The Middle East Council of Churches mourns Rev. Dr. Salim Sahyouni, who passed on to be with the Lord at the age of 90. He spent his years dedicated to working in God’s name and the Ecumenical work. It was stated in the letter of condolence the Secretary General of the Council Dr. Michel Abs addressed to the President of the National Evangelical Synod of Syria and Lebanon Rev. Joseph Kassab the following:

“Greetings in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, risen from the dead,

‘Where I am, there also will my servant be’ (John 12:26)

With great sadness and sorrow, we received the news of the passing of Rev. Dr. Salim Sahyouni to the arms of the Heavenly Father!…

It is true that the deepening economic, social and health crises that are afflicting the Middle East are overwhelming the citizens. But do you know how difficult is the psychological impact of these crises on the most affected groups? Do you realize how anxious teenagers are becoming at this delicate stage of their lives?

In fact, teenagers today, especially in Eastern societies, are suffering from several life upheavals, manifested with the displacement, social isolation and delay in education among them, which push them live in severe depression and despair.

The Syrian war cast its shadow over all the aspects of life. Thus aiming at bringing life back to Churches, restoration work at St. Paul's Church in the city of Darayya, in Rural Damascus has been completed.

A Egipto se dirigió nuestra delegación del Consejo Ecuménico del Oriente Medio en el proceso de preparación de su XII Asamblea General, que se celebrará allí por la amable invitación y el apoyo de Su Santidad el Papa Tawadros II, además del apoyo del Reverendo Padre Andrea Zaki.

En el marco de las visitas preparatorias a la Asamblea General, la delegación del MECC visitó a los líderes espirituales y continuará su recorrido en los próximos días.

The new issue of the weekly newsletter Momentum issued by the Communication and Public Relations Department of the Middle East Council of Churches, presents details about a series of visits held by Secretary General Dr. Abs with an MECC delegation to the head of Churches and leaderships in Egypt, aiming to prepare for the 12th General Assembly. The visits started with a meeting with His Holiness Pope Tawadros II at the Papal Logos Center in Wadi El Natrun. As for the weekly message of Dr. Abs, it was entitled “An ecumenical celebration in the care of the Holy Family”.

To Egypt went our delegation from the Ecumenical Council of the Middle East is in the process of preparing for its twelfth General Assembly, which will be held there at the kind invitation and support of His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, in addition to the support of the Most Reverend Pastor Andrea Zaki.

In the context of the preparatory visits to the General Assembly, the MECC delegation visited the spiritual leaders and will continue its tour in the coming days.

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.