With the Blessing and Presence of His Eminence Archbishop Christoforos Atallah

Under the Spotlight

Jun 6

Written By Communication & PR Department Communication

The Middle East Council of Churches Inaugurates Its New Office in Jordan

His Eminence Archbishop Atallah Praises the Important Role Played by MECC Over the Past Years in Jordan, and Mentions the Beginning of a New Phase

Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs: The Council will have a connection with the Jordanian society, which is rich in potentials

Hence, we will have created a new synergy between the Council, as a basis for ecumenical work in the region, and a promising country

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Under the patronage and with the presence of His Eminence Archbishop Christoforos Atallah, the Greek Orthodox Archbishop of Jordan, and President of the Council of Heads of Churches in Jordan, and in the presence of the Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Dr. Michel Abs, and the MECC Financial Director Ms. Laudy Al Khoury, a new MECC office was inaugurated in the Sweifieh area at the capital Amman. His Emiennce offered the office to MECC as a generous gesture to be a new ecumenical place directed by Father Ignatius Khalifeh with the support of the Archbishopric.

For the occasion, an official celebration was held on Tuesday 4 June 2024, which began with a ribbon cutting ceremony and a tour in the new office. Attendees were a group of Church, intellectual, social and economic elites, current and former ministers and deputies, and the Archbishopric’s work team.

During the celebration, His Eminence Archbishop Christoforos Atallah delivered a speech in which he conveyed the love and blessing of His Royal Highness Prince Ghazi bin Muhammad the Great, may God protect and preserve him, the chief advisor to His Majesty the King for Religious and Cultural Affairs, who assigned His Excellency to represent him, wishing MECC success in its continued service in Jordan and its humanitarian works.

His Emiennce Archbishop Christoforos also conveyed the blessings of His Beatitude Patriarch Theophilos III, the Greek Orthodox Patriarch of the Holy City and all Palestine and Jordan, who presented continuous support to MECC in Jordan for many years, especially during the difficult periods that the Council went through. His Eminence praised the important role played by MECC over the past years in Jordan, mentioning the beginning of a new phase with Father Ignatius assuming his new position as Director of the Middle East Council of Churches in Jordan.

In his turn, the Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs delivered a speech in which he said, “We must draw the attention of the MECC member Churches, and their affiliated institutions, that this office is for all Churches, and this is the vision of the blessed Archbishopric that is hosting us, and this is what was expressed and declared with complete transparency by His Eminence, who has a great experience in joint Christian work, through the Council of Heads of Churches in Jordan. As I deeply know His Eminence, and the culture of the dear Jordanian people, resulting from a wise leadership, this office will be for all the people of Jordan who live in unity in life at all levels.

He added, "Through this regional office and its working team, and with the blessing of His Majesty, the Council will have a connection with the Jordanian society, which is rich in potentials and offers significant work possibilities. Hence, we will have created a new synergy between the Council, as a basis for ecumenical work in the region, and a promising country in terms of areas of work, from development, to education, rehabilitation, environment, culture, and the list may be long. Thus, we will be, as we were destined to be, a support or complementary tool to the Lord’s tools in serving His creatures.”

Then, the attendees exchanged greetings and wrote their wishes on the golden book, and participated in a hospitality for the occasion in an atmosphere of fellowship and love.