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.

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.

MECC organized a training on “Basics of Child Safeguarding” for 40 teachers and facilitators.

The course focused on child safeguarding and addressed many topics such as human rights, children rights, safeguarding basics in addition to the characteristics, needs and difficulties related to each age group from childhood to adolescence, the importance of psychological health and psychological support, basics of first psychological aid, effective communication with children, child support strategies, fraud and power abuse.

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.

Today I will write about Lebanon, not because it is my homeland, but because what the Lebanese are living, and suffering has exceeded all expectations and all science fiction. If any country goes through the same occurrences that Lebanon is going through, everyone will have the duty to write about it.

There are five million hostages in Lebanon, a large part of whom idolizes their tormentors.

In Lebanon there is hunger, poverty, misery, oppression, favoritism, political feudalism, impetrating religion in politics, and disregarding the conditions of the country and its people.

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.

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.

The Middle East Council of Churches called on Christians and all the people of this tormented East to join the Catholic Churches to dedicate the East to the Holy Family, in a mass to be held on Sunday, June 27, under the name "Peace Day for the East".

Peace, which is the key to stability, progress, and development for all people, has become a goal in itself due to the fact that it was immolated by modern civilization.

Peace is a transitional goal, followed by goals, necessarily to be reached, by all means and whatever sacrifices it may cost!

All means are acceptable to reach peace...except war...and often states beg for war to reach peace. An excuse more hideous than the sin itself!

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.