Continues Its Activities in Cairo

With a Visit from His Beatitude Patriarch Anba Ibrahim Isaac Sidrak

And Explores Human Dignity in the Age of Artificial Intelligence

Cairo, Egypt | 14 July 2026

The second day of the Association of Theological Institutes in the Middle East (ATIME) Student Summer Conference began with morning prayer according to the Catholic tradition. The prayer was led by Rev. Fr. Antoine Al Ahmar, Director of the Theological and Ecumenical Department of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), together with Sr. Rose Abi Aad, ATIME Associate Executive Secretary. The biblical meditation was delivered by Dr. Laurent Yacoub (Theology student from Saint Joseph University of Beirut), inviting participants to begin the day in prayerful reflection before entering into the conference sessions.

The Association of Theological Institutes in the Middle East (ATIME) Student Summer Conference 2026 officially opened on 13 July 2026 at Our Lady of Peace Guest House in Cairo, bringing together theology students from across the Middle East for a week of ecumenical formation, dialogue, and fellowship.

The conference began with a morning prayer according to the Coptic Orthodox tradition. The prayer was led by Dr. Gergis Saleh, former General Secretary of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) and current Associate Executive Secretary of ATIME, together with Fr. Movses Yosolkanian, representing the Armenian Faculty of Theology. All student participants took part in the prayer, marking the beginning of the conference in a spirit of worship, fellowship, and Christian unity.

“Momentum”

13-7-2026

This issue includes reports, videos, news, articles, and a full coverage of the latest developments of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), as well as the Church, Ecumenical, and social events…

This is in addition to the weekly word of the MECC Secretary General Professor Michel Abs which is entitled in this issue “Blessed are the Peacemakers”.

You can check the issue via the following link: https://mailchi.mp/449650d615bb/momentum-mecc-weekly-newsletter.

You can also subscribe to the Momentum Newsletter via the following link:
https://mecc.us14.list-manage.com/subscribe?id=fd3381352a&u=1db32cafe9ea32b38eb90480a.

Professor Michel Abs

The Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC)

"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God" (Matthew 5:9).

With this brief verse, the Lord Christ encapsulates a profound mystery revealed to humanity: that peace is not merely the absence of conflict or the cessation of strife; rather, it is an act, a process of building, and a craft, one that requires a great heart, a far-sighted vision, and steady hands.

Peace begins from within; a peacemaker is not born ready-made. Before sowing peace around himself, one must possess inner peace, peace with God, with oneself, and with one’s past. It is impossible for a person whose heart is filled with anger and bitterness to radiate serenity. Therefore, the first step toward making peace is reconciliation: acknowledging one’s wounds, forgiving those who caused hurt, and surrendering the guidance of one’s heart to the Lord of Peace. When the inner self finds calm, speech becomes gentle, and one’s gaze becomes more compassionate.

Peacemaking is a tireless endeavor. Jesus did not merely say, "Blessed are the peace lovers" but rather, "Blessed are the peacemakers." This implies that the task requires effort and exertion; it calls for initiative and action. A peacemaker is one who enters a tense situation and chooses words that soothe the atmosphere rather than inflame it; one who listens to both sides without prejudice; and one who waives their rights, not out of weakness, but out of strength, to preserve the bonds between people…

An Episode Entitled: "Transparency in Management and the Credibility of Institutions"

Interviewed By the Journalist Lea Adel Maamary

Produced By MECC

The Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) has launched "Light of Hope," a new bulletin series dedicated to documenting the ongoing ordeal in the Middle East, with a primary focus on the catastrophic situation in Lebanon. This publication serves as a "cry" for the people of the Antiochian Levant who have endured decades of pain.

“Do not be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom”

(Luke 12:32)

With deep faith and great hope, the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) releases the Arabic version of the “Week of Prayer for Christian Unity” booklet 2027, under the theme “Do not be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom” (Luke 12:32), based on the Biblical Text Luke 12: 22–34.

The booklet includes Prayers and reflections prepared by the Irish Council of Churches and the Council for Ecumenism and Dialogue of the Irish Catholic Bishops’ Conference. The texts were jointly prepared and published by the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity in the Vatican and the Faith and Order Commission of the World Council of Churches (WCC), and were translated into Arabic by the Theological and Ecumenical Department at the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), as every year.

Produced by MECC

“Ecumenical Horizons” is a weekly program that features spiritual, cultural, intellectual, educational, youth and environmental topics.

“Living Water”

Carrying the theme “Living Water” and the symbol “Immersion in Living Water,” inspired by Ezekiel 47:9 and 12, the Ecumenical Family in the Middle East and around the world unites to celebrate the “Season of Creation” 2026. This season constitutes an Ecumenical, Christian, and environmental station to contemplate and care for our common home, the Oikos of God.

Each year, the Season’s celebrations begin on September 1, the day that many Church Families celebrate as the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation, and others celebrate as the Feast of Creation. It ends on October 4, with the Feast of Saint Francis of Assisi, the Patron Saint of ecology.

In this context, the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), which is a Member of the Season of Creation Ecumenical Steering Committee, issues the guide for the “Season of Creation” 2026 in Arabic, after the MECC Theological and Ecumenical Department translated into Arabic, as is customary annually.

Who Is He?

Middle East Socioeconomic Overview

Report: June 2026

The United States and Iran reached an agreement that would put an end to hostilities, open the Strait of Hormuz and carry out certain economic measures. However, many view as this is only a ploy crafted for domestic political and economic reasons as major points that were the reason behind the war in the first place, have yet to be agreed upon. For this reason, commentators speculate that the recommencement of the conflict is still on the table and the war may resume weeks or months from now. For the time being, the region can take a breather while the warmongers reconsider their plans and replenish their will and resources to fight. Hopefully sanity and reason will prevail and there will be no return to destabilizing the Middle East and the world.  

On the Occasion of the Feast of Saint Joseph of Damascus

The MECC Secretary General Professor Michel Abs

Participates in a Seminar Entitled: "The Treasury of Antiochian Heritage"

Balamand, July 7, 2026

With the blessing of 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, and on the occasion of the Feast of Saint Joseph of Damascus, Patron Saint of the Manuscript Preservation Center at Our Lady of Balamand Patriarchal Monastery in Lebanon, celebrated on the tenth of this month, the Monastery organized a seminar entitled "The Treasury of Antiochian Heritage."

The event was attended by His Eminence Bishop Constantine Kayyal, Abbot of the Greek Orthodox Saint Elie Chouaya Patriarchal Monastery, Archimandrite Yaacoub Khalil, Dean of the Saint John of Damascus Institute of Theology at the University of Balamand, Lebanon, and Former President of the Association of Theological Institutes in the Middle East (ATIME), Priests, the Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Professor Michel Abs, Coordinator of Media and Church Relations at MECC Journalist Lea Adel Maamary; as well as Members of the Parliament and personnalities from the political, judicial, labor, military, security, administrative, academic, educational, media, cultural, artistic, social, municipal, and local leadership sectors, in addition to those interested in Antiochian heritage and friends of the Monastery and the Center.

On an Interview Via Suboro TV

Monday 6 July 2026 at 7pm Beirut Time

Through the Diakonia and Social Service Department