“We saw his star at its rising and have come to do him homage.” (Matthew 2:2)

A Hopeful Title for Unity in Prayer

The Arabic version of The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity booklet is released this year with great joy! The Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity entrusted the Middle East Council of Churches with the task of selecting the theme of the Week of Prayer for the year 2022 and preparing drafts of its texts. The Ecumenical Committee appointed by the Theological and Ecumenical Department of the Council, tasked with this project, chose as a subject the appearance of the star in the sky of Judea as a sign of hope for God’s loving presence for humanity under the title: “We saw his star at its rising and have come to do him homage” (Matthew 2:2).

Como parte del desarrollo de capacidades y habilidades, el Consejo de Iglesias del Oriente Medio está interesado en desarrollar el rendimiento de su equipo, con el fin de trabajar juntos y superar las dificultades y desafíos, especialmente lo que rodea a nuestras Iglesias orientales, su Consejo y las sociedades.

As part of the capacity building and skills development, the Middle East Council of Churches is keen to develop its team performance, in order to work together and overcome the difficulties and challenges, especially that surround our Eastern Churches, their Council and societies.

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 news of the closing Prayer of the “Season of Creation” at the invitation of MECC and under the patronage of HB Patriarch Cardinal Mar Bechara Boutros Al Rai, on October 3, 2021, at the Monastery of the Visitation, Aintoura – Lebanon. In addition to the MECC Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs’ speech on the occasion.

All Creation is Inviting us to Glorify and Bless the Lord

All Church Traditions Confirm that the World was not Just Created for Man, but for all Creatures

The Eastern calendar this year noticed some modifications, the environment knocked on its door to reserve its seat among the regional and international days the Middle East celebrates annually. The new environmental celebration starts on September 1 and ends on October 4 of each year, and this is reflected in the days of the “Season of Creation” for the first time in the region following the initiative of the Middle East Council of Churches to translate the international booklet of the season into Arabic.

Environmental and Ecumenical Interviews on the Closure of the “Season of Creation” 2021

Leaders from Different Church Families Highlight the Importance of Preserving the Creator’s Gifts

On the closure of the Season of Creation 2021 in the East and the world, the Middle East Council of Churches called for an Ecumenical Prayer under the patronage of His Beatitude Maronite Patriarch of Antioch and all the East Cardinal Mar Bechara Boutros Al Rai on Sunday October 3, 2021, at the Visitation Monastery, Philokalia Institute and Organization, in Aintoura, Lebanon.

The Visitation Monastery, Philokalia Institute and Organization, how it was founded and what is its role? and what are the specializations available at the Institute?

Sister Marana Saad:

‘At Philokalia, meaning “Love of the beautiful”, we work on the upbringing of artists’

‘The Season of Creation is a message and an invitation in the heart of the Church’

From the Lebanese village Aintoura, and with the reverence of the Monastery of the Visitation, the heavens chanted, and voices were raised, glorifying the Creator and praising his divine power. “How beautiful You are, Lord… How great Your name is on Earth!” How great are your deeds, O Lord, and how wonderful are your children when they gather in your name, with one heart, thanking you for your glorious blessings.

Report: 6 October 2021

With the exception of Turkey and Syria, all Middle East countries are reporting a decrease in daily infection rates. Due to overwhelming support from partner countries and adequate containment measures, only two countries have yet to report progress.

Report: 15 to 30 September 2021

ME countries continued to succeed in weathering the different economic challenges that had impeded progress. With tensions decreasing and the situation improving, the ME can focus on development projects that can tackle future challenges.

Ecumenical Prayer in the Monastery of the Visitation, Lebanon, Under the Patronage of Cardinal Al-Rai

The Middle East Council of Churches concluded the “Days of the Season of Creation” 2021, a first of its kind event in the east, under the patronage of the Maronite Patriarch of Antioch and all the East His Beatitude Cardinal Mar Bechara Boutros Al-Rai, on Sunday October 3, 2021, at the Monastery of the Visitation, Philokalia Institute and Organization, in Aintoura – Keserwan, Lebanon, chosen by His Beatitude and recently restored for the celebration.

On the Occasion of the Feast of Saint Francis of Assisi, the MECC Communication and Public Relations Department, and the Council’s Ecojustice Adhoc Committee released a new video about the Saint’s characteristics and strengths. The video is prepared and presented by the committee member Father Elias Marswanian, from the Order of Friars Minor Conventual. Noting that it was filmed in the Holy See Pavilion in Expo 2020 Dubai.

Members of the Philokalia Choir will be performing during the closing ceremony of the "Season of Creation" 2021 at the Monastery of the Visitation, Philokalia Institute and Organization, in Aintoura, Lebanon.

We salute them and their voices for glorifying and praising the Creator, and spreading hope, through art and music!

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 MECC invitation to participate in the closing Prayer of the "Season of Creation", on October 3, 2021, at the Monastery of the Visitation, Aintoura – Lebanon. As for the weekly message of the Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs, it was entitled “The environment once more!”.

En los días del «Tiempo de la Creación»
S.E.R. Obispo Costa Kayyal: La naturaleza es fruto de la creatividad del Creador y de la abundancia de sus dones
Los fieles están llamados a vivir una vida digna del Evangelio de Cristo

Durante muchas décadas, el medio ambiente ha sido un tema importante y un área de interés en el pensamiento y la orientación de la Iglesia. En su creencia y en sus oraciones ha destacado la glorificación y la alabanza al Creador por todas las bendiciones divinas que nos ha concedido. Por no hablar de los proyectos y actividades medioambientales y naturales que ha querido llevar a cabo, haciendo hincapié en la responsabilidad del Hombre de preservar su casa común.

On the Days of the “Season of Creation”

His Eminence Bishop Costa Kayyal: Nature is a fruit of the Creator's creativity and an abundance of His gifts

Believers are called to live a life worthy of the Gospel of Christ

For many decades, the environment has been an important issue and a major area of interest in the Church's thoughts and orientation. It emphasized in its belief and prayers the glorification and praise of the Creator for all the divine blessings he has given us. Not to mention the environmental and natural projects and activities it has been keen to implement, emphasizing the responsibility of Man to preserve his common home.

As part of the Eastern “Season of Creation” 2021 activities, and under the patronage of the Middle East Council of Churches, a campaign to clean up the Raouche Beach in Beirut, Lebanon, was implemented on Saturday, September 18, 2021, morning. The campaign was organized by Youth and Students for Peace organization, Lebanese Scout Association, and Jerusalem See, Lebanon and the Near East, the Coptic Orthodox Church of Our Lady and Saint Mark the Apostle in Lebanon.

The Communication and Public Relations Department at the Middle East Council of Churches have now issued its Ecumenical calendar for the month of October 2021. 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. Noting that the remaining months of the year will be published consecutively.

The fourth episode of the program "Days of the Season of Creation" 2021 was broadcasted on Thursday, September 23, at 8:30 pm Beirut time and 5:30 GMT, and reran on Friday, September 24, 2021. The program is prepared in cooperation between Télé Lumière and Noursat and the Middle East Council of Churches. It is launched in the context of the international celebrations of the “Season of Creation” and will be broadcasted throughout the month of September. The content is prepared by the MECC Communication and Public Relations Department.

Report: 29 September 2021

Despite the previous lockdowns, vaccination campaigns, and establishment of vaccine-producing enterprises, the Middle East is still suffering from high daily infections.