The MECC Communication and Public Relations Department presents in cooperation with the Media Center affiliated to the Coptic Orthodox Church in Egypt C.O.C, a special interview with His Beatitude Patriarch Raphaël Bedros XXI Minassian, Patriarch of the Armenian Catholic Church of Cilicia, and MECC Elected President for the Catholic Family, during the MECC 12th General Assembly held with the hospitality of His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark, at the Logos Papal Center in Wadi El Natrun in Egypt.

The Election of Archimandrite Dr. Jack Khalil President

And Father Dr. Michael Kanbar, Executive Secretary

The General Assembly of the Association of Theological Institutes in the Middle East (ATIME) met with the generous hospitality of His Beatitude Patriarch Ibrahim Isaac, Patriarch of the Coptic Catholic Church at the Coptic Catholic Patriarchal Seminary in Maadi - Cairo, at the invitation of its President, Father Dr. Tanios Khalil, on the 22nd and 23rd of May, 2022.

Approximately seventeen deans, directors, and representatives of all colleges and institutes that are members of the Association and the General Assembly, participated in the Assembly, which opened its work with a prayer presided over by His Beatitude Patriarch Isaac. The Patriarch delivered a speech at the first session in which he welcomed the Association, which embodies the fundamental basis of ecumenical formation in the Middle East.

The MECC Communication and Public Relations Department presents in cooperation with the Coptic Orthodox Church’s Spokesperson in Egypt and the Media Center affiliated to the Coptic Orthodox Church in Egypt, a special interview with His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark, who hosted the MECC 12th General Assembly held at the Logos Papal Center in Wadi El natrun in Egypt.

A photo album from the pilgrimage visits made by the participants during the fourth day of the MECC 12th General Assembly, to many Coptic Monasteries.

The report presents a recap of the pilgrimage visits to many Coptic Monasteries made by the participants of the MECC 12th General Assembly on its last day. The visits were to the Monastery of the Virgin Mary known as Al-Baramous Monastery and Monastery of the Saint Anba Bishoy, Monastery of the Virgin Mary known as the Syriac Monastery and Monastery of St. Makarios known as Monastery of Abu Makar, and Monastery of the Saint Martyr Mar Mina and Pope Kyrillos Shrine. The video was prepared by the MECC Communication and Public Relations Department in cooperation with the Media Center affiliated to the Coptic Orthodox Church in Egypt.

You can find a report about the activities and meetings of the last day of the MECC 12th General Assembly held under the title "Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid" (Matthew 14: 27). The video was prepared by the MECC Communication and Public Relations Department in cooperation with the Media Center affiliated to the Coptic Orthodox Church in Egypt.

Middle East Council of Churches

The Logos Center - the Papal residence in the Monastery of Anba Bishoy - Wadi El-Natrun, Egypt

16-20 May 2022

“Take courage, it is I, do not be afraid” (Matthew 14:27)

1) Under this theme, the Twelfth General Assembly of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) met in the Arab Republic of Egypt for the first time since its establishment, with the participation of the member churches of the four ecclesiastical families that make up the Council: the Eastern Orthodox family, the Orthodox family, the Catholic family, and the Evangelical family, through May 16-20, 2022, with the kind hospitality of His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark for the Coptic Orthodox, at the Logos Center - the Papal residence of the Monastery of Anba Bishoy in Wadi Natroun, and in the presence of the Presidents of the MECC: Mor Ignatius Aphram II, Patriarch of Antioch and all the East and Supreme Head of the Syriac Orthodox Church throughout the world, John X, Patriarch of Antioch and all the East for the Greek Orthodox Church, Cardinal Louis Raphael Sako, Patriarch of the Chaldeans in Iraq and the world, and Reverend Dr. Habib Badr, head of the National Evangelical Union in Lebanon, Heads of member churches or their representatives, members of the Executive Committee, Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs, and the MECC team, with the participation of representatives of churches and ecumenical bodies.

The report presents the opinions of some participants during the MECC 12th General Assembly held at the Papal Logos Center in Wadi El Natrun in Egypt. The video was prepared by the MECC Communication and Public Relations Department in cooperation with the Media Center affiliated to the Coptic Orthodox Church in Egypt.

The report presents the opinions of some participants during the MECC 12th General Assembly held at the Papal Logos Center in Wadi El Natrun in Egypt. The video was prepared by the MECC Communication and Public Relations Department in cooperation with the Media Center affiliated to the Coptic Orthodox Church in Egypt.

Workshops, Studies and a First Reading of the Draft Final Statement

With great hope, the Middle East Council of Churches continued the activities of its 12th General Assembly on its third day, on Wednesday May 18, 2022, under the title "Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid" (Matthew 14: 27) at the Papal Logos Center in Wadi El Natrun in Egypt, hosted by the Coptic Orthodox Church, headed by His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark. The meetings of this day included discussions and studies on various theological, human, service and media levels in order to achieve the Ecumenical and societal desired goals for all the people of the region.

President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi to the heads of the Eastern Churches: Christian Brothers in all Arab Countries Are an Integral Part of the Fabric of Arab Society

The Middle East Council of Churches continues its 12th General Assembly today, Tuesday 17 May 2022, under the title "Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid" (Matthew 14: 27), held at the Papal Logos Center in Wadi El Natrun in Egypt, with the generous hospitality of His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark. On the second day, the participants discussed the reality of the Christian presence in the Middle East and the most prominent threats to its existence, stressing the importance of their role in the region.

The report presents the opinions of some participants in the MECC 12th General Assembly. They all called on to cling to hope, because with God we do not fear or be discouraged, and stressed on the importance of solidarity and building bridges with the others. The video was prepared by the MECC Communication and Public Relations Department in cooperation with the Media Center affiliated to the Coptic Orthodox Church in Egypt.

In the report, you can find the activities and meetings of the second day of the MECC 12th General Assembly. The video was prepared by the MECC Communication and Public Relations Department in cooperation with the Media Center affiliated to the Coptic Orthodox Church in Egypt.

Photos by Morcos Ishac, Photographer of His Holiness Pope Tawadros II

Watch the Highlights of the First Day

The report presents the highlights of the opening of the MECC 12th General Assembly under the theme of “Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid” (Matthew 14:27), at the Papal Logos Center in Wadi El Natrun in Egypt. The video was prepared by the MECC Communication and Public Relations Department in cooperation with the Media Center affiliated to the Coptic Orthodox Church in Egypt.

The report presents a brief overview about the Papal Logos Center in Wadi El Natrun in Egypt, this historical place where the MECC 12th General Assembly is being held, hosted by His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark. The video was prepared by the MECC Communication and Public Relations Department in cooperation with the Media Center affiliated to the Coptic Orthodox Church in Egypt.

The Church of the East Denounces All Conflicts and Wars and Calls On the Christians of the Region to Cling to hope

“Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid” (Matthew 14:27)

The Middle East Council of Churches launches its 12th General Assembly, on Monday, May 16, 2022, under the title of “Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid” (Matthew 14:27) at the Logos Papal Center in Wadi El Natrun, Egypt, with the generous hospitality of His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark, and with the support of the Evangelical Church in Egypt. The Assembly is attended by representatives of 21 Churches from the Middle East. They all stressed on the importance of renewal and attachment to hope and to our faith in Jesus Christ, because with His presence we are neither afraid or discouraged. As well as, they stressed on the need to cling to our East and Land, the Cradle of Christianity.

The martyrdom of Sherine Abu Aqleh is a shocking re-affirmation of the right of the Palestinian people to establish their state, with Jerusalem as its capital

With shock and great sadness, the Middle East Council of Churches headquartered in Beirut and the Ecumenical Palestinian organizations and members of the ACT Alliance working in Palestine and the region received the news of the assassination of the prominent television correspondent, Ms. Shereen Abu Aqleh. As she was engaged with her professional journalistic work, she was fell assassinated by a bullet fired from Israeli occupation forces in Jenin, in the Northern West Bank.