Your Holiness, Your Eminences,

Dear sisters and brothers,

I am glad and honoured to be with you this morning and share these moments of reflection, exchange and fellowship. I would like first to welcome you all and to thank you for having responded positively to WCC's and MECC's invitation.

Faith is part of the inner identity of a human being. It touches the whole of the human life. It refers to one’s faith in God bur also defines one’s way of life: relationships with others and the whole world.

With the Organization of WCC and MECC

Representatives of the Societal and Religious Components Discussed Ways to Promote Fraternity and Citizenship Aiming for a Better Iraq

As a follow-up to the consultation that started in Beirut in 2017, under the title of “Interfaith Consultation on Social Cohesion in Iraq”, the World Council of Churches (WCC) organized in cooperation with the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) new sessions from 13 to 15 December 2021 in Beirut. The consultation was held in the presence of the WCC Acting General Secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Ioan Sauca and the MECC Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs. As for the attendees, 40 representatives of different Churches, religions, organizations, official bodies and components of society in Iraq participated.

An Ecumenical Meeting in Beirut

The Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches Dr. Michel Abs welcomed the Acting General Secretary of the World Council of Churches Rev Prof. Dr Ioan Sauca, at the headquarters of the MECC General Secretariat in Beirut on Tuesday December 14, 2021. The President of the National Evangelical Union in Lebanon and President of the Council for the Evangelical Family HE Rev. Dr. Habib Badr, besides the General Secretariat team in Beirut, also received Sauca.

The Middle East Council of Churches conducted “Home Caretaker” course in Damascus, Syria, in cooperation with IECD - European Institute for Cooperation and Development.

The course lasted for 32 days at the IECD headquarters and included practical training for 19 trainees in “Dar Al Saada”, which is an elderly care home, in Damascus.

A las dos de la noche de ayer, mientras la hermana Claire se disponía a entrar en la iglesia de San Elías del monasterio de San Elías al-Ras, en Kesrouan, su carne cayó al suelo mientras su alma se liberaba, abrazando al Redentor.

En el umbral de la iglesia terrenal, cayó la monja enfermera que durante décadas curó las heridas de Cristo en cada paciente del hospital en el que trabajaba, y no necesitó que nadie le vendara las heridas ni le diera una última gota de agua.

Rehabilitation work at Al Rahma Home for Elderly in Aleppo has ended and life has been back to it once again. This process came within the “Restoration of Faith –Based Social Services and Religious Infrastructure that were affected by the Syrian crisis” program, which is implemented by the Middle East Council of Churches and Kerk in Actie in Netherlands, in various Syrian governorates.

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 MECC General Secretariat mourns Reverend Dr. Salim Sahyouni, President of the National Evangelical Synod of Syria and Lebanon, and Honorary President of the Supreme Council of the Evangelical Community in Syria and Lebanon. As for the weekly message of the MECC Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs, it was entitled “She left before dawn”.

At two o'clock yesterday night, while Sister Claire was about to enter Saint Elias church at Saint Elias al-Ras monastery, in Kesrouan, her flesh fell to the ground while her soul was freed, embracing the Redeemer.

On the threshold of the earthly church, the nurse nun fell, who for decades healed the wounds of Christ in every patient in the hospital in which she worked, and did not need anyone to bandage her wounds or give her a last drop of water.

From November 28 to December 5

On a Mission to Prepare for the 12th General Assembly of the Council, Hosted by Pope Tawadros II

Press release

Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches Dr. Michel Abs visited Egypt from November 28 to December 5, 2021, on a special mission to prepare for the General Assembly of the Council to be held between May 16 and 20, 2022 under the kind hospitality of His Holiness Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark Pope Tawadros II at the Papal Logos Center in Wadi El Natrun.

Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches Dr. Michel Abs: “Sahyouni was an example in Ecumenical work and a pioneer in its fields”

On Wednesday morning, December 8, 2021, the Evangelical Church in Syria and Lebanon bid farewell to the former President of the National Evangelical Synod in Syria and Lebanon Rev. Dr. Salim Sahyouni during an official funeral held at the National Evangelical Presbyterian Church in Rabieh, Lebanon.

The funeral service was presided by the President of the National Evangelical Synod in Syria and Lebanon Rev. Joseph Kassab.

El Consejo de Iglesias del Oriente Medio está de luto por el Rev. Dr. Salim Sahyouni, que ha pasado a estar con el Señor a la edad de 90 años. Pasó sus años dedicados a trabajar en nombre de Dios y en la obra ecuménica. En la carta de condolencia que el Secretario General del Consejo, Dr. Michel Abs, dirigió al Presidente del Sínodo Evangélico Nacional de Siria y el Líbano, Rev. Joseph Kassab, se decía lo siguiente:

«Saludos en el nombre de nuestro Señor Jesucristo, resucitado de entre los muertos,

"Donde yo esté, allí estará también mi servidor" (Juan 12, 26)

Con gran tristeza y dolor, recibimos la noticia del fallecimiento del Rev. Dr. Salim Sahyouni que ha partido a los brazos del Padre Celestial…

Why Jesus chose Bethlehem as Birthplace?

Coming from the East to Jerusalem, the Magi said with yearning and eagerness “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him” (Matthew 2:2). They came from far away to witness the birth of the King of Kings. They felt great joy seeing the star leading them “until it stopped over the place where the child was” (Matthew 2:9). At that place, in a small manger in the City of David in Bethlehem, the Savior of the world was born. But why Bethlehem and why did Jesus chose His birthplace in the East?

Report: 8 December 2021

Countries in the Middle East are preparing themselves for the omicron variant of the coronavirus by restricting travel, announcing lockdowns and closing airports. Although several decision makers have assured the public that their countries are ready to face whatever the new challenges omicron might bring, many are skeptical whether their governments are up for the challenge.

As part of his visit to Egypt, the Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches Dr. Michel Abs was the guest of an episode within the program “Men Jil Ila Jil” (From Generation to Generation) live on the Egyptian TV Channel ME Sat and the Coptic Orthodox Cultural Center Facebook page, on Friday December 3, 2021.

Dr. Abs was interviewed by Dr. Caroline and underlined during the episode the most prominent founding phases of MECC and its history. In addition to its identity, mission and role in the region.

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.