The Middle East Council of Churches Honors the Antiochian Orthodox Media Center in Balamand

As part of its efforts to strengthen the spirit of cooperation and partnership in media and ecclesiastical work, and to embody the mission of media in serving humanity, the Church, and society, the Middle East Council of Churches honored the Antiochian Orthodox Media Center in Balamand in recognition of its role in conveying the message of the Antiochian Orthodox Church, highlighting its spiritual, humanitarian, and national presence, and covering its activities and mission in Lebanon and throughout the East.

In this context, Lea Adel Maamary, the Council’s Media and Church Relations Coordinator, presented a commemorative shield on behalf of the Council’s Secretary General, Professor Michel Abs, and her colleagues at the General Secretariat in Beirut, to Mrs. Nancy Najjar, Executive Director of the Antiochian Orthodox Media Center, as well as to the members of the Center’s media team.

This recognition underscores the importance of cooperation between ecclesiastical and media institutions and the need to unite efforts in support of responsible media that upholds the values of love, dialogue, and openness, and contributes to building bridges of communication between Churches and the various components of society.

Based on its mission in Balamand, the Antiochian Orthodox Media Center serves as a space for encounter and communication, as well as a platform for reporting on the Church’s news, activities, and initiatives, and documenting its presence in spiritual, cultural, and social life. The Center also supports the Church’s aspirations for media that is committed to truth, respects human dignity, and uses words and images as means of bearing witness to Gospel values, spreading hope, and promoting a culture of peace.

This recognition carries particular significance, as it reflects appreciation for media efforts that contribute to serving the Churches and strengthening cooperation among them, at a time when there is an increasing need for responsible media discourse that unites rather than divides, builds rather than destroys, and highlights the shared faith and common witness to love and human dignity that bring the Churches together.

Honoring the Antiochian Orthodox Media Center is not merely a gesture of appreciation; it is an affirmation that the media mission is an integral part of the Church’s mission, and that cooperation among ecclesiastical institutions constitutes a fundamental pillar in addressing today’s challenges and conveying the voice of hope to every human being, wherever they may be.