MECC
The Middle East Council of Churches Issues the Ecumenical Calendar for April 2024
The Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), Communication and Public Relations Department, have now issued its online Ecumenical calendar for the month of April 2024. 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.
The Middle East Council of Churches Contributes in Empowering Displaced Women in the South of Lebanon
With the worsening security circumstances in the South of Lebanon due to the ongoing conflicts in the region, its residents are still suffering from many living challenges and psychological pressures that increase daily in the face of an unknown future. In this context, psychological and social support has become necessary, especially for the most vulnerable citizens, in order to alleviate their pain and help them overcome the difficulties surrounding them with hope and determination.
Hence, the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) continues its relief work in the South of Lebanon with the aim of supporting the internally displaced people in various regions and shelter centers by providing in-kind assistance as well as psychological and social support. Thus, the MECC Diakonia and Social Service Department, Lebanon’s Office, implemented training courses for many displaced women on “self-care and services specialized in protecting women and children”. At the end of the courses, the participants received food and personal kits dedicated for women and children.
Video - MECC Implements a Business Start Up Course in Syria
Mrs. Rosaline Mousa Presents Her Story and How She Benefited from the Course
With the aim of empowering people in Syria and enhancing their capabilities and livelihoods, the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), Syria’s Office, organized a new Business Start Up Course in Syria, which helped many families secure a source of income and restore hope to their lives. Hence, the video sheds light on the story of Mrs. Rosaline Mousa, one of the course’s beneficiaries, and how the Middle East Council of Churches supported her.
The Middle East Council of Churches Helps the Households in Tibneh to Improve Their Economic Situation by Growing Home - Gardens
In order to alleviate the economic burden on families and enhance their ability to access low-cost food and produce a variety of crops and foods in home gardens, a team from the Diakonia and Social Department, at the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), provided winter seeds to the most vulnerable families in Tibneh village in Dara’a Governorate – Syria.
Families received winter seed kits which included beans, cabbage, lettuce, radish, parsley, cauliflower, coriander, and onions, as well as fertilizer and tools such as shovel, rake, hoe, plastic hose, brass tap, mulch, and a plastic water tank.
Noting that 190 families, including women-headed households, in Tibneh, benefited from the seed distributions.
An agricultural engineer visited all the beneficiaries twice a month to check on the plants and provide all necessary support and advice to the farmers to ensure good production.
Shared Religious Spaces in the Middle East
In the midst of conflicts, disputes, and even hate speech, which often includes mutual criticism at the level of religious belief, we tend to forget our similarities and the many things we share. These commonalities overshadow what divides us, proving that we are peoples who have lived on the same earth, under the same sky, breathing the same air and drinking the same water. We have exchanged many ideas and sayings, interacted with the same values, shared the same aspirations, and most importantly, belong to the same homeland, and therefore, share the same destiny.
In our region, our country, we belong to different religions, as is the case in the world today. If religion becomes an element of discrimination and division, it signifies that we are a nation ready to split at any moment, or at any political juncture. We could easily add the element of ethnic or racial division to the religious division.
This is on the social and political surface.
However, if we delve into our cultural structure, and our mental and value structure, we realize that in this same field that could be the cause of our division, there is something that unites us deeply, but of which we are not aware, so we do not recognize its value and do not adopt it as a paradigm of interaction that unites instead of dividing.
On a purely religious level, that is, at the level of religious belief, and despite the existence of fundamental differences between different beliefs, we must acknowledge that there are common elements that strongly unite people, and which are deeply rooted into their faith.
Video - Launching of the “Ecumenicals” Program on the Occasion of the Fiftieth Year of the MECC Founding
In partnership with Télé Lumière and Noursat TV Channel
Video - With the Blessing and Presence of His Holiness Catholicos Aram I, MECC Holds an Ecumenical Gathering
With the blessing and presence of His Holiness Catholicos Aram I, Catholicos of the Armenian Apostolic Church, Holy See of Cilicia, President of the World Council of Churches for the Orthodox Family, and Honorary President of the Middle East Council of Churches, and within the framework of the activities that are being implemented by the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) on the occasion of the Fiftieth Year of its Founding, MECC held an Ecumenical gathering on Wednesday 20 March 2024, hosted by the Armenian Orthodox Catholicosate of Cilicia in Antelias - Lebanon. In this context, the video sheds light on this Ecumenical gathering.
Video - Details About the Meetings of the MECC Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs with Dr. Nada Thabet and Dr. Hiba Sharobim, In Egypt
Within the framework of his tour in the Arab Republic of Egypt to commemorate the Fiftieth Year of the Founding of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) and on the occasion of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity in Egypt, the Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Dr. Michel Abs, met in Alexandria, with the Member of the Parliament of Egypt and Activist in the field of people with special needs Dr. Nada Tabet, and Member of the Egyptian Senate Dr. Hiba Sharobim, during which they discussed the importance of preserving human rights and dignity. Thus, you can find in the video details about these two meetings.
Video – A Highlight About the Visit of the MECC Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs to Alexandria
On the occasion of the Fiftieth Year of the Founding of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) and in celebration of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity in Egypt, the Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Dr. Michel Abs visited Alexandria, where he met with His Beatitude Pope Theodoros II, Greek Orthodox Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa, Church Leaders in the region and official personalities. Hence, you can find in the video a highlight about this visit.
Shared Religious Spaces in the Middle East
The Feast of the Annunciation in Lebanon as an Example
A Round Table Organized by MECC
Sessions Emphasizing the Necessity of Promoting Human Values for a Better Future
As part of the Year Fifty activities of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), MECC held a round table entitled “Shared Religious Spaces in the Middle East, the Feast of the Annunciation in Lebanon as an Example,” out of its belief in spreading the principles of dialogue and cooperation and the values of love and fraternity, on Saturday 23 March 2024, at the headquarters of the MECC General Secretariat in Beirut.
The round table included three sessions with speakers, Church leaders and experts from various fields and countries in the Middle East, who spoke about their expertise and experiences in their countries, emphasizing that what unites us is more than what divides us and that the convergence of all religions is a basis for ensuring the stability and prosperity of societies, and this requires mutual respect, listening and communication.
Attendees were specialists and interested people in the topic at hand, at the offices of the General Secretariat, or followed online via the “Zoom” platform. Noting that the seminar was broadcasted live on the MECC Facebook page, on Télé Lumière and Noursat, and on various religious and secular TV stations.
The seminar began with a speech delivered by the Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches Dr. Michel Abs, in which he stressed the importance of living together in peace and justice, away from all differences and conflicts. He also emphasized the need to consolidate the spirit of love and tolerance among all components of societies, in order to preserve human dignity and ensure a brighter and more advanced future.
Video – Third Day of the Visit of the WCC Secretary General Reverend Professor Dr. Jerry Pillay to Lebanon
On the occasion of the Fiftieth Year of the Founding of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), the Secretary General of the World Council of Churches (WCC) Reverend Professor Dr. Jerry Pillay visited Lebanon to pray with the Church families and meet with the Spiritual Leaders, extending his solidarity with the Lebanese and Eastern people in light of all the difficulties that are surrounding them. Hence, the video highlights the details of the third day of the visit of Reverend Professor Dr. Jerry Pillay to Lebanon.
Video – Details About the Second Day of Reverend Professor Dr. Pillay’s Visit to Lebanon
The Secretary General of the World Council of Churches (WCC) Reverend Professor Dr. Jerry Pillay continued his tour in Lebanon to pray with the Church Families and learn closely about their challenges, needs and aspirations. The visit came also within the framework of the activities of the Fiftieth Year of the Founding of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC). Thus, the video presents an overview about the second day of Reverend Professor Dr. Pillay’s visit to Lebanon.
The WCC Secretary General Reverend Professor Dr. Jerry Pillay at the MECC Headquarters in Beirut
At the end of his visit to Lebanon, the Secretary General of the World Council of Churches (WCC) Reverend Professor Dr. Jerry Pillay, accompanied by the WCC Programme Executive for the Middle East Mrs. Carla Khijoyan, headed to the headquarters of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) in Beirut, on Friday 22 March 2024. He met the MECC General Secretariat’s team, led by the Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Professor Dr. Michel Abs. (All photos)
This gathering came within the activities of the Fiftieth Year of the MECC Founding, where Professor Dr. Michel Abs thanked Reverend Professor Dr. Pillay for his visit to Lebanon and his solidarity with the Lebanese and Eastern people. The meeting was also characterized by an atmosphere of fraternity and friendship between the participants who expressed their joy at this gathering which was filled with hope and love.
A Meeting Between the WCC Secretary General Reverend Professor Dr. Jerry Pillay and His Beatitude Patriarch Raphaël Bedros XXI Minassian
Building Bridges, Standing Together
The Secretary General of the World Council of Churches (WCC) Reverend Professor Dr. Jerry Pillay visited His Beatitude Patriarch Raphaël Bedros XXI Minassian, Catholicos of the Armenian Catholic Church of Cilicia, and President of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) for the Catholic Family, on Friday 22 March 2024, at the Headquarters of the Patriarchate in Achrafieh. (All Photos)
The visiting delegation included the Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Professor Dr. Michel Abs, the MECC Associate Secretary General Mrs. Seta Hadeshian, an MECC team, and the WCC Programme Executive for the Middle East Mrs. Carla Khijoyan. As well as, the Responsible of the Public Relations at the Patriarchate Mr. Charbel Bastoury attended the gathering.
A Meeting Between the WCC Secretary General Reverend Professor Dr. Jerry Pillay and Reverend Dr. Joseph Kassab
Together to Promote the Ecumenical Work
With the aim to learn about the circumstances that Churches in Lebanon and the Middle East are passing through, the Secretary General of the World Council of Churches (WCC) Reverend Professor Dr. Jerry Pillay continues his tour in Lebanon, where he visited Reverend Dr. Joseph Kassab, President of the Supreme Council of Evangelical Community in Syria and Lebanon, General Secretary of the National Evangelical Synod of Syria and Lebanon, and Member of the Executive Committee of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC). The visit was held in the office of Reverend Dr. Kassab at the headquarters of the Supreme Council of the Evangelical Community in Syria and Lebanon – Rabieh. (All Photos)
The visiting delegation included the Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Professor Dr. Michel Abs, the MECC Associate Secretary General Father Nicolas Bustros, an MECC team, and the WCC Programme Executive for the Middle East Mrs. Carla Khijoyan. As well as, Reverend Najla Kassab and Reverend Father George Murad attended the gathering.
The WCC Secretary General Reverend Professor Dr. Jerry Pillay in a Meeting with His Beatitude Patriarch Cardinal Mar Bechara Boutros Al-Rai
A Gathering that Stresses the Importance of Being Rooted in the Homeland
As part of his tour in Lebanon on the occasion of the Fiftieth Year of the Founding of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), the Secretary General of the World Council of Churches (WCC) Reverend Professor Dr. Jerry Pillay visited His Beatitude Patriarch Cardinal Mar Bechara Boutros Al-Rai, Maronite Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, on Friday 22 March 2024, in the Patriarchal Edifice – Bkerke. (All Photos)
The visiting delegation included the Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Professor Dr. Michel Abs, the MECC Associate Secretary General Father Nicolas Bustros, the Director of the MECC Theological and Ecumenical Department Father Dr. Antoine Al Ahmar, an MECC team, and the WCC Programme Executive for the Middle East Mrs. Carla Khijoyan. As well as, the Patriarchal Vicar General His Eminence Bishop Paul Sayah attended the gathering.
Video – An Ecumenical Gathering with the Blessing and Presence of His Holiness Catholicos Aram I, Organized by MECC
With the blessing and presence of His Holiness Catholicos Aram I, Catholicos of the Armenian Apostolic Church, Holy See of Cilicia, President of the World Council of Churches for the Orthodox Family, and Honorary President of the Middle East Council of Churches, and as part of the activities of the Fiftieth Year of the MECC founding, MECC held an Ecumenical gathering on Wednesday 20 March 2024, hosted by the Armenian Orthodox Catholicosate of Cilicia in Antelias - Lebanon.
You can find in the video a highlight about this gathering and the speeches that it included, as well as some interviews.
The WCC Secretary General Reverend Professor Dr. Jerry Pillay On a Visit to Reverend Dr. Paul Haidostian
Exchanging Experiences in Order to Strengthen the Ecumenical Work
On the second day of his visit to Lebanon, the Secretary General of the World Council of Churches (WCC) Reverend Professor Dr. Jerry Pillay met with Reverend Dr. Paul Haidostian, President of the Union of the Armenian Evangelical Churches in the Near East, President of Haigazian University in Lebanon, and President of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) for the Evangelical Family, in the Haigazian University - Hamra. (All Photos)
The visiting delegation included the Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Professor Dr. Michel Abs, the MECC Associate Secretary General Mrs. Seta Hadeshian, an MECC Delegation, and the WCC Programme Executive for the Middle East Mrs. Carla Khijoyan. As well as, the wife of Reverend Dr. Haidostian, Mrs. Maral Haidostian attended the gathering.
The WCC Secretary General Reverend Professor Dr. Jerry Pillay Meets with His Eminence Metropolitan Antonios Al Soury
Cooperating Together to Work for Peace Is Needed
With great hope, the Secretary General of the World Council of Churches (WCC) Reverend Professor Dr. Jerry Pillay continues his tour in Lebanon, He visited His Eminence Metropolitan Antonios Al Soury, Greek Orthodox Metropolitan of Zahle, Baalbek and Dependencies, and Member of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Executive Committee, representing His Beatitude Patriarch John X, Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and All the East and President of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) for the Orthodox Family, on Thursday 21 March 2024, at the Headquarters of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate - Zahle. (All photos)
The visiting delegation included the Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Professor Dr. Michel Abs, the MECC Associate Secretary General Dr. Nicolas Bustros, an MECC Delegation, and the WCC Programme Executive for the Middle East Mrs. Carla Khijoyan. As well as, participants were a group of Priests.