And the Middle East Council of Churches Listens to Their Point of Views

In the context of the MECC belief in the importance of the youth role and within the framework of the youth consultation project on the issue of Christian presence in the Middle East, the MECC Theological and Ecumenical Department which is organizing this project, held a meeting in Amman gathering a group of young women and men representing different Churches in Jordan. This consultation was done in cooperation with the World Christian Student Federation in the Middle East, on Friday 17 June 2022, at the headquarters of the Melkite Greek Catholic Archeparchy of Petra, Philadelphia and All Transjordan.

The first session began by celebraring the Prayer for Christian Unity, presided over by His Eminence Bishop Joseph Jbara, Archbishop of the Archeparchy. It also included a brief presentation on the MECC mission and its most important programs, as well as an explanation of the meeting’s topic and objectives.

The Council Is an Opportunity That Gather Different People

Ending his pastoral tour in Lebanon, His Beatitude Patriarch Anba Ibrahim Isaac, Coptic Catholic Patriarch of Alexandria, and Head of the Council of Catholic Patriarchs and Bishops in Egypt, dedicated an ecumenical visit to the headquarters of the Middle East Council of Churches General Secretariat in Beirut, on this morning, Monday 27 June 2022. His Beatitude was accompanied by His Eminence Bishop Thomas Habib, Bishop of the Coptic Catholic Eparchy of Sohag, and Patriarchal Visitor in Lebanon and the Gulf, and Father Antonios Makar, the Coptic Catholic Pastor in Lebanon. The MECC Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs welcomed His Beatitude, alongside with the General Secretariat’s team from various departments.

The meeting culminated in a collective Prayer headed by His Beatitude, on the occasion of the Feast of the Apostles Peter and Paul, which is celebrated on June 29. The Prayer was followed by a session for introduction and discussion.

In the context of strengthening a more sustainable partnership, the CEO of the International Humanitarian Organization “Embrace the Middle East” Tim Livesey, and the Programmes and Partnerships Manager in the organization Bruce Clark, visited the headquarters of the Middle East Council of Churches General Secretariat in Beirut, on Thursday, June 23, 2022. The MECC Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs welcomed them alongside with the Council's Finance Director Manal Bechara Bou Habib and the Coordinator of the Beirut Office of the Council’s Service and Relief – Diakonia Department Nina Hallak.

(With the Video of the Speech)

Your Beatitude Patriarch John X,

Reverend Pastor and Fathers,

Dear colleagues,

After the end of the proceedings of the Twelfth General Assembly and the election of MECC Presidents and members of the Executive Committee, this is the first of our visits as an official delegation to His Beatitude, the Patriarch of Antioch and all the East and MECC President, in order to congratulate Him and get His views on the various issues raised and to obtain His directives regarding the work of the Middle East Council of Churches.

Adyan Foundation Launches "Zakiratuna"

A film That Enhances the Syrian Refugees' Sense of Belonging To Their Homeland

On the occasion of the International Refugee Day, Adyan Foundation, an MECC partner, produced with the support of the US Embassy in Lebanon, a documentary entitled “Zakiratuna” written and directed by Michèle Tyan. The film came within the framework of Adyan’s project, which aims, according to it, to “restore and strengthen the positive connection of Syrian refugee children and adolescents with their homeland”, especially those who were born and raised outside Syria, carrying a negative image of their homeland. Thus, the documentary aims also at "collecting and composing some beautiful memories from the older generation and transmitting them to the younger generation…”

In our Orthodox Church We Have Faith and a Very Serious Endeavor in Building Bridges Between Christians in the Middle East

Dr. Michel Abs: Crises Are Threatening the Antiochian Eastern Region, so the Role of the Church and MECC Is Essential

In a follow-up to the results of the MECC 12th general Assembly, the MECC Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs headed a delegation from the Council in a visit to His Beatitude Patriarch John X, Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and all the East, and MECC President for the Orthodox Family. The visit was on Monday, June 20, 2022 at the Patriarchal Headquarters in Balamand, North Lebanon, in the presence of the Abbot of Our Lady of Balamand Monastery, Archimandrite Romanos El Hannat.

On the occasion of the MECC 12th General Assembly and in preparation for the celebration of its golden jubilee, the MECC Communication and Public Relations Department presents a documentary entitled “The Middle East Council of Churches… 50 years of Continuous Witness”, highlighting the founding of the Council and the most prominent bright stations that MECC achieved through its ecumenical and humanitarian mission. Since 1974, MECC started a new ecumenical era in the Church of the East, spreading the spirit of fraternity and dialogue “Building Bridges, Standing Together”.

Gender-Based Violence is Ongoing

Women Refugees Are in Danger More Than Ever, Does Anyone Hear Their Cry for Help?

Say no to early marriage, no to harassment, no to beatings, no to racism, no to discrimination... Slogans the Middle East Council of Churches works all year long to transform into living reality with groups of women in awareness sessions about gender-based violence implemented by the MECC Service and Relief Department, Beirut office. Slogans saying "No to Violence", in the face of a painful reality: "No Laws"??!!!

The sad truth is there are no feasible laws, or perhaps no implementation of laws to protect women today, due to unfair policies that some countries in our region adopt. A reality we can’t escape, especially since the rate of violence against women continues to rise in the world and the Middle East. Figures and statistics confirm this tragedy!

The Service and Relief Department- Diakonia, at the Middle East Council of Churches, Syria’s office, launched a WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) campaign in Dara’a city to support the local community. This activity was implemented within the Cash for Work Program.

The two-month campaign contributes to providing temporary job opportunities for 100 workers including women and persons with disabilities.

MECC Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs in an Interview About the Sayfo Massacres on Suboro TV

On the 107th Commemoration of the Syriac Genocide or the "Sayfo Massacre", the Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches Dr. Michel Abs was the guest of “Each Day By Day" program broadcasted on Suboro TV, Wednesday, June 15, 2022. The episode was under the slogan of "Sayfo 1915 We Forgive but Never Forget”, during which Dr. Abs talked about the Sayfo massacres, considered from the most brutal massacres in the history of the Church.

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 message of the MECC Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs, which is entitled this week “The Elderly”.

The issue also presents an interview with Dr. Abs on “Kadaya Sakhina” program (which means “Hot Issues”) broadcasted on Al Keraza Egyptian TV channel, highlighting the activities of the MECC 12th General Assembly, the most important decisions taken in light of its final statement, and the MECC future vision.

They sit on their chair, holding their cane, with their eyes fixed on the horizon, looking at it with a look of reproach and anticipation.

They are waiting for a son, a grandson, a brother, or someone who will ask about them, about their condition and their fate.

They recall days gone by and reflect on the suffering they made them endure and the lessons they taught them. Sometimes they are happy and sometimes sad.

"Old age is a crossing", thus goes the popular saying in Lebanon. And as the French saying goes, “If the youth knew, and if old age is able.”

The graying of their hair and their wrinkled skin tell you of the time that they have endured. Their erratic gaze tells you something about their suffering.

They are the most vulnerable group in society, as they have neither power nor promise of restoring past glory. They just resort to memories.

During the month of May 2022, the MECC, as part of its effort to provide Humanitarian relief to victims of protracted crises, held several activities at Our Lady Dispensary in Sabtieh, Sad El Bouchrieh. Activities took on themes related to: soft skills, psycho social support, Gender Based Violence, and health awareness. The objective of such endeavors is to allow people to get back on their feet, after several traumas had shaped their lives.

The Dream of His Holiness Pope Tawadros II Chronicles the Ecclesiastical Heritage

"The library was a dream that has been on my mind for a long time. Today libraries are fund in churches and monasteries. But we were thinking of an integrated central institution through which we could show the Coptic Church’s care in education and scientific research. We Thank God for giving us this great blessing. What was just a dream has now become a reality!”

The dream of His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark, according to his words, has come true and has become a great cultural and intellectual reality in an oasis of one of the holiest lands that the Holy Family has passed through, here in Wadi El Natrun in Egypt.

The Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches, Dr. Michel Abs was, on Monday, June 13, 2022, the guest of the Egyptian Al-Keraza channel, in the program "Hot Issues" prepared and presented by the Co-Secretary-General of the Middle East Council of Churches, Rev. Rifaat Fikry.

During the program, Dr. Abs highlighted the activities of the MECC 12th General Assembly, which was hosted by His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark, between 16 and 20 May 2022, at the Logos Papal Center in Wadi El Natrun in Egypt.

Department of Diakonia and Ecumenical Relief

Since its establishment, the Middle East Council of Churches has sought to protect the neediest and most vulnerable groups, preserving their rights and dignity through its various humanitarian programs that include relief and development, justice, peace, human rights and advocacy, migrants and refugees. The following video, entitled “A Story of Success”, emphasizes the MECC relief work through the Diakonia Department and the Ecumenical Relief Program, and the most prominent humanitarian programs and activities which are being implemented by the Department in various countries of the Middle East, which is suffering under the weight of social, economic, health and security crises...

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 message of the MECC Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs, which was entitled this week “Child Labor and Afflicted Humanity”, coinciding with the World Day Against Child Labour on June 12.

The issue also presents an interview with the Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs on MTV Lebanon, during which he was accompanied by the Director of the MECC Communication and Public Relations Department Mrs. Huguette Salameh, to shed light on the activities of the MECC 12th General Assembly. This is in addition to another interview with Dr. Abs on Radio Liban Libre, about the General Assembly and the Christian presence in the region.

The twelfth of June is the Day against Child Labor. This is how it was delimited by the United Nations, which, through its various institutions, is considered as a spearhead in the fight against this scourge that wounds humanity to its core.

The statistics included on the United Nations website dealing with this topic consider that during the year 2020, ten percent of children 5 years and above participated in child labor worldwide, or a total of 160 million children, sixty percent of whom were boys.

This phenomenon is not new and should not surprise the reader.

Entitled by Pope Francis “Listening with the Ear of the Heart”

The world is celebrating the International Day of Social Media in its 56th edition this year, which is scheduled on June 30 of each year, aiming at enhancing awareness and spreading knowledge about the social media platforms to be used in a better way, especially in spreading and consolidating human values ​​based on peace, love and brotherhood, avoiding hate speech and conflicts.