of the Executive Committee Meeting of the Middle East Council of Churches

Beirut, 10–11 December 2025

Produced By MECC

of the Executive Committee Meeting of the Middle East Council of Churches

Beirut, 10–11 December 2025

The Executive Committee of the Middle East Council of Churches held its regular meeting in Beirut, Lebanon, on Wednesday and Thursday, 10 and 11 December 2025, under the presidency of His Eminence Anba Antonios, Metropolitan of Jerusalem and the Near East for the Coptic Orthodox Church and President of the Council for the Oriental Orthodox family, represented by His Eminence Anba Hermina, General Bishop of the Churches of East Alexandria; and His Beatitude Patriarch John X, Patriarch of Antioch and All the East for the Greek Orthodox Church and President of the Council for the Orthodox family, represented by His Eminence Metropolitan Antonios Al-Soury, Metropolitan of Zahle, Baalbek, and their dependencies; and His Eminence Rev. Dr. Paul Haidostian, President of the Union of Armenian Evangelical Churches in the Near East and President of the Council representing the Evangelical family; and His Beatitude Patriarch Raphael Bedros XXI Minassian, Catholicos-Patriarch of the House of Cilicia for the Armenian Catholic Church and President of the Council for the Catholic family.

Your mission is to strengthen the Christian presence in the East so that it may be active, influential, and steadfast in serving the cause of humanity, its present, and future

President Joseph Aoun affirmed that the visit of Holy Father Leo XIV was not only for the Church of Lebanon or for the Lebanese, but for all the Christians of the East who are the sons and daughters of this land in which they are embodied. He called on the delegation of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), which he received on the morning of Thursday 11 December 2025, at the Presidential Palace in Baabda, to work to ensure that the Christian presence in the East is active, influential and steadfast in serving the cause of humanity, its present and future.

Please click here to read word delivered by the Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Professor Michel Abs, during the meeting of the MECC Executive Committee with the President of Lebanon General Joseph Aoun, on Thursday, December 11, 2025, at the Presidential Palace in Baabda.

During the Meeting of the Executive Committee of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), members of the Committee emphasized the importance of holding onto hope despite all the challenges that the region is facing, and the necessity of continuing the work to strengthen the Ecumenical spirit and serve every person with dignity.

The second part of the second day of the meeting was presided over by Reverend Dr. Paul Haidostian, President of the Union of the Armenian Evangelical Churches in the Near East (UAECNE), President of Haigazian University in Lebanon, and President of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) for the Evangelical Family.

During the sessions, the strategic framework for the work of the Middle East Council of Churches and its future vision were presented.

In a spirit full of Ecumenism and hope, the Executive Committee of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) continued its meeting being held on Wednesday, December 10, and Thursday, December 11, 2025, in Beirut.

The first session began with a Prayer and Biblical Reflection delivered by His Eminence Metropolitan Antonios Al Soury, Greek Orthodox Metropolitan of Zahle, Baalbek and their Dependencies, representing His Beatitude Patriarch John X, Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, and President of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) for the Orthodox Family.

Then, the attendees discussed many administrative, financial and technical matters related to the workflow and the development of its mechanisms, emphasizing the necessity of cooperation and coordination to enhance the sustainability of the Middle East Council of Churches in order to solidify its Ecumenical and humanitarian mission through all fields and sectors in the region.

Produced by MECC

The Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) launched two new publications at its Executive Committee meeting, being held on Tuesday, December 10, and Wednesday, December 11, 2025, in Beirut.

The first is “Towards a Common Date for Easter” – the 1997 Aleppo Statement, in Arabic.

The second is “The Middle East Council of Churches: Complete Record of 23 Symposiums, Round Tables, and Webinars of the Dialogue, Social Cohesion, and Human Dignity Rehabilitation Program”

Both publications will be released soon.

The Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) launched two new publications at its Executive Committee meeting, being held on Wednesday, December 10, and Thursday, December 11, 2025, in Beirut.

The first is “Towards a Common Date for Easter” – the 1997 Aleppo Statement, in Arabic.

The second is “The Middle East Council of Churches: Complete Record of 23 Symposiums, Round Tables, and Webinars of the Dialogue, Social Cohesion, and Human Dignity Rehabilitation Program”

Both publications will be released soon.

The Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Professor Michel Abs delivered a word at the opening of the MECC Executive Committee meeting in Beirut, and said:

In light of the difficult circumstances, “the Church is striving to remain cohesive, both in its institutions and its congregations...

We have affirmed in our work at the Council, and in our Fiftieth Year, that our approach will be long-term, both strategically and in the current context...

Sustainability on all levels is one of our fundamental challenges... We must also mention the high credibility of the Council...

The visit of His Holiness the Pope to Lebanon marked a turning point in the historical journey of these countries, Lebanon, and the Middle East.

In this Advent Season, may God bless our service...".

The Executive Committee meeting of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) being held on Wednesday, December 10, and Thursday, December 11, 2025, in Beirut, started with a Biblical Reflection delivered by His Grace Bishop Hermina, the General Bishop of the Churches of the Eastern Sector of Alexandria.

An Ecumenical journey of Praying and working together for reconciliation and justice!

The Executive Committee of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) began its meeting with a minute of silence for the souls of the victims of wars, conflicts, and disasters in the Middle East and the world. Prayers were raised for peace, justice, and the healing of the wounded people.

10-11 December 2025, Beirut.

A Christmas Reflection by the Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Professor Michel Abs

Praying and Working Together for the Creation!

On the Feast of Saint Nicholas in the Armenian, Greek, and Latin calendars, the Theological and Ecumenical Department at the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), in coordination with the Youth Committee of the Armenian Sanatorium – Azounieh, organized a special Environmental Day entitled “Can Santa Plant a Tree?!”, on Saturday, December 6, 2025, in Azounieh.

The event brought together youth from the Armenian Evangelical Churches of Nor Marash and Anjar, Deacons from the Armenian Apostolic Church, and the young people of St. George Melkite Catholic Parish in Zahle.

Adding to the joy of the gathering, Santa Claus—Saint Nicholas—joined the celebration. As the day coincided with his Feast, Santa himself planted numerous plants and trees in the Garden of the Armenian Sanatorium at Azounieh.

The day began with an introduction to the history and mission of the Azounieh Sanatorium, followed by a presentation by Fr. Movses-Garen Yosolkanian, Coordinator of the Season of Creation activities at MECC, on the Season of Creation and the connection between Santa Claus, the natural world, and his commitment to seafarers and gardeners. In keeping with local tradition, participants opened the activity by singing the Lebanese National Anthem, the customary prelude to tree-planting ceremonies.