The Middle East Council of Churches and Anba Abraam Charity in Jerusalem Sign Cooperation Agreement in Beirut
You can find some photos at the end of the text.
Beirut – September 18, 2026
The Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) and Anba Abraam Charity in Jerusalem signed a cooperation agreement aimed at strengthening coordination and joint efforts in the humanitarian and Ecclesiastical fields, supporting initiatives and programs that serve local communities, and enhancing Christian communication, presence, and role in the Middle East.
The agreement was signed by His Grace Anba Antonios, Metropolitan of Jerusalem and the Near East for the Coptic Orthodox Church, and President of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) for the Eastern Orthodox Family, and President of Anba Abraam Charity in Jerusalem, together with the MECC Secretary General Anba Abraam Charity. The signing took place on September 18, 2026, at the MECC headquarters in Hamra, Beirut.
The signing ceremony was attended by Father Athanasius Rizk, Pastor of the Coptic Orthodox Church in Lebanon and Syria; Father Abanoub Al-Ourachalimi, Lawyer Abdallah Moussallem, and the Public Relations Officer at the Coptic Orthodox Church in Beirut Mr. Albert Gendy, as well as colleagues from the MECC General Secretariat team.
The agreement comes within the framework of strengthening cooperation and coordination between the Middle East Council of Churches and the Anba Abraam Charity, and expanding areas of joint work in ways that contribute to supporting humanitarian and Ecclesiastical initiatives and programs, while enhancing communication and serving local communities.
The signing session underscored the importance of partnership and cooperation among Church institutions, particularly in light of the challenges that the region is facing, as well as the need to unite efforts in service of people, preserve the Christian presence, and strengthen its role in the Middle East.
The meeting also provided an opportunity to emphasize the importance of joint action in addressing humanitarian and social crises, as well as the role that church institutions can play in supporting people, protecting their dignity, and promoting a culture of solidarity and hope.
In his word, the MECC Secretary General Professor Michel Abs welcomed His Grace Anba Antonios and the delegation of the Coptic Orthodox Church. He stressed the importance of this partnership, saying:
“We meet to sign a cooperation protocol between the Middle East Council of Churches and the Anba Abraam Charity, which you presides over and which is based in Jerusalem. We hope this step will establish a long-term path of cooperation in serving people, particularly in Palestine and throughout the various areas of the Middle East suffering from crises, wars, displacement, poverty, and the erosion of the foundations of a dignified life.
The presence of an association carrying out its mission from Jerusalem gives this meeting a special significance. Jerusalem is not merely a city on the map of our region. It is a city of faith, memory, and history, a place where Religions and civilizations meet, and a witness to the suffering and hopes of our people. Therefore, any humanitarian work that originates there carries a dual responsibility: the responsibility to preserve human dignity and the responsibility to promote a culture of hope and peace at a time when the areas of suffering and instability are expanding.”
For his part, His Grace Anba Antonios delivered a word, thanking Professor Michel Abs and the General Secretariat team of the Middle East Council of Churches for their warm welcome. He praised the meeting as an important milestone in strengthening cooperation between the Anba Abraam Charity in Jerusalem and the Middle East Council of Churches.
His Grace referred to three examples of profound spiritual significance, including an incident in the Coptic Church that, according to Church tradition, was associated with an appearance of Jesus Christ and communication with Him.
His Grace did not recount this incident merely to speak about a miracle, but rather to draw from it a fundamental meaning in Christian faith: that mercy and hope are not marginal concepts in the life of the Church, but are at the heart of its mission. Mercy brings people back to one another.
Following the speeches, His Grace Anba Antonios and Professor Michel Abs signed the cooperation memorandum. Professor Michel Abs then presented to His Grace Anba Antonios the Council’s newly released publications. This was followed by the blessing and distribution of the Eucharistic Bread among those present.
