Video - MECC in Its Second Monthly Webinar

Towards Human Dignity Preservation and Social Capital Rehabilitation

The Middle East Council of Churches held its second monthly webinar entitled “Social Justice in Times of Crisis”, on Thursday evening 25 August 2022, with the participation of experts, specialists and students from many countries in the region. This webinar, which was broadcasted live on the MECC Facebook page, is part of a series of monthly seminars launched by MECC last June, and comes within the framework of the “Human Dignity Project” as part of the work of a department that is being developed in the Council under the name of “Dialogue and Social Cohesion-Social Capital Rehabilitation”.

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 publishes the "Season of Creation" 2022 international booklet in Arabic under the title “Listen to the Voice of Creation”. As for the weekly message of the MECC Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs, it is entitled “Between the kingdom of God and the hell of humankind”.

Do we notice the absolute chaos and the utter evil that pervade humanity today?

Modern man has become preoccupied with his daily life and craving after money to fulfill needs, including illusory or artificial ones, invented for him by industrial society, to the extent that he is no longer able to see the situation of the human race today.

Wars, epidemics, social problems, deteriorating economic conditions, misdistribution of wealth, food and medicine on a global scale, and other misfortunes of modern society have swept the globe and led the human race to what the Master, who embodied our salvation, warned against.

On the counterpart, we witness development in human, medical and social services, to the extent that one almost considers that there are two different kind of human beings on earth.

It is the race between good and evil that began with the advent of humankind, and that takes on renewed forms.

It is the same creature that destroys homes, makes people homeless, kills them, and sometimes exterminates them, that shelters them, heals their wounds, and gives them warmth.

Some women struggle with mental health issues due to loneliness, violence, and cultural isolation. Luckily, the MECC Service and Relief – Diakonia Department, Beirut’s Office, was able to inspire positive change, with the help of international partners. As such, Psychosocial sessions were given to these women as an attempt to mend wounds. They were divided into two categories: those that can attend art technique sessions, and those that need greater mental health intervention.

Our Colleague Seta Hadeshian: His Holiness and the Armenian Cause

Վեհափառ ահայրապետը եւ Ազգային պահանջատիրութիւնը

The Armenian Orthodox Catholicosate of Cilicia published a book on the occasion of the Silver Jubilee and the 25th anniversary of the election and consecration of His Holiness Aram I as Catholicos of the Armenian Church, Holy See of Cilicia. The book is entitled “Արժեւորում եւ Վկայութիւններ”, “Appraisal and Testimonies”, and includes articles and texts written by 52 contributors from various fields such as religious, Ecumenical, academic, political, church administration, community leadership, which shed light on the journey of His Holiness Catholicos Aram I and the most prominent bright stations he passed through during this period.

“Listen to the Voice of Creation”

The Middle East will be soon celebrating the annual international Christian and environmental “Season of Creation”, which was launched by the Middle East Council of Churches for the first time in the region last year. This is through many environmental activities and an awareness campaign to protect the creation, in addition to translating the Season’s Prayer booklet into Arabic, which is adopted internationally and in different languages. Thus, the people of the East may also celebrate the Season’s activities with the whole world, from the 1st of September till 4 October.

The theme of this year’s Season is “Listen to the Voice of Creation” taking the slogan of “The Burning Bush”. Hence, MECC issues the booklet of the 2022 Season in Arabic and in two versions. A full version translated from the original English booklet, including all details and information related the season, in addition to prayers and suggestions for the celebrations... The second version is shorter and ready for printing and distribution.

“Social Justice” in Times of Crisis

Thursday 25 August 2022, 7 p.m

Save the Date!

As part of the series of monthly seminars launched last June, the Middle East Council of Churches invites you to participate in its second webinar entitled "Social Justice in Time of Crisis", on Thursday 25 August 2022, at 7 p.m.

This webinar comes within the framework of the “Human Dignity Project” as part of the Dialogue and Social Cohesion-Social Capital Rehabilitation Programs. You can participate in it through the following link: https://bit.ly/3T7PQNv.

Extends Its Deepest Condolences to His Holiness Pope Tawadros II and the Coptic Orthodox Church Over the Victims of the Imbaba Church

With great sadness and pain, the Middle East Council of Churches, on behalf of its Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs, extends its deepest condolences to the Coptic Orthodox Church headed by His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark, and to the families of the victims of the fire that ripped, during the Divine Liturgy on Sunday, through St. Mercurius the Martyr Church in Abu Sefein, Imbaba district, in Egypt.

The death of the 41 victims, including the priest of the Church, while praying during the Virgin Mary’s fast, is a consolation and confirmation that they passed away to the Heavenly Father gaining eternal life, through grace and Prayer.

As prevention is better than cure, The Service and Relief Department – Diakonia at the Middle East Council of Churches office in Syria aims at raising health awareness to reach as many persons as possible in society through implementing health awareness trainings to women, who will, in turn, transfer the gained knowledge to their communities.

Health awareness trainings were implemented in Dara’a and Damascus for 15 trainees in each governorate. The trainees were introduced to the most common diseases; causes, treatment and prevention methods in addition to introducing the correct methods of using a blood pressure monitor in addition to the basics of first aid.

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 a news about the visit of the MECC Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs, heading a delegation from the General Secretariat, to His Beatitude Patriarch Cardinal Mar Bechara Boutros Al-Rai, Maronite Patriarch of Antioch and all the East. As for the weekly message of Dr. Abs, it is entitled “On their International Day: Youth, Challenges and Questions”, and is dedicated for the International Youth Day celebrated on August 12.

The issue also presents a news and pictures about the congratulatory visit held by Dr. Michel Abs, heading a delegation from the MECC General Secretariat, to Father Hadi Mahfouz following his election as General President of the Lebanese Maronite Order, besides the new General Presidency complex.

Dr. Michel Abs: Reactivating the work of the Dialogue Committee, is a necessity

Headed by its Secretary-General, Dr. Michel Abs, a delegation from the Middle East Council of Churches visited His Eminence Sheikh Al-Aql of the Unitarian Druze Community, Sheikh Dr. Sami Abi Al-Muna, to emphasize the relationship that binds the Council to the Unitarian Druze Community sect alongside its historical role in promoting the dialogue between the various religions and references in Lebanon.

The visit, which took place today, Thursday, August 11th, began with a word from the Secretary-General, Dr. Abs, where he spoke about the firm relations that were always present with Sheikh Al-Aql and the personal bond they shared while being part of the Islamic-Christian Dialogue Committee in Lebanon, in addition to attending meetings and other joint initiatives that took place in cooperation between both sides. The Secretary-General also stressed that the interest in Christian issues does not negate the important need to cooperate with our partners in our homeland.

The world celebrates on August 12 of each year the International Youth Day, and the interaction with this occasion varies between one country and another, and between one institution and another.

Young people rarely find the necessary attention for them, as society considers them a young, strong and solid group, capable of overcoming difficulties due to their age, health and aspirations. The social injustice that is clearly visible and which needs direct and, in most cases, urgent support.

As an educator for more than four decades, having lived through various categories of youth, I can simply consider that young people constitute a vulnerable and marginalized group, unintentionally excluded by society by virtue of the cultural and economic dynamics that govern the course of society.

There are many challenges facing the youth of our modern world, varying from one society to another in terms of the nature of these challenges and their weight on the lives of young people, their aspirations and, consequently, their future. However, in all cases, it bears a heavy burden on a social group that is silently marginalized and excluded under the pretext that it is a group that, because of its lack of maturity coupled with high energy, is able to withstand.

And Inviting the Maronite Church to Participate in the “Season of Creation” 2022 Celebrations

The Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches Dr. Michel Abs visited His Beatitude Patriarch Cardinal Mar Bechara Boutros Al-Rai, Maronite Patriarch of Antioch and all the East, heading a delegation from the MECC General Secretariat that included the Director of the Theological and Ecumenical Department Father Dr. Antoine Al Ahmar, the Coordinator of the Ecojustice Unit Reverend Rima Nasrallah, and the Coordinator of the Rehabilitation of Social Capital project Professor Laure Abi Khalil. The visit was on Wednesday 10 August 2022, at the Patriarchal edifice in Al Diman, Lebanon.

During the meeting, Dr. Abs gave His Beatitude Patriarch Al-Rai a brief overview of the activities of the MECC 12th General Assembly, which was held under the theme of “Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid” (Matthew 14:27), between 16 and 20 May 2022, at the Papal Logos Center in Egypt.

On the Occasion of the Silver Jubilee of the Election of His Holiness Aram I as Catholicos of the Armenian Church, Holy See of Cilicia

Dr. Michel Abs: Aram I, Catholicos of Cilicia: A leader of Principles and Challenges

On the occasion of the Silver Jubilee and the 25th anniversary of the election and consecration of His Holiness Aram I as Catholicos of the Armenian Church, Holy See of Cilicia, the Catholicosate issued a new book entitled “Արժեւորում եւ Վկայութիւններ”, “Appraisal and Testimonies”. Hence, 52 contributors participated in the book from various fields such as religious, ecumenical, academic, political, church administration, community leadership, and highlighted the most prominent bright stations and achievements made by His Holiness Catholicos Aram I during this period.

The Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches Dr. Michel Abs was among the participants.

The Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches Dr. Michel Abs and the members of the MECC General Secretariat warmly congratulate Father Hadi Mahfouz on his election as General President of the Lebanese Maronite Order, after the convening of the Order’s Electoral Commission on 29 July 2022, which followed the retreat of the Ordinary General Assembly held from 26 to 28 July 2022.

On the occasion, the Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs headed a delegation from the General Secretariat, which included the Director of the Theological and Ecumenical Department Father Dr. Antoine Al Ahmar, the Director of the Communication and Public Relations Department Mrs. Huguette Salameh, and the Executive Secretary Mrs. Seta Hadeshian, in a congratulatory visit to Father Mahfouz and the new General Presidency complex.

2 years after the Beirut Blast, what has changed at the crime scene? are the Beirutis still clinging to hope? how does Beirut look today? did the pulse return to its heart? In the report, you will find a tour in the neighborhoods of Gemmayzeh and Mar Mikhael, as well as stories of some Beirutis who survived death, affirming that the will of life is stronger. The video is prepared by the Communications and Public Relations Department of the Middle East Council of Churches.

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 details about the webinar organized by MECC entitled “Palestinians and Liberation from a Christian Stance”, which is the first in a series of seminars that will be organized by the Council on a monthly basis on various topics and current issues. As for the weekly message of the MECC Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs, it is entitled “Palestine, the first of the seminars, the first results”, and revolved around the webinar and its goals.

In the context of working to rehabilitate social capital, restore the concept of human dignity, and improve relations between the groups that make up the Middle East, leading to a cohesive society, the team in charge of this program in the Middle East Council of Churches launched a series of cultural and intellectual seminars that will last for a year, at a rate of one per month.

The first of the symposia was about Palestine, which was held on Friday, July 29, online, firstly because of the resurgence of the pandemic and secondly for technical reasons related to power supply failure in Lebanon.

The topic of the symposium was about the people of Palestine's quest for freedom from a Christian perspective. The Secretary-General and the program's work team participated in the symposium, in addition to four speakers that addressed the issue from various aspects. The seminar was attended by 100 people, in addition to about 75 who could not enter for technical reasons. The recording of the episode will be available over the next few days on the MECC's social media networks.

MECC Gives Life Back to the Damaged Small Businesses

Beirut is a “stricken” city. This is what the Lebanon Defense Council declared the day after the Beirut Port disaster which occurred on August 4, 2020. Indeed, Beirut was crying out for help on various humanitarian, material and psychological levels… Emergency was declared in the country, and many associations and organizations have directly started work for the rescue of the Beirut wounded people. In fact, they lost their loved ones and everything they have in a moment.

The Middle East Council of Churches have rapidly launched two relief appeals and began field work in the capital’s neighborhoods, in order to heal the wounds of the Beirutis. The mission of the MECC Service and Relief – Diakonia Department, Beirut’s Office, included many types of aids such as distributing food, hygiene, and dignity kits, mattresses, diaper packs, unconditional vouchers, hygiene vouchers, and cash assistance…

In addition, the Diakonia Department launched a program for the rehabilitation of small businesses in Beirut, which witnessed significant damage.

Two Years of Death, Destruction and Pain Everywhere in Beirut...

But

Here the Will of Life Is Stronger

August 4... a date that made history. A day which would have been normal if the clock hadn’t stopped at 6:07 p.m. The moment of the catastrophe, the Beirut Port Blast disaster. An earthquake that turned the lives of the Lebanese upside down.

More than 230 victims, 3000 wounded, thousands of displaced people and affected physically, psychologically and financially...

Two years after Hiroshima Beirut, and the wound of the Lebanese has not healed. Even the truth of what happened on that fateful day is not yet discovered, especially that the Blast investigations are paralyzed. However, justice will reveal one day, and the right time will come, for we are the children of hope and Resurrection.

Two years after the Port disaster, what has changed at the crime scene? Are the Beirutis still clinging to hope? How does Beirut look today? Did the pulse return to its heart?