events for the Fiftieth Year of the MECC Founding, and also discussed the issue of Ecumenism and the directions it is taking, in addition to various issues such as abduction and massacres.
Dr. Michel E. Abs
The Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC)
During this period, we live several significant events that carry profound lessons for humanity. Among the most noticeable are Easter, the commemoration of the abduction of the Archbishops of Aleppo on April 22, the commemoration of the Armenian massacres on April 24, and later, the commemoration of the Syriac-Assyrian-Chaldean massacres on June 15, referred to as Sayfo.
In this emotionally charged period, the Christian believer pauses to contemplate these events that have shaped a crucial part of human history. All revolve around the Christian faith, the Christian mission, and the Christian role in this region and the world.
Christ was unjustly arrested, tried by hypocrites, and crucified by tyrants who believed the hypocrites’ words. However, He triumphed over annihilation through resurrection, offering hope and new life to humanity. His “crime” was teaching and practicing love, challenging all those who harbor spite, hatred, fanaticism, and corruption.
The Armenian people, followers of Christ’s faith, suffered a similar fate. They were unjustly “arrested” and slandered, tried by a group of hypocrites and tyrants, and subjected to all forms of torture, humiliation, and abuse. This group of tyrants committed murder against more than one community under its authority, sparing no human group that it perceived as weak.
A delegation from the Islamic Azad University of Qom, Iran, visited the Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Dr. Michel Abs, on Tuesday 23 April 2024, at the offices of the MECC General Secretariat in Beirut. The delegation included the President of the University in Qom Sheikh Dr. Hassan Khairi, and the Head of the University’s Office in Lebanon Dr. Mohammad Mahdi Kourani.
During the meeting, the attendees discussed modern directions in the human sciences and the defects that have afflicted these sciences in the West, in addition to the necessity of creating innovative, authentic human sciences stemming from the Eastern culture.
The attendees also discussed various curricula in some universities, stressing the need to intensify conferences, seminars and meetings between these universities for joint thinking and drawing a new direction in the human sciences.
Full Video of the Conference Organized by MECC About the Armenian Genocide
22 April 2024 – At the Armenian Catholic Patriarchate in Geitaoui, Lebanon
On the occasion of the fiftieth year of the founding of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), in commemoration of the 109th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, and with the blessing and presence of His Beatitude Patriarch Raphaël Bedros XXI Minassian, Catholicos Patriarch of the Armenian Catholic Church of Cilicia, and President of the Middle East Council of Churches for the Catholic Family, MECC held a conference entitled “Keeping Memory Alive”, about the Armenian Genocide, presented by the MECC Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs. It took place on Monday 22 April 2024, at the Theatre of the Armenian Catholic Patriarchate in Geitaoui, Lebanon.
Hence, you can find in the video the full conference which also included a speech delivered by His Beatitude Patriarch Raphaël Bedros XXI Minassian.
The MECC Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs: If the perpetrators of massacres had been held accountable in an appropriate manner, this would not have been repeated in other parts of the world
On the 109th commemoration of the Armenian Genocide, the Armenian people are still waiting for justice, striving to achieve it and commemorate this event, which constituted a turning point in their history. April 24 is a date that Armenians will never forget... a date that bears witness to massacres committed against a people who have long struggled to preserve their existence. It is true that the Armenians are still experiencing great sadness and pain, but they are deriving their strength and determination to persevere in their faith in Jesus Christ, the world-giver of great mercy.
In commemoration of this painful anniversary, within the activities of the Fiftieth Year of the Founding of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), and under the auspices of His Beatitude Patriarch Raphaël Bedros XXI Minassian, Catholicos Patriarch of the Armenian Catholic Church of Cilicia, and President of the Middle East Council of Churches for the Catholic Family, MECC held a conference entitled “Keeping Memory Alive,” about the Armenian Genocide, on Monday 22 April 2024, at the Theatre of the Armenian Catholic Patriarchate in Geitaoui, Lebanon.
The conference which was followed by a speech by His Beatitude Patriarch Minassian, was delivered by the Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches Dr. Michel Abs who presented a historical and geopolitical overview of the era in which the Armenian Genocide occurred, in addition to the facts of these crimes and their repercussions.
Video - An Exclusive Interview with His Beatitude Patriarch Raphaël Bedros XXI Minassian:
“We are witnessing in the principles that we live by in our societies a kind of genocide or crime against spiritual and humanitarian values”
109 years have passed since the Armenian Genocide, and the Armenians' wounds have not yet healed. It is a massacre and a tragedy committed against people who have always striven and struggled to survive and achieve truth and justice... But are there any listening ears to all this pain? The pain is deep and the international community is not doing anything, but what is certain is that the memory will remain engraved forever in the hearts of the Armenian people and that heavenly justice will be revealed and achieved, “For the Lord is righteous, he loves justice; the upright will see his face” (Psalm 11: 7).
In commemoration of the Armenian Genocide, on the occasion of the Fiftieth Year of the Founding of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), and with the blessing and presence of His Beatitude Patriarch Raphaël Bedros XXI Minassian, Catholicos Patriarch of the Armenian Catholic Church of Cilicia, and President of the Middle East Council of Churches for the Catholic Family, MECC organized a conference about the Armenian Genocide entitled “Keeping Memory Alive”, delivered by the Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches Dr. Michel Abs. It was held on Monday 22 April 2024, at the Theatre of the Armenian Catholic Patriarchate in Geitaoui, Lebanon.
In this context, the team of the Communication and Public Relations Department at the Middle East Council of Churches made an exclusive interview with His Beatitude Patriarch Raphaël Bedros XXI Minassian, in which he spoke about his aspirations regarding the Armenian issue, stressing the necessity of consolidating spiritual and human values.
The Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), Communication and Public Relations Department, have now issued its online Ecumenical calendar for the month of May 2024. It includes the Ecclesiastical and Liturgical feasts of the various families of Churches in the Middle East. In addition to international days identified by the United Nations, and which are related to the MECC identity and its spiritual and human mission.