They are our elders, our ancient oaks, the storehouse of our memory and the treasure of our wisdom. We resort to them in calamities, and by their opinion we are guided, as they bestow upon us the experience, wisdom and foresight that they have paid for dearly in their life.

They call them the elderly, and some of them call them the aging, and kindly they call them the third age. It is the most vulnerable, defenseless and marginalized group. It is the category that some think it is not needed and will not be needed, so they neglect it and do not care about it.

We saw some of them roaming the streets, begging to elicit sympathy from people. Some of them are looking for food in garbage containers, and others are thrown in the beds of the elderly shelters, as the name has been applied in Lebanon and some Arab countries, and some of them roam the hot meals restaurants established by some associations, eat what they can and hide what they can in a box they brought with them, in order to protect themselves from the evil of hunger for two or three days. As for the most fortunate among them, he is the one who obtained during his life a job with a pension plan, so he was safe from the evil of humiliation, need and homelessness, because the end of service indemnity is exhausted within a few years after receiving it.

A society that allows the dignity of its elders to be insulted can only be described as ingrate, political ungratefulness that leads to social and human ungratefulness.

A Special Statement from H.B. Patriarch Minassian and Interviews with Some Participants

The Eastern Ecumenical Family celebrated the “Season of Creation” 2022 closing. The Maronite Church hosted an Ecumenical Prayer service organized by the Middle East Council of Churches, under the patronage and presidency of His Beatitude Patriarch Cardinal Mar Bechara Boutros Al-Rai, Maronite Patriarch of Antioch and all the East. The celebration was held at the Church of the Patriarchal Edifice in Bkerke, Lebanon, on the eve of the Feast of Saint Francis of Assisi, on Monday 3 October 2022.

The video presents a brief overview of the celebration in addition to a special statement from His Beatitude Patriarch Raphaël Bedros XXI Minassian, Patriarch of the Armenian Catholic Church of Cilicia, and MECC President for the Catholic Family. As well as interviews with many participants in the Prayer.

As part of the “Season of Creation” 2022 activities, SAT7 channel presented a special episode entitled "Listen to the Voice of Creation", prepared by the Communication and Public Relations Department of the Middle East Council of Churches and presented by Sirene Semerdjian. It was broadcasted on Monday 3 October 2022, and included many environmental and Theological segments, with guests from the world and the region, and from various fields.

The episode began with a special video from the member of the “Season of Creation” committee at the World Council of Churches Mrs. Joy Kennedy. The video focused on the “Season of Creation” launching in the Churches worldwide, in addition to the environmental challenges and ongoing preparations for the COP27 climate change summit.

A Lecture with Rt Revd Philip Mounstephen

Thursday 13 October 2022, 6:00 PM at the Saint Joseph University in Beirut

The Middle East Council of Churches, the Bible Society, and the Faculty of Religious Sciences at the Saint Joseph University (USJ) in Beirut, invite you to a lecture entitled “Why Our Religious Freedom Matters”, with Rt Revd Philip Mounstephen, Bishop of Truro, and Author of the FCDO’s independent review of persecuted Christians. It will be held on Thursday 13 October 2022, from 6:00 to 7:30 PM, at Francois Bassil auditorium in the Innovation and Sports Campus, at the Saint Joseph University. RSVP by Monday 10 October 2022, via 01/ 902020 or bsl@biblesociety.org.lb. The lecture will be followed by a Vin D’honneur reception.

The lecture will include English to Arabic interpretation.

Video - Message of the MECC Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs at the "Season of Creation" 2022 Closing

The Middle East Council of Churches concluded the “Season of Creation” 2022 with an Ecumenical Prayer service under the patronage and presidency of His Beatitude Patriarch Cardinal Mar Bechara Boutros Al-Rai, Maronite Patriarch of Antioch and all the East, at the Church of the Patriarchal Edifice in Bkerke, Lebanon, on the eve of the Feast of Saint Francis of Assisi, on Monday 3 October 2022. During the service, the MECC Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs delivered a message entitled “Season of Creation, Church and Environment”, which you can listen to it and watch it in the following video.

An Ecumenical Prayer Under the Presidency and Patronage of H.B. Patriarch Al-Rai at the Patriarchal Edifice in Bkerke

H.B. Patriarch Minassian: I am sorry for losing human values today and forgetting our loving and merciful Creator

Dr. Michel Abs: The Church, the voice of the human conscience, and which glorifies and thanks the Creator for His gifts, cannot be silent and should react to end violence against the Creator’s creation

Under the patronage and presidency of His Beatitude Patriarch Cardinal Mar Bechara Boutros Al-Rai, Maronite Patriarch of Antioch and all the East, the Middle East Council of Churches concluded the “Season of Creation” 2022. An Ecumenical Prayer service entitled “Listen to the Voice of Creation” was hosted by the Maronite Church at the Church of the Patriarchal Edifice in Bkerke, Lebanon, on the eve of the Feast of Saint Francis of Assisi, on Monday 3 October 2022.

Participants were His Beatitude Patriarch Raphaël Bedros XXI Minassian, Patriarch of the Armenian Catholic Church of Cilicia, and MECC President for the Catholic Family, His Beatitude Mor Ignatius Youssef III Younan, Syriac Catholic Patriarch of Antioch, His Eminence Bishop Daniel Kourieh, representing His Holiness Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II, Patriarch of Antioch and All the East and Supreme Head of the Universal Syriac Orthodox Church, and Reverend Georges Mrad, representing the National Evangelical Synod of Syria and Lebanon (NESSL). Participants were also Bishops from different Church families, apostolic and educational associations, fathers, nuns, monks and seminarians.

At the “Season of Creation” 2022 closing, the Middle East Council of Churches organized an Ecumenical celebration including the Season’s Ecumenical Prayer service, under the patronage and presidency of His Beatitude Patriarch Cardinal Mar Bechara Boutros Al-Rai, Maronite Patriarch of Antioch and all the East. The event was held at the Church of the Patriarchal Edifice in Bkerke, Lebanon, on the eve of the Feast of Saint Francis of Assisi, on Monday 3 October 2022.

Report: September 2022

During this month, most Middle East nations succeeded in scoring positive results that would enforce their macroeconomic sustainability. Although the facts and figures look satisfactory, poverty is still an unsolved issue. Hopefully, the inbound investments and the job creation process can alleviate such a detriment. Also, this might help decrease the number of citizens attempting high-risk and illegal boat rides which end up sinking to the bottom of the sea.

Aiming at promoting environmental awareness and consolidating the Christian faith and the Ecumenical spirit, the Executive Secretary of the Association of Theological Institutes in the Middle East (ATIME) Father Dr. Michael Kanbar participated in a regional conference for the Middle East and North Africa, entitled “Creation Care and the Gospel”. He presented a lecture on the topic at hand, highlighting the theological view of creation and the environment. The conference was organized by the Lausanne/WEA Creation Care Network, and was held between 28 September and 2 October 2022, at the Ajloun Baptist Conference Center in Jordan.

The Recycling Project in the Patriarchal Maronite Eparchy Region of Jounieh, Lebanon

During the ongoing “Season of Creation” 2022, it is necessary to highlight some environmental initiatives so it may motivate us to work together for a clean environment and a safe common home. Hence, the Communication and Public Relations Department of the Middle East Council of Churches presents in the sixth episode of the series of videos podcasts it has launched, the recycling project implemented by the Patriarchal Maronite Eparchy Region of Jounieh in Lebanon with the help of youth.

Celebrating the “Season of Creation” 2022, let us unite in Prayer for the creation and everything it includes. Let us listen to its voice and work together for the care for creation towards protecting our common home. We are part of the creation and our wellbeing is interwoven with the wellbeing of the Earth.

The video is produced by the MECC Communication and Public Relations Department, in partnership with “Danmission” organization. It is prepared and presented by the MECC Eco Justice committee member Father Elias Marswanian, from the Order of Friars Minor Conventual, and edited by Ali Al Jarouch.

Cardinal Kurt Koch: Churches’ Unity Requires the Holy Spirit’s Work and Prayer

The Model of the Ecumenical Movement in the Middle East Must Be Produced Around the World and thanks to MECC

Interview by Huguette Salameh, Karlsruhe – Germany

The Eleventh General Assembly of the World Council of Churches (WCC) was held in Karlsruhe, Germany, between 31 August and 8 September. An Assembly which gathered about 352 Churches from the four corners of the world and included various Evangelical, Orthodox and Eastern Orthodox, Anglican, Lutheran and Baptist Churches... All these Churches were present except the Catholic Churches, which are unified in the St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican, presided over by the Pope of Rome.

Building Bridges Between the East and West! Together for Environmental Advocacy and Awareness!

The MECC Communication and Public Relations Department was more than happy to meet the Communication Coordinator for the Climate Justice Program in “ACT Alliance” Mrs. Fiona Connelly. Discussions focused on ways of cooperation and strengthening the work mechanisms between both sides for media coordination, especially in environmental awareness and participation in the ongoing preparations towards COP 27 climate summit, which will be held next November in Sharm El Sheikh.

Video - The Third Monthly Webinar Organized by MECC

Dr. Michel Abs: Dealing with Elderlies Requires a Social Policy that Exceeds the Civil Authorities’ Capabilities

The Middle East Council of Churches is still holding the series of monthly webinars it has launched within the “Human Dignity Project” as part of the work of a department that is being developed in MECC under the name of “Dialogue and Social Cohesion-Social Capital Rehabilitation”. Hence, MECC convened its third webinar, entitled “Third Age: On Endangered Human Dignity and The Need for Reintegration”, on Thursday 29 September 2022, which was also broadcasted live on the MECC Facebook page.

Monday 3 October 2022 - 10:30 pm and 5 am Beirut Time

At the “Season of Creation” closing, watch a special episode entitled “Listen to the Voice of Creation”, on Monday 3 October 2022, at 10:30 pm and 5am Beirut Time. Rerun on Tuesday 4 October 2022, at 2 pm Beirut Time. It is prepared by the Communication and Public Relations Department of the Middle East Council of Churches.

“A Rocha” and Its Environmental Work

The Communication and Public Relations Department of the Middle East Council of Churches releases the fifth episode of the series of videos podcasts it has launched on the occasion of the “Season of Creation” 2022. During the episode, the guest Father Nabil Shehadeh, Head of the international organization “A Rocha” in Lebanon, and from the Anglican Church, sheds light on the role of “A Rocha” and its environmental mission in protecting the nature. He also tackles the Eco Church in England and how can we implement such a project in the region, explaining how “A Rocha” can accompany Churches and Christians in Lebanon.

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 Council invites you to participate in the Ecumenical Prayer Service at the “Season of Creation” closing, on Monday 3 October 2022, at 6 P.M, in the Church of the Patriarchal Edifice in Bkerke, Lebanon. As well as, MECC invites you to its third monthly webinar entitled “Third Age: On Endangered Human Dignity And The Need For Reintegration”, on Thursday 29 September 2022, at 7 P.M. You can participate via the following Zoom link: https://shorturl.at/CMNQZ, and live on the MECC Facebook page. As for the weekly message of the MECC Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs, it is entitled “Knowledge, machine and modern man”, on the International Day for Universal Access to Information, celebrated on September 28.

The United Nations has designated the 28th of September as the International Day for Universal Access to Information.

How dangerous is the expression “information” and how dangerous are the dimensions associated with it, whether at the technical level or at the level of its human consequences.

We read or hear daily articles and lectures about information, informatics, artificial intelligence, computers, software and applications, and these concepts invade our world and our daily lives, in addition to violating our privacy.

The importance of information, knowledge and codification is not the subject of controversy. This need has accompanied man since the beginnings of civilization, when the cuneiform letters were first invented in Sumer, Mesopotamia. Blogging reaches as many subsequent generations as possible.

With the progress of civilization, the material of codification developed and we saw the emergence of the Phoenician alphabet from Byblos, Byblos, Ugarit, Ras Shamra, both of which are Phoenician cities on the Canaanite coast that connects Gaza with Antioch.

The video highlights the visit of an “ACT Alliance” delegation to Lebanon, with the support of the Middle East Council of Churches, between 18 and 25 September 2022, as part of its Gender Justice program and Humanitarian program teams’ annual meetings. What did the participants say? What are their opinions? Answers in the following video, prepared by the MECC Communication and Public Relations Department.

And Concludes the “Season of Creation” 2022 this Month in an Ecumenical Prayer Service in Bkerke, Lebanon

The Communication and Public Relations Department at the Middle East Council of Churches have now issued its online Ecumenical calendar for the month of October 2022. It includes the Ecclesiastical and Liturgical feasts of the various families of Churches in the Middle East. In addition to international days identified by the United Nations, and which are related to the MECC identity and its spiritual and human mission. Noting that the remaining months of the year will be published consecutively.

As well as, the Middle East Council of Churches concludes the “Season of Creation” for this year in an Ecumenical Prayer Service which will be presided over by His Beatitude Patriarch Cardinal Mar Bechara Boutros Al-Rai, Maronite Patriarch of Antioch and all the East. It will be held on the eve of the Feast of Saint Francis of Assisi, on Monday 3 October 2022, at 6 P.M, in the Church of the Patriarchal Edifice in Bkerke, Lebanon.