The first of September is the beginning of the season of creation as approved by the Ecumenical Patriarchate in 1989, and it constitutes, at the same time, the beginning of the liturgical year. During this season, which lasts until the fourth of October, prayers and educational activities are held that will raise people's awareness and commitment to environmental issues.

At the beginning of this blessed season, we have the right to ask humanity about what its hands have done against the gift of the Creator, who wanted it to be a beautiful and healthy place in which humanity grows, generation after generation, with the prospect of a better life.

As part of the new television series about the “Days of the Season of Creation” 2021 launched by the MECC Communication and Public Relations Department, the first episode will be broadcasted on Thursday, September 2, 2021 at 8:30 PM Beirut time and 5:30 GMT on Télé Lumière and Noursat, and will be reran on Friday, September 3, 2021. The episode is prepared by the Communication and Public Relations Department and presented by Lawyer Roy Jreich.

“The Season of Creation”: An Eastern Newborn

As previously announced, the Middle East Council of Churches launched the “Season of Creation 2021” project for the first time in the region to allow people in the East to Pray and work for the protection of the creation, between September 1 and October 4 of each year. As such, the Council created a special committee entitled “The Ecojustice Adhoc Committee” to manage all the preparations of this season and its celebrations and activities in the Middle East.

Eastern “Season of Creation” on Télé Lumière and Noursat

On the occasion of the “Season of Creation 2021” launching for the first time in the Middle East, the Communication and Public Relations Department at the Middle East Council of Churches is presenting a new television series during the month of September about the “Days of the Season of Creation” on Télé Lumière and Noursat.

The program presents weekly episodes broadcasted every Thursday at 8.30 pm Beirut time throughout this Christian and environmental season, and will be reran every Friday. The content will be prepared by the Communication and Public Relations Department and presented by Lawyer Roy Jreish.

El impacto de Covid-19 en los medios de subsistencia y los ingresos ha sido muy duro, un estudio realizado recientemente por la OMS muestra que sólo el 55% de los hogares en Gaza fueron capaces de comprar alimentos esenciales en los últimos 7 días. Además, el 40% de los jóvenes de Gaza señalaron que habían pasado hambre en el último mes. Asimismo, el acceso a los servicios sanitarios se ha visto aún más restringido.

Con el fin de servir a la sociedad, el MECC realizó 3,771 visitas a domicilio a familias de Al-Neimeh, Ghasem y Al Sumakiat, en la zona rural de Dara'a, para concienciarlas sobre el COVID -19.
Las familias recibieron información sobre los métodos de transmisión de la enfermedad y los síntomas de la infección, además de consejos para fortalecer el sistema inmunitario.

The impact of Covid-19 on livelihoods and income was harsh, a recently conducted study by WHO shows that only 55% of HHs in Gaza were able to buy essential food items in last 7 days. Moreover, 40 % of young people in Gaza noted that they had experienced hunger in the past month. Also, access to health services has been further restricted; 23% of the respondents in noted that they had not been able to see a healthcare provider because of the pandemic.

In order to serve the society, MECC implemented 3771 home visits to families in Al-Neimeh, Ghasem and Al Sumakiat in Rural Dara’a to increase their awareness about COVID -19.

The families were introduced to methods of disease transmission and infection symptoms in addition to providing tips about strengthening the immune system.

September 5th: Proper 18 / 14th after Trinity

Oikonome: A Just Home For All People

As part of the series of videos related to the “Season of Creation” project 2021, the MECC Communication and Public Relations Department, and the Council’s Ecojustice Adhoc Committee released a new video. It sheds the light on Saint Francis of Assisi’s relation with the environment and creation.

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 Basilica of Saint Francis of Assisi in Italy.

Egypt: A Historic Environmental Place Towards a more Sustainable Future

“Anaphora”, House of God and Coptic Church

Despite the crises burdening the East, the latter is characterized with an outstanding environmental wealth that constitutes a great capital for the countries that seek to protect and preserve it for its future generations defying all the challenges it would face. The environment remains an element of interest and a main point in the agenda of most eastern authorities, hoping it would be a source of development and prosperity for their cycle of life and its pattern, especially since the region has witnessed several environmental achievements throughout history.

El nuevo número del boletín semanal Momentum, publicado por el Departamento de Comunicación y Relaciones Públicas del Consejo de Iglesias del Oriente Medio, presenta la invitación del MECC a rezar juntos en la apertura de «El Tiempo de la Creación» de este año, el 5 de septiembre de 2021, en la Iglesia Evangélica Nacional de Beirut. En relación al mensaje semanal del Secretario General, el Dr. Michel Abs, se titula «Los "Nouveaux Riches" y el Reino de Dios».

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 pray together in the opening of this year’s “Season of Creation” on September 5, 2021, at the National Evangelical Church of Beirut. As for the weekly message of the Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs, it was entitled "The Nouveaux-Riches and the kingdom of God".

El término «Nouveaux Riches» (los nuevos ricos de las guerras) se da a toda persona que adquiere riqueza ilegalmente, durante las guerras en general, a costa de las necesidades, el sustento y la dignidad de las personas.
Esta designación suele darse a quienes se benefician, durante las guerras, del almacenamiento de materiales vitales como alimentos, medicinas y otros productos necesarios para la vida, y luego los venden cuando se agotan las cantidades disponibles en el mercado, o a quienes se benefician de las guerras civiles apoyándose en su capacidad para reunir a extraños prospectos a su alrededor, por lo que monopolizan los recursos básicos y luego los venden a la gente necesitada, o imponen regalías a la gente con el pretexto de protegerla o por cualquier otra razón.

Informe: 25 de agosto de 2021

Con la intensificación de la ayuda extranjera dentro del Medio Oriente y la propagación de la variante Delta, los gobiernos locales dependen cada vez más de sus socios extranjeros.

The term Nouveaux Riches “new rich of wars” is given to any person who acquires wealth illegally, during wars in general, at the expense of people’s needs, livelihood, and dignity.

Such a designation is usually given either to those who benefited, during wars, from storing vital materials such as food, medicine and other commodities necessary for life, and then sold them when the available quantities in the market ran out, or to those who benefited from civil wars relying on their ability to gather odd prospects around them, so they monopolized basic resources and then sold to people in need, or imposed royalties on people under the pretext of protecting them or for any other reason.

Report: 25 August 2021

With the intensification of foreign aid within the ME and the spread of the Delta variant, local governments are increasingly relying on their foreign partners.

5 de septiembre de 2021, en la Iglesia Evangélica Nacional de Beirut

A pesar de todas las circunstancias trágicas que agobian a Beirut en particular y al Líbano en general, rezamos juntos por el bien del hombre, de la naturaleza y de toda criatura viviente que lucha por sobrevivir. Desde la dolorida Beirut, les informamos que la oración de apertura del «Tiempo de la Creación» de este año será el 5 de septiembre de 2021, en lugar del 31 de agosto, como habíamos anunciado anteriormente. Y cambiará también el lugar, que originalmente estaba previsto en la Iglesia de San Nicolás en Ashrafieh, a la Iglesia Evangélica Nacional en el centro de Beirut, a causa de las desafortunadas circunstancias logísticas a las que se enfrentan el Líbano y todos los ciudadanos libaneses.

September 5, 2021, At The National Evangelical Church of Beirut

Despite all the tragic circumstances burdening Beirut in particular and Lebanon in general, we pray together for the sake of man, nature, and every living creature that struggles to survive. From the pained Beirut, we introduce the start of the prayers for this year’s “Days of Creation Season” on September 5, 2021, instead of August 31, as we previously announced. The location will be changed from St. Nicolas Church in Ashrafieh to the National Evangelical Church in downtown Beirut due to the unfortunate logistical circumstances that Lebanon and all Lebanese citizens are facing.

Los preparativos para «El Tiempo de la Creación 2021» que se celebra por primera vez en Oriente, están en marcha. El Departamento de Comunicación y Relaciones Públicas del MECC presenta un video introductorio (en árabe) sobre este proyecto, preparado y presentado por el miembro del Comité Ambiental y Teológico del MECC, el padre Elías Marswanian.