Bejjeh was the venue

We came to this peaceful Lebanese village perched on the hills of the Byblos region, where the first boats known in history sailed across the sea carrying the cypher to the world.

We got there on Sunday the twenty-sixth of December thanks to the joint initiative of the Theological and Ecumenical Relations Department and the Environmental Justice Committee of the Middle East Council of Churches in coordination with the village parish and its cultural and sports club.

Christmas Message 2021 from the MECC Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs

In the dome of heaven, a star shone, announcing to us the Advent of the one coming in the name of the Father.

From the heights of heights, the star came, telling us that the Awaited One had arrived, and that humanity was on the threshold of an era in no way like the one that had preceded it.

Heaven could not be silent when the Incarnation took place, so it spoke through the star.

The star was the herald of the Incarnation just as the Cross was the herald of victory over the forces of darkness.

Beirut, 13-15 December 2021

Invited by the World Council of Churches and the Middle East Council of Churches, 40 representatives of religious authorities and leaders of various Iraqi religions, congregations, and ethnic groups, came together in Beirut to follow up on recommendations of the 2017 conference held in Beirut under the title "Interfaith Consultation of Social Cohesion in Iraq", and to discuss emerging challenges and future prospects for social cohesion in Iraq.

With the aim of restoring livestock- hens breeding which was depleted during war in Syria, and in order to help rural families improve their income; the team of the Service and Relief Department- Diakonia at the Middle East Council of Churches, Syria office distributed 30 laying to each of 180 families in Um El Mayathen town in Dara’a Governorate. Some families included female-headed households and others persons with disabilities.

In the new issue of the weekly newsletter Momentum issued by the Communication and Public Relations Department of the Middle East Council of Churches, you can find the news of the new sessions of the Interfaith Consultation on Iraqi Social Cohesion that were organized by the World Council of Churches in cooperation with the Middle East Council of Churches from 13 to 15 December 2021 in Beirut. As for the weekly message of the MECC Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs, it was entitled “Societal integration, dialogue and progress – Towards a common vision for Iraq”. It was the speech that he delivered at the opening of the sessions’ first day.

Multiethnic, multireligious and multiconfessional societies go often through crises of integration that can sometimes be fatal.

We all know how basic identity is essential in defining man - the individual or man - the group and how much it has an influence on the fate of the individual and the group. In many cases, we find that a person is ready to sacrifice his life and possessions in order to protect and preserve this identity. It equates to his presence.

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.