Middle East Socioeconomic Overview

Report: May 2026

While the United States and Iran are still in a ceasefire, negotiations are underway to settle the conflict once and for all. Talks oscillate between news of tension and exaggerations of profound breakthrough. As such, it is still impossible to predict the likely outcome as there are too many factors at play. One thing is for certain: major differences are still unresolved and armed conflict will resume if no compromise is reached. Moreover, the Occupier, which is watching the negotiations intently, is not in favor of peace and might do something that will jeopardize the talks.

Performed by: The Glory of Heaven Choir

Video Produced By MECC

Produced By MECC

The Near East School of Theology (NEST) in Beirut held a graduation ceremony for its students on Saturday, May 30, in the School’s Church, in the presence of Reverend Dr. Paul Haidostian, President of the Union of the Armenian Evangelical Churches in the Near East (UAECNE), President of Haigazian University in Lebanon, and President of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) for the Evangelical Family, and His Eminence Archbishop Hosam Naoum , Anglican Archbishop in Jerusalem and Primate of the Episcopal Church in Jerusalem and the Middle East, and Member of the MECC Executive Committee.

Attendees were also the NEST President Dr. Martin Akkad, NEST Dean Reverend Dr. Rima Nasrallah, MECC Associate Secretary General Mrs. Seta Hadeshian, Director of the MECC Theological and Ecumencial Department Father Dr. Antoine Al Ahmar, and Coordinator of the MECC Eco Justice Unit Environmental Justice Unit Father Movses-Garen Yosolkanian, NEST Teachers and team, parents and guests.

Held on June 2, 2026, at House of the Druze Community in Beirut

Proceeding from a spiritual, moral, and national duty, the Christian-Muslim Spiritual Summit convened on Tuesday, 2 June 2026, at the House of the Druze Community in Beirut, with the participation of Christian and Muslim spiritual leaders. At the conclusion of the Summit, the following statement was issued:

Their Beatitudes, Eminences, and Excellencies called for the convening of a Spiritual Summit, raising prayers and supplications to Almighty God for Lebanon and its people, expecially the martyrs and the wounded, asking Him to preserve the homeland and grant it security, stability, and peace. They declared their adherence to the shared national and spiritual principles…

Tenu le 02.06.2026 à la Maison de la Communauté Druze à Beyrouth

Partant d’un devoir spirituel, moral et national, le Sommet spirituel chrétien-musulman s’est réuni le mardi 2 juin 2026, à la Maison de la Communauté Druze à Beyrouth, avec la participation des chefs spirituels chrétiens et musulmans. À l’issue du Sommet, la déclaration suivante a été publiée :

Leurs Béatitudes, Éminences et Excellences ont appelé à la tenue d’un Sommet spirituel, élevant prières et supplications vers Dieu Tout-Puissant pour le Liban et son peuple, et surtout les martyrs et les blessés, Lui demandant de protéger la patrie et de lui accorder sécurité, stabilité et paix. Ils ont proclamé leur attachement aux principes nationaux et spirituels communs…

Produced By MECC

From the Coptic Orthodox Church to the Whole World

Do You Know What Path the Family Took?

Media of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC)

"Behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Rise, take the child and his mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I tell you..." (Matthew 2:13). With this verse, Matthew the Evangelist revealed in the second Chapter the Holy Family’s refuge to the land of Egypt, an escape to this country holding a historic, geographic and cultural importance, according to His Holiness Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of Mark Tawadros II. But why fleeing? What is the path the family has taken?

Matthew the Evangelist mentions the reason for Jesus’ fleet to Egypt in the same chapter and the same verse, when he said, “Herod is going to search for the child to destroy him” (Matthew 2:13). This boy, who almost suffered the same fate as the rest of the children of Bethlehem whom King Herod ordered to kill after failing to find Him through the Magi, for “having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed for their country by another way.” (Matthew 2:12)

Joseph obeyed the angel and took his family to escape from Herod's tyranny, despite the hardships and dangers of travel at that time. Since the early centuries AD, the entry of the Holy Family to this country became a celebration of the Coptic Orthodox Church with the Fraihi rite on the 24th of the month of Bashans of the Egyptian calendar or the first of June of each year.

Based on the important role of the family in building society, the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), through its Diakonia and Social Service Department – Syria’s Office, continues to implement psychosocial and awareness raising programs that aim to strengthen positive parenting skills and effective communication between parents and children.

Within this framework, MECC team organized five- day educational awareness sessions as part of the Safe Family Program for caregivers of the students previously targeted in 9th grade remedial classes in the city of Jaramana and its surrounding areas.