Report: 3 November 2021

Compared to the rest of the world, the Middle East at the epidemiological level is doing much better: Most of the ME countries are recording decreasing daily corona rates as entire continents such as Europe are reporting increasing numbers.

The Evangelical Reformation Sunday, what Does it Symbolize?

It is an invitation to openness, to adhere to an open mind and accept others regardless of their belief, religion, or sect. It is the Evangelical Reformation, a call to achieve the best of each one of us, live God’s love with others, and change everything that hinders or contradicts this love: “I came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly.” (John 10:10)

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 Ceremony of the Appointment of His Beatitude Catholicos Patriarch of Cilicia for the Armenian Catholics Raphael Bedros XXI. As for the weekly message of the MECC Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs, it was entitled “You are the salt of the earth: trust, testimony, and role”.

Arzobispo Abdel Sater:
«El objetivo principal de un misionero cristiano es presentar a todos el amor de Dios por ellos»

En el Domingo Mundial de las Misiones, el Arzobispo Maronita de Beirut, S.E.R. Mons. Boulos Abdel Sater convocó una misa el domingo 24 de octubre de 2021 en la catedral maronita de San Jorge en Beirut. Funcionarios de diferentes sectores profesionales participaron en llevar el mensaje al mundo, especialmente periodistas, profesionales de los medios de comunicación, jueces, abogados, médicos e ingenieros. El Departamento de Comunicación y Relaciones Públicas del Consejo de Iglesias del Oriente Medio participó en la misa junto con la directora del departamento, la Sra. Huguette Salameh.

The Communication and Public Relations Department at the Middle East Council of Churches have now issued its digital Ecumenical calendar for the month of November 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.

Report: 27 October 2021

Within the reporting period Jordan and Syria reported an increase in the rate of new COVID cases. They are mimicking a general trend observed in Europe and East Asia as Corona is making a comeback.

Archbishop Abdel Sater:

“The primary goal of a Christian missionary is to introduce everyone to the love of God for them”

On World Mission Sunday, Maronite Archbishop of Beirut HE Mrg. Boulos Abdel Sater called for a Mass on Sunday October 24, 2021 at St. George’s Maronite Cathedral in Beirut. Officials from different professional sectors participated in carrying the message to the world, especially journalists, media professionals, judges, lawyers, doctors, and engineers... The Communication and Public Relations Department of the Middle East Council of Churches participated in the Mass alongside the Head of Department Mrs. Huguette Salameh.

The final video of the “Season of Creation” 2021 video series stresses on the need to keep the flame of hope alive in our hearts in order to defy all life difficulties, as well as on the importance of restoring our true identity, which is created in the image and likeness of God.

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 MECC Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs’ participation as a speaker in a seminar organized by the One Voice Foundation, entitled “One Voice Lebanon, the Homeland of Man”. As for the weekly message of Dr. Abs, it was the lecture he delivered during the seminar entitled “The Antiochian Levant: People, Identity and Society Between conspiracy and steadfastness”.

The importance of Praying, especially on the intention of the earth, nature and the divine blessings, in a video. It calls us to Prayer for the COP26 UN Climate Change Conference that will be held in November 2021 in Glasgow, Scotland.

Report: 20 October 2021

Despite the significant improvement in epidemiological situation in regards to corona, the virus is still being recorded at sizable levels. The vaccination drive is slowly improving but remains to be low.

Report: 1 to 15 October 2021

According to the World Bank, the Middle East is heading towards a ‘tenuous’ recovery stage as the pandemic continues to hit the region hard. It warned that if newer and deadlier variants of corona appear in the region, previous projections of growth will be scrapped. The organization also warned that political instability in the region could also deter recovery.

In the new issue of the weekly newsletter Momentum issued by the Communication and Public Relations Department of the Middle East Council of Churches, the “Week of Prayer for Christian Unity” Booklet 2022 is now published and available to the whole world. Noting that the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity entrusted MECC with the task of selecting the theme of the Week of Prayer for the year 2022 and preparing drafts of its texts.

As for the weekly message of the Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs, it was entitled “And The Looted Land Has Its Shepherd”.

Watch the Virtual Tour of the Pavilion of the Holy See, Where Bridges are Built, and the Culture of Peace is Spread

The Middle East and the world witnessed between October 1 and March 31, 2021, a historic 6-month event full of culture, creativity, and innovation: Expo 2020 Dubai. Organizers wanted it to be a meeting point of civilizations, cultures and heritage, and a link between all people and religions. This World Expo in Dubai carries with it a humanitarian message reflected in the richness of diversity, brotherhood, dialogue, and acceptance of others. This year, a special pavilion for the Vatican was allocated for the first time, an initiative proving the commitment of the UAE to the encyclical Fratelli Tutti and was manifested as its most prominent fruits.

With the end of the Season of Creation 2021, the Middle East Council of Churches concluded the first season of the television program “Days of the Season of Creation” with a final episode broadcasted on Sunday, October 10, at 8:30 pm Beirut time and 5:30 GMT. The program was in cooperation between Télé Lumière, Noursat and the Middle East Council of Churches, and was broadcasted in parallel with the global celebrations of this Christian environmental season throughout the month of September. It was prepared by the Council's Communication and Public Relations Department.

As part of the "Season of Creation" 2021 activities, the MECC Communication and Public Relations Department and the Council’s Ecojustice Adhoc Committee release a video about the importance of cultivating peace among generations, as well as the difference between the peace of people and the free peace of Jesus Christ.

Report: 13 October 2021

All Middle East countries with the exception of Turkey, reported a decrease in daily COVID rates. This is due to continuous rollout of vaccines and preventive measures.

«Nosotros hemos visto aparecer su estrella en el Oriente y venimos a adorarlo» (Mateo 2, 2)
Un título esperanzador para la unidad en la oración

La versión árabe del folleto de la Semana de Oración por la Unidad de los Cristianos se publica este año con gran alegría. El Consejo Pontificio para la Promoción de la Unidad de los Cristianos encomendó al Consejo de Iglesias del Oriente Medio la tarea de seleccionar el tema de la «Semana de Oración para el año 2022« y preparar los borradores de sus textos.