Press release

Beirut, 30 June 2021

Hours before the meeting of prayer and meditation for Lebanon to be held tomorrow in the Vatican and for which His Holiness Pope Francis called the Heads of churches in Lebanon, the Middle East Council of Churches calls for unity in prayer with the fathers gathered on the intention of the Homeland of the Cedars, which is today as if it was under the cross, struggling to survive in the face of economic financial, security, political, social, health, educational crises...

An Ecumenical Calendar prepared by the Communication and Public Relations Department at the Middle East Council of Churches is now issued, and 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 joy of Christians in Syria Is Renewed

The monastery of the vision of Saint Paul the Patriarchal Apostle in Tell Kawkab, in the countryside of Damascus, witnessed the visit of the sons of the Antiochene See to celebrate the apostles Peter and Paul, founders of the Antiochene See.

His Eminence Metropolitan of Mexico Ignatius (Simon) presided over the commemoration prayer that was attended by His Eminence Archbishop of Argentina Jacob (El-Khoury), Bishops Moussa El-Khoury, Ephraim Maalouli, Yohanna Batsh, a group of priests and deacons, a number of officials and a large group of believers.

“… Upon this rock I will build my Church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it.” (Matthew 16:18)

The commemoration of Saints Peter and Paul is a special date in the history of the Church and the consolidation of Christianity over the decades. The Orthodox and Catholic Churches celebrate their commemoration on June 29 of each year, and believers ask for their intercession to Christ to grant peace to the world and mercy to our souls.

They were given many titles: Leaders of the apostles, founders of the Church, first in line for the apostolate sees, and teachers of the world...

Report: 30 June 2021

Corona cases in the Middle East have significantly dropped launching the region into a new phase of prospective economic prosperity. However, a threat is looming from the East, but not from China this time- from India.

Report: 16 to 25 June 2021

Mostly all nations covered by this publication have scored positive developments, despite the obstacles they have faced. Even Palestine is receiving the assistance it needs in terms of reconstruction and sustainable development to its economy. However, the case is not the same for Lebanon; it is still in the “deliberate depression” phase whereby there is no signs of relief. Lebanon, the heart of the ME, is sinking and many of its rulers seem content to watch such a spectacle. If international actors do not intervene on a deeper and impartial scale, Lebanon sinking deeper into its problems will have profound socioeconomic and security effects on the whole region.

The new issue of the weekly newsletter Momentum issued by the Communication and Public Relations Department of the Middle East Council of Churches, includes this week the MECC call to join the Catholic Churches Consecration of the East to the Holy Family on Sunday, June 27, during a Mass for "Peace Day for the East". The weekly message of the Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs entitled "The East, the Peace, and the Lost Stability", and a special interview with the Patriarchal Media Director for the Syriac Orthodox Church Father Joseph Bali a week prior to his ordination a Bishop.

Sunday, June 27, Mass for "Peace Day for the East"

Because the blessing of peace is what this East and its people need most, Along with the historic meeting which His Holiness Pope Francis, called the heads of Christian churches in the East on the first of next July to participate in, the Middle East Council of Churches, invites to celebrate the Mass of the “Day of Peace for the East and its consecration to the Holy family”, on Sunday, June 27, at 10:00 am.

On the 21st June, many families-parents and children- get together to celebrate fathers’ day. This year however, it was different for Paul Naggear; his 3-year old child was killed by the blast of August 4. After losing his child Alexandra, Paul Naggear vowed to stand up to the government at every chance. As such, he joined various demonstrations countless times, protesting against the conduct of a careless and corrupt government.

Report: 23 June 2021

Despite the ranking of nearby countries, Iran and Turkey, as 6th and 9th for highest and newest cases of the coronavirus worldwide, the Middle East is mainly in the recovery stage.

Children are the First Victims of Hospital Collapse

In the few past difficult days, Lebanese citizens woke up to good health news on the Coronavirus measures: the European Union included Lebanon on the white list, which means that the residents of the country are now allowed to travel non-essential trips to the member states of the Union without imposing the March 2020 measures on travelers. However, this glimmer of hope came in times of deepening crises that toppled the health and medical sector and hit it to the core, what about the citizens? Can they take any more blows?

«Soy un verdadero ortodoxo sirio cuando estoy abierto a otras iglesias; seguiré cumpliendo con mi deber en mi iglesia de ofrecer medios de comunicación cristianos»

«Ya que fuiste fiel en las cosas pequeñas, te daré grandes responsabilidades. Ven, comparte la alegría de tu maestro» (Mateo 25, 23); el Padre Joseph Bali es un colega y amigo que asumirá una mayor responsabilidad al ser ordenado Obispo el 25 de junio próximo por el Patriarca Mor Ignatius Aphrem II en la Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de la Sede Patriarcal en Atchaneh - Líbano, con el Padre Roger Akhras y el Padre Kyrollos Babi.

El Padre Joseph Bali, fiel servidor, licenciado en Física y licenciado en Filosofía, ingresó en el Seminario Teológico Sirio San Efrén de Maarrat Saydnaya.

Ven, Espíritu Santo, y envíanos un rayo de tu luz desde el cielo

Es el día de la fundación y el nacimiento de la Iglesia, el día en que se le confió su misión: una comunidad de misioneros y testigos. Los discípulos aceptaron la palabra del Señor con gran alegría para predicarla por todo el mundo en una sola lengua, la lengua de Dios.

Es el día de Pentecostés, el recuerdo de la venida del Espíritu Santo sobre los apóstoles reunidos con la Madre de Dios en Sión, Jerusalén, tras la Ascensión de Jesucristo al corazón del Padre Celestial.

Es la celebración de la renovación que guía al hombre desde las tinieblas y el pecado hasta la luz y la castidad. Esta Luz divina fue mencionada en el Evangelio por Juan en el capítulo 8,12: «Yo soy la Luz del mundo. El que me sigue no caminará en la oscuridad, sino que tendrá la luz de la vida».

53 grupos de derechos libaneses, regionales e internacionales y particulares, así como 62 supervivientes y familiares de las víctimas y los bomberos, enviaron una carta conjunta a la ONU en la que pedían a la organización que iniciara su propia investigación imparcial. El motivo de este movimiento es la lenta y oscura investigación que no ha encontrado respuesta alguna. En su lugar, meses de burocracia política, obstrucción, evasión y retraso, han asfixiado la investigación; no hay que imaginar las fuerzas que actúan para ocultar lo que realmente ocurrió el 4 de agosto.

Patriarchal Media Director Father Joseph Bali:

“I am a true Syriac Orthodox when I am open to other churches,

I will continue to do my duty in my church to provide Christian media”

“Since you were faithful in small matters, I will give you great responsibilities. Come, share your master’s joy.” (Matthew 25:23), Father Joseph Bali is a colleague and friend who will be taking on greater responsibility as he will be ordained a Bishop on the 25th of next June by Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II in the Church of Our Virgin Lady at the Patriarchal Headquarters in Atchaneh - Lebanon, with Father Roger Akhras and Father Kyrollos Babi.

Father Joseph Bali, the faithful servant, holding a BA in Physics and a MA in Philosophy, joined St. Ephrem the Syriac Theological Seminary in Maarrat Saydnaya.

The new issue of “Momentum”, the weekly newsletter issued by the Communication and Public Relations Department of the Middle East Council of Churches, includes the weekly message of the Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs entitled "In the Church of Christ, there is neither a refugee nor a stranger", a detailed report regarding the webinar “Covid-19 in Times of Unrest - economic crises and sociopolitical conflicts in the Middle East” organized by WCC and MECC.

Come, Holy Spirit, and send us a ray of your light from heaven

It is the day of the founding and birth of the Church, the day on which it was entrusted with its mission: a community of missionaries and witnesses. The disciples accepted the word of the Lord with great joy to preach it around the world in one language, the language of God... It is the day of Pentecost, the memory of the coming of the Holy Spirit on the apostles who were gathered with the Mother of God in Zion, Jerusalem, following the ascension of Jesus Christ into the heart of the Heavenly Father. It is the celebration of renewal that guides man from darkness and sin to light and chastity. This divine light was mentioned in the Bible of John in chapter 8:12: “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness but will have the light of life.”

Report: 16 June 2021

The vaccination campaign continues to score additional inoculated people.

Some ME nations have started requiring people to be vaccinated to enter certain government or private establishments.

53 Lebanese, regional, and international rights groups and individuals, as well as 62 survivors and families of the victims and firefighters, sent a joint letter to the UN asking the organization to launch its own impartial investigation. The reason behind this move is the slow and obscure investigation that has been finding no answers whatsoever. Instead, months of political red tape, obstruction, evasion, and delay, have suffocated the investigation; there is no imagine the forces at work to hide what really happened on August 4.

Report: 1 to 11 June 2021

With the severe decrease in COVID-19 cases in almost every country, international donors and investors are re-organizing their efforts towards the development of this region. However, some countries are relying more than others on aid, depending on the type of political system in place. For instance, Egypt has taken advantage of inward investment to launch massive projects. Meanwhile, others such as Lebanon and Syria are struggling under economic sanctions imposed on key decision makers not in line with western policies.