MECC Secretary General Professor Michel Abs:

“Water-related topics must be integrated into school curricula and public awareness campaigns to cultivate citizens who are concerned about the future of humanity through their concern for water”

As the 2026 Season of Creation is celebrated, believers from various Church Families in the Middle East and the world come together in Prayer, reflection, and action to protect God’s creation. This year, the Season of Creation takes place at a time when the world is facing increasingly severe environmental and climate crises. Therefore, this Season calls for greater care for the environment and creation, with all that it encompasses, in order to ensure a safer future for the inhabitants of the planet.

On the occasion of the Season of Creation, which this year carries the theme “Living Water” and the symbol “Immersion in Living Water,” the Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Professor Michel Abs, addressed a message published in the global Season of Creation guide for this year, alongside messages and reflections from Religious and Ecumenical Leaders from around the world. These contributions affirm that caring for creation is not merely an environmental issue, but a shared faith-based and human responsibility.

From the heart of the Middle East, Professor Michel Abs noted in his message that “the Good Friday hymn proclaims, “Today He who hung the earth upon the waters was hung upon the cross,” alluding to the primacy of water over all other elements of nature during creation. Furthermore, the incarnate Lord declared, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.” He was baptized in the Jordan River, an act we consider foundational to the doctrine of salvation”…

Are Pleased to Invite You to the Ecumenical Prayer Service

Celebrating the Season of Creation 2026

Guide of the Season of Creation 2026 Celebration in Arabic and English: https://www.mecc.org/mecc/2026/6/23/the-middle-east-council-of-churches-issues-the-season-of-creation-2026-guide-in-arabic.

Produced by MECC

An Interview with Father Antoine Al-Ahmar, Director of the MECC Theological and Ecumenical Department, About the Season of Creation and the Feast of Creation

Together We Unite in Prayer and Supplication to God the Creator

As every year, the Ecumenical family in the Middle East and the world comes together for an environmental and Ecumenical occasion which is the “Season of Creation.” This is a time dedicated to Prayer, reflection, and action for the care of Creation and the preservation of our common home.

The Season extends from September 1, the Feast of Creation, to October 4, the Feast of Saint Francis of Assisi, the Patron saint of ecology.

As part of the celebration of this Season, you can find the text of the “Season of Creation” 2026 Prayer.

“Living Water”

With deep hope and great joy, the Season of Creation 2026 begins on September 1, carrying the theme “Living Water” and the symbol “Immersion in Living Water,” inspired by Ezekiel 47:9 and 12. This Ecumenical environmental season brings together the Ecumenical family in the Middle East and around the world in joint Prayer and work to protect God’s creation and preserve our common home.

Noting that this Season is observed annually from September 1, the Day of Creation, through October 4, the Feast of Saint Francis of Assisi, Patron saint of ecology. It is a spiritual and environmental season aimed at fostering greater awareness and responsibility towards the Earth and all that it contains.

The Season of Creation invites believers to renew their relationship with the Creator and with creation through a journey of celebration, repentance, and commitment. This is done through deepening our understanding of the Bible and the teachings of Jesus Christ, as well as via efforts to strengthen environmental values and encourage initiatives dedicated to protecting our common home, the Oikos of God.

Let us raise together our praise and glorification to the Lord, the Creator, the God of justice and peace. Let us give thanks to Him for all His gifts, blessings, and abundant graces that He has bestowed upon us!

Tuesday, September 1, 2026 – 4:00 pm

The world and the Middle East are preparing to participate in the “Season of Creation,” an annual Ecumenical environmental observance during which Christians from different Church Families come together to glorify God the Creator, renew their commitment to working together to protect creation, and preserve our common home.

On this occasion, the “Season of Creation” 2026 will be launched through a global online Prayer gathering, on Tuesday, September 1, 2026, at 4:00 pm. You can joint it through the following link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fnho_aeql2w.

The gathering will include Prayers, reflections, and interventions from many Ecumenical Leaders from around the world. It will be held under the theme “Living Water” and the symbol “Immersion in Living Water,” inspired by Ezekiel 47:9 and 12.

It is worth noting that the “Season of Creation” is observed annually from September 1, the Day of Creation, to October 4, the Feast of Saint Francis of Assisi, Patron Saint of Ecology.

Together We Unite in Prayer and Work to Protect Our Common Home! 

Media of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC)

The Ecumenical family around the world is preparing for an environmental Ecumenical season, a season that holds a lot of hope for glorifying, praising and thanking God the Creator for all His blessings and gifts. It is the “Season of Creation,” a station that extends annually between September 1, the Feast of Creation, and October 4, the Feast of Saint Francis of Assisi, the Patron Saint of Ecology. 

The Season of Creation is an Ecumenical celebration for praying and responding together to the cry of creation. Hence, its calls on us to renew our relationship with the Creator and creation by learning and working, through studying the Holy Bible and delving deeper into the Teachings of Jesus Christ, as well as through commitment to the environmental issue and making efforts to protect our common home, Oikos of God. 

As is customary yearly, the season adopts a specific theme and a special slogan. This year, we will unite around the theme “Living Water” and the symbol “Immersion in Living Water,” inspired by Ezekiel 47:9 and 12. Hence, when did this season start? And how was it launched?… 

By Saint Francis of Assisi

Performed by: The Glory of Heaven Choir

Video Produced By MECC

Are Pleased to Invite You to the Ecumenical Prayer Service

Celebrating the Season of Creation 2026

Guide of the Season of Creation 2026 Celebration in Arabic and English: https://www.mecc.org/mecc/2026/6/23/the-middle-east-council-of-churches-issues-the-season-of-creation-2026-guide-in-arabic.

Under the Theme “Living Water”

Under the Theme “Living Water”

Ismailia – 23 July 2026

The Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) officially launched the first activities of the 2026 Season of Creation, celebrated this year under the theme “Living Water,” through a spiritual and environmental day organized by the Council’s Theological and Ecumenical Department under the supervision of Fr. Movses (Garen) Yosolkanian. The event was held in cooperation with the Benedictine Monastery in El-Tal El-Kebir (Ismailia), the Syriac Orthodox Church in Egypt, the Institute of History of the Coptic Orthodox Patriarchate, and the Ecumenical Youth Committee in Egypt. The activity formed part of the three-year “Care for Creation” program implemented by the Middle East Council of Churches with the support of Danmission.

The gathering brought together young people, church ministers, monks, nuns, and representatives of the Orthodox, Catholic, and Evangelical Churches in Egypt, alongside participants from religious congregations, theological institutes, youth, pastoral, ecumenical, and scouting movements, as well as participants from Lebanon and Syria. The event reflected a vibrant spirit of fellowship, unity, and cooperation among the Churches.

“Living Water”

Carrying the theme “Living Water” and the symbol “Immersion in Living Water,” inspired by Ezekiel 47:9 and 12, the Ecumenical Family in the Middle East and around the world unites to celebrate the “Season of Creation” 2026. This season constitutes an Ecumenical, Christian, and environmental station to contemplate and care for our common home, the Oikos of God.

Each year, the Season’s celebrations begin on September 1, the day that many Church Families celebrate as the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation, and others celebrate as the Feast of Creation. It ends on October 4, with the Feast of Saint Francis of Assisi, the Patron Saint of ecology.

In this context, the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), which is a Member of the Season of Creation Ecumenical Steering Committee, issues the guide for the “Season of Creation” 2026 in Arabic, after the MECC Theological and Ecumenical Department translated into Arabic, as is customary annually.

The video includes messages from His Beatitude Patriarch Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, and the Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Professor Michel Abs.

The “Feast of Creation”, also known as “Creation Day” or “World Day of Prayer for Creation”, is officially entering the liturgical calendars of many churches. Celebrated on September 1st or – most frequently – on the following Sunday, the feast is inspired by an ancient liturgical tradition of the Eastern Orthodox church.

Many non-Byzantine churches will begin their celebrations this September, with the Feast formally enshrined in their lectionaries and liturgical books. Given the Christological nature of the liturgical year in many traditions, a title that is sometimes used is “Feast of Creation in Christ”. Among other highlights, the Feast is being added to the Revised Common Lectionary used by many Protestant and Anglican churches, in time for this year’s celebrations.

The words of Prophet Isaiah capture well what is happening: “See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?” (43:19).

To explore this promising ecumenical process, a major online event was held on March 18-19, entitled “The Feast of Creation: A New Liturgical Feast, a Gift for the Third Millennium”. Convened by the World Council of Churches, Middle East Council of Churches, and various Christian world communions and regional ecumenical bodies, the event drew registrations from over 600 church leaders worldwide.

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.

Professor Michel Abs

The Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC)

It is the gift of the Creator who entrusted it to us, placing us upon it and allowing us to enjoy its blessings so that we might have a better life.
It is the ground beneath our feet, the resting place of our bodies, the source of our air, our water, our greenery, and the pasture of our flocks, and above all, the solid land upon which we build our homes and where our families grow.

The Creator gave it to us beautiful and pure, its breeze gentle, its waters refreshing.
He gave it to us adorned with mountains, valleys, and rivers, covered with vegetation, and clothed in colors He Himself designed to delight our sight.
In it we found all that we need, for our basic and for our advanced needs, and we began to invest in it through all kinds of means and techniques, seeking to satisfy more needs or to gain more profit.

For thousands of years, the earth remained silent, bearing the injustice of humankind, and, in many cases, the harshness of climate.
In silence it watched its population grow, and it received them.
In silence it allowed its inhabitants to pursue what they deemed suitable for their comfort and progress…

On the occasion of World Mental Health Day and the beginning of the week of global celebrations of the 1700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea in Egypt, the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) organized an environmental science day with members of the Coptic Evangelical Organization and the Bishopric of Public, Ecumenical and Social Services (BLESS) in the Coptic Orthodox Patriarchate, at the Anaphora Oasis in Egypt. The event took place on Friday, October 10, 2025.

The environmental day began with a gathering of experts from Egyptian universities and the Ministry of Environment at St. Mark's Cathedral in Abbassia. Father Movses (Garen) Yosolkanian welcomed the attendees in the Anaphora Oasis. His Eminence Metropolitan Thomas, Director of the Oasis and Metropolitan of El-Qusiya and Mir, in Assiut Governorate, joined the meeting.

It Also Concludes the "Season of Creation" this Month with the Second Symposium on Eco-Theology in Cairo

The Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) have now issued its online Ecumenical calendar for the month of October 2025. 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.

The Middle East Council of Churches also concludes the "Season of Creation" in the region in October 2025, which this year carries the theme “Peace with Creation” and the symbol of “Garden of Peace”, inspired by Isaiah 32: 14-18.

On this occasion, and under the patronage of His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark, the Theological and Ecumenical Department at the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) is organizing the Second Symposium on Eco-Theology, entitled "Peace with Creation, Spiritual and Practical Perspectives from the East", between October 10 and 11, 2025, at the Coptic Orthodox Cathedral, Abbassia – Cairo.