Father Agapios: Christ dwells in our ship and calms every stormy turmoil

Amid waves of violence, atonement, the culture of hatred and commodification...we often distance ourselves from the very essence of our life, the foundation manifested in faith, hope, and love. It is true that we cannot deny this fact because we are drowning daily in great storms pushing us away from the shore of safety, but we agree that the desired safety cannot be reached without adhering to faith.

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

The Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches Dr. Michel Abs was the guest of an episode within the program “Kadaya Sakhina” (Hot Issues) broadcasted on Al- Keraza Egyptian TV channel, on Monday, November 29, 2021. The episode was prepared and presented by by the MECC Associate Secretary General Reverend Refaat Fikry. During it, Dr. Abs focused on the MECC Ecumenical and humanitarian mission, as well as the Council’s role in building bridges between the Church families and religions in the East and West. families Dr. Abs also talked the ongoing preparations for the MECC 12th General Assembly.

Su Santidad el Papa Tawadros II, Papa de Alejandría y Patriarca de la Sede de San Marcos, recibió en su sede papal en El Cairo – Egipto, el domingo 27 de noviembre de 2021, al Dr. Michel Abs, Secretario General del Consejo de Iglesias del Oriente Medio, quien se encuentra de visita en Egipto.

Su Santidad el Papa Tawadros II le dio la bienvenida y durante el encuentro se discutió la preparación para la convocatoria de la XII Asamblea General del Consejo de Iglesias del Oriente Medio, que se celebra cada 4 años.

Refugee families in Lebanon are suffering today, as all Lebanese citizens, from severe economic, social, health and security crises that are escalating daily. As for the children of these families, they became victims of the deteriorating living conditions in the country. Their childhood has been stolen and even their right to go to school, but what about their mental health?

Dr. Samy Fawzy, Archbishop of the Episcopal/ Anglican Province of Alexandria, met today, Monday, November 29, 2021, with Dr. Michel Abs, Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches, at All Saints Cathedral in Zamalek, in the presence of Anthony Ball, Assistant Bishop, Rev. Rifaat Fikri, Associate Secretary General of the Council, and Mrs. Huguette Salameh, Director of the MECC Communication and Public Relations Department.

Monday, November 29, 2021

As part of his visit to Egypt in preparation for the 12th General Assembly of the Middle East Council of Churches, MECC Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs will be the guest of “Kadaya Sakhina” (Hot Issues) program on Al Keraza Egyptian TV channel, live today, Monday, November 29, 2021 at 5 pm Egypt and Beirut time and 7 am California time.

Las Naciones Unidas han designado el 25 de noviembre como el «Día Internacional de la Eliminación de la Violencia contra la Mujer».

Este año, el «Día Internacional de la Eliminación de la Violencia contra la Mujer» establece 16 días de activismo bajo el título de la campaña «Únete para poner fin a la violencia contra las mujeres». La campaña finalizará el 10 de diciembre, día en que se conmemora la Declaración Internacional de los Derechos Humanos.

https://www.un.org/es/observances/ending-violence-against-women-day

Within the “Restoration of Faith Based Social Services and Religious Infrastructure that were affected by the Syrian crisis” program that is launched by the Middle East Council of Churches in cooperation with Kerk in Actie in Netherlands, in various Syrian governorates, the rehabilitation work is now completed in St. George Monastery.

In the new issue of the weekly newsletter Momentum issued by the Communication and Public Relations Department of the Middle East Council of Churches, MECC General Secretariat mourns its colleague and the Finance Director of Syria’s office Hayel Abou Jamra who passed peacefully from this life into the loving arms of our Lord. As for the weekly message of the MECC Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs, it was entitled “On Violence, the Human Person and the Other”.

The United Nations has designated the 25th of November as the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women.

This year, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women sets 16 days of activism under a campaign title of “Unite to End Violence against Women”. The campaign will end on December 10, the day commemorating the International Declaration of Human Rights.

https://www.un.org/ar/observances/ending-violence-against-women

The same website which appears above, mentions the existence of the Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women, issued by the United Nations General Assembly in 1993.

For decades and through generations, societies around the world have suffered from domestic violence, especially against women, whether they are wives, mothers or daughters. Despite all official and voluntary efforts that NGOs are doing, violence is still a worldwide social and humanitarian problem.

With the Victims’ Families of the Beirut Port Blast

Only Faith Can Strengthen them!

The Theological and Ecumenical Department at the Middle East Council of Churches organized a second session as part of the Trauma Healing and Spiritual Counseling program aiming at supporting the victims’ families of the Beirut Port Blast which occurred on August 4, 2020.

Brothers, sisters and wives of the victims participated in the session which was very touching and included testimonies of the suffer they experienced and live daily from the day of the explosion until today.

At the invitation of the Middle East Council of Churches and in the presence of the MECC Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs, the family of the Council’s General Secretariat in Beirut participated, today, November 23, 2021, in a funeral Prayer in memory of Hayel Abou Jamra, MECC dear colleague and financial director of Syria’s office, so his soul may rest in peace. The Prayer was held at Saint Mary’s Orthodox Church of Dormition in Al Makhoul Street – Ras Beirut. Hayel has fallen asleep in the hope of the resurrection and fulfilling his religious duties.

Dr. Michel Abs: We Must Shed Light On This History to Promote Awareness and Learn From It

The World Council of Churches (WCC) Commission of the Churches on International Affairs in collaboration with the WCC Spiritual Life organized a webinar entitled “Past massacres in the Middle East” on Friday, November 19, 2021. It is part of many virtual events organized this year to mark the 75th anniversary of the Commission of the Churches on International Affairs.

Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches Dr. Michel Abs participated as panelist.

Training to Improve the Capabilities of the MECC Team

Developing the working group performance in any institution or organization contributes the most in enhancing the work mechanisms and improving the productivity. The Middle East Council of Churches is keen to organize periodic training courses for its department’s teams aiming at developing their skills in various fields in order to achieve the desired Ecumenical and humanitarian goals.

The new issue of the weekly newsletter Momentum issued by the Communication and Public Relations Department of the Middle East Council of Churches, presents an exclusive interview with His Beatitude Patriarch Raphaël Bedros XXI Minassian, after his appointment as Patriarch of Cilicia for the Armenian Catholics. He said “After 30 years God sent me back to my starting point, Beirut, I am nothing but a servant and priest fulfilling the will of Jesus Christ”.

As for the weekly message of the MECC Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs, it was entitled “Towards the Twelfth General Assembly”.

As the invitations to the heads of churches to appoint their delegates to the General Assembly were sent, the timer has been set on ticking until the Assembly convenes between May 16 and 19 of the year 2022, in order to elect the Executive Committee entrusted with the task of managing the Council of Churches until the year 2026.

This Assembly comes one year and eight months later than its regular meeting date, which had been set in September of the year 2020. It has been delayed for two years due to the pandemic that confronted humanity with new challenges.

His Beatitude Patriarch Raphaël Bedros XXI Minassian

Patriarch of Cilicia for the Armenian Catholics

‘After 30 years God sent me back to my starting point, Beirut’

‘I am nothing but a servant and priest fulfilling the will of Jesus Christ’

With complete surrender, he passed his priestly journey, and he was the faithful servant whom his master entrusted over many things, so he chose him as a Patriarch at the head of the Armenian Catholic Church.

His Beatitude Raphaël Bedros XXI Minassian Patriarch of Cilicia for the Armenian Catholics believes that God’s hand is in his in every stage of his mission. He started off in Lebanon, then Jerusalem, the United States of America, to Eastern Europe, to finally returned after 30 years to his starting point as Patriarch seated in Beirut.

Children today are growing up in an environment that may negatively affect their daily life and behavior. What is the reason? Rather, the reasons are many, and cannot be limited to a specific field or level that could be related to security, social environment, economy or health sector... But most important is to accompany and support them in overcoming everything that could hinder their growth and rob them of their childhood.