Report: 14 July 2021

In a new story twist, and during a time the Middle East deemed itself in the recovery stage, the ‘Delta’ strain of COVID-19, made its first appearance. Now its spreading regionally prompting local decision makers and international observers to take heed to the new threat.

As the first anniversary of the deadly Beirut blast draws near, EU nations have been holding meetings to discuss the Lebanese situation. At first, there was talk of assembling a UN task force to carry out humanitarian actions in Lebanon. However, the plan was scrapped and was instead replaced by the most conventional solution the West had been putting to use over the past years: sanctions.

An Introductory Meeting for the 2021 Celebrations

Together We Pray and Work for the Protection of the Environment

#SeasonOfCreationME #MECC

Within the framework of the preparations, celebrations and activities of the “Season of Creation” 2021, the Middle East Council of Churches launched for the first time in the Middle East this universal environmental project during a virtual meeting held on Monday, July 12, 2021 via Zoom. It was organized by the MECC Ecojustice Adhoc Committee and was attended by representatives of involved international and regional organizations such as TearFund, Danmission and A. Rocha Lebanon, in addition to a group of interested participants, members of the committee and a team from the Council.

Restoration work in Our Lady of the Annunciation Church in Aleppo changes the story of a long war, as it helps in establishing programs and projects which aims at serving and developing the local community, due to the increase in the number of people in need of assistance after the war.

Report: 1 to 11 July 2021

Throughout the past decades, Middle Eastern nations had attempted to form alliances that would guarantee economic cooperation and security. However, foreign intervention has paralyzed any attempt to form a unified alliance. For these powers, it is better to have a fractured Middle East rather than a unified one- a divided region is easier to handle. Very recently however, Jordan, Egypt and Iraq came together to bolster ties and build a common regional vision amid changing geopolitical realities. The initiative dubbed as “The New Levant” is a promising idea that can add a degree of stability in a turbulent area.

Special Booklet and Celebrations from the East to Glorify the Environment

Between September 1st and October 4, 2021

Christians around the world and in the Middle East celebrate the priceless gift of the Creator during a period devoted to Prayer and work in order to protect the environment and its creatures, between September 1st and October 4 of each year. As for this year, the Middle East Council of Churches is participating for the first time, along with the World Council of Churches, in the celebrations of this special environmental season.

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 a special interview with the Archdiocese of Argentina, His Eminence Bishop John Habib Shamieh “The Reality of Christians presence in the Diaspora, The Ecumenical Spirit in the expatriate countries Is a Necessity”, and the weekly message of the Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs entitled "When Helplessness Becomes Rooted in Nations".

El espíritu ecuménico en los países expatriados es una necesidad

Es cierto que los cristianos orientales dispersos por el mundo están alejados de su tierra natal, pero la mayoría de ellos llevan su cruz, su fe, sus valores y el ajetreo de la vida hasta donde aterrizan. Rara vez se rinden, y siempre encuentran soluciones para superar los retos. El obispo Juan Habib Shamieh habla de la diáspora y de cómo la Iglesia conserva a sus hijos, incluso cuando cambian de parroquia, y explica cómo trabajan en la archidiócesis maronita de Argentina, para acortar la distancia y evitar que la patria se convierta en un recuerdo.

¿Qué ocurre durante este histórico día?

A lo largo de todo el año, los cristianos celebran muchas festividades y eventos diferentes, cada uno según sus costumbres y tradiciones religiosas locales o internacionales. Sin embargo, ¿acentúan estas celebraciones la brecha entre las familias de la Iglesia? La respuesta es no.

Por supuesto, cada Iglesia tiene sus propias características y ritos, pero todas están unidas bajo un mismo lema: «La riqueza en la diversidad». Esta riqueza fue siempre lo que distinguió a las Iglesias de Oriente y Occidente, mientras que todas ellas alaban a Jesucristo en una sola fe, reconociendo su muerte y resurrección.

El juez Bitar ha declarado en repetidas ocasiones que la investigación está llegando a su fin y que se citará a algunos políticos de alto nivel. Esto plantea la cuestión de si señalará con el dedo a un político turbio con vínculos militantes, o simplemente a algún chupatintas como el ministro interino Hassan Diab, que parece el chivo expiatorio perfecto. Las iniciativas del juez, son las últimas de varios esfuerzos infructuosos para determinar la causa exacta de la explosión y hacer rendir cuentas a los responsables de la misma. Sin embargo, con el grave deterioro de la economía y la creciente indignación de la población, el juez Tarek Bitar podría tener lo que se necesita para hacer sonar la alarma sobre el crimen.

La interacción con el semanario Momentum del MECC y su creciente papel en la promoción de la comunión y la conciencia ecuménica en Oriente y Occidente se refleja a través de la construcción de puentes entre las iglesias del Oriente Medio y de Occidente y la creación de redes con ellos con el fin de trabajar por la unidad cristiana y el testimonio del Evangelio, por lo tanto, la activación de los diálogos entre las iglesias a nivel local, regional y mundial.

The Ecumenical Spirit in the expatriate countries Is a Necessity

It is true that Eastern Christians scattered across the globe are estranged from their homelands, but most of them carry their cross, their faith, their values, and the hustle and bustle of life to where they land. They rarely give up, and always find solutions to overcome challenges. Bishop John Habib Shamieh talks about the diaspora and how the Church preserves its children, even when they change parishes and explains how he works as in the Maronite Archdiocese of Argentina to shorten the distance and prevent the homeland from turning into a memory!

What Happens During this Historical Day?

All year long, Christians celebrate many different festivities and events, each according to their local or international religious customs and traditions. However, do these celebrations accentuate the gap among Church families? The answer is no. of course, each Church has its own characteristics and rites, but they are all united under one slogan: “Richness in Diversity”. This richness was always what distinguished churches in the East and the West, while all of them praise Jesus Christ in one faith, acknowledging his death and resurrection.

Report: 7 July 2021

The Delta variant of the COVID-19 virus has finally reached the Middle East, prompting various health institutions to emphasize on exercising caution; the new strain spreads much easier and has stronger symptoms.

Judge Bitar has repeatedly declared that the investigation is closing an end and that some high profile politicians will be summoned. This raises the question whether he will point the finger at a shady politician with militant ties, or just some pencil pusher such as caretaker minister Hassan Diab who looks like the perfect scape goat. The initiatives by the judge, are the latest in several unsuccessful efforts to determine the exact cause of the explosion and to hold those responsible for it accountable.

The interaction to the MECC weekly Momentum and its growing role in promoting communion and ecumenical awareness in the East and the West is reflected through building bridges between churches of the Middle East and of the West and networking with them in order to work towards Christian unity and the testimony for the Gospel, thus, activating dialogues between churches locally, regionally and globally.

The new issue of the weekly newsletter Momentum issued by the Communication and Public Relations Department of the Middle East Council of Churches, presents the meeting of His Holiness Pope Francis and the Christian leaders in the Vatican for prayer and meditation on the intention of Lebanon. Hence, MECC called in a special statement for unity in prayer with those who are gathering for Lebanon, which is today as if it was under the cross, struggling to survive in the face of crises and disasters.

Horas antes del encuentro de oración y meditación por el Líbano que se celebrará mañana en el Vaticano y para el que Su Santidad el Papa Francisco ha convocado a los jefes de las iglesias del Líbano, el Consejo de Iglesias del Oriente Medio llama a la unidad en la oración con los padres reunidos en la intención de la Patria de los Cedros, que está hoy como bajo la Cruz, luchando por sobrevivir ante las crisis económicas financieras, de seguridad, políticas, sociales, sanitarias, educativas...

El Líbano se encuentra actualmente en el punto más bajo de su historia. Incluso teniendo en cuenta los 15 años de guerra civil, que causó innumerables muertes y daños económicos y materiales, el país tiene actualmente una de las peores economías del mundo. La explosión de Beirut, que se convirtió en una de las más destructivas del planeta Tierra, dejó claro que algo va realmente mal en el país. En consecuencia, se utilizó entonces el término «depresión intencionada» para describir la situación libanesa: Definitivamente, alguien está haciendo esto a propósito.

Lebanon is currently at its lowest point in history. Even when taking into account the 15-year civil war, which had inflicted countless deaths and economic and material damage, the country currently has one of the worst economies in the world. The Beirut Blast and it becoming one of the most destructive explosions on planet Earth, made it clear that something is really wrong with the country. Consequently, the term “Deliberate Depression” was then used to describe the Lebanese situation: Someone is definitely doing this on purpose.