“We need, in our countries, to be a sign of joy and a source of hope”

His Beatitude Patriarch Youssef Al-Absi, Greek Melkite Catholic Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, and Honorary President of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), at the opening of the Council of Catholic Patriarchs and Bishops in Lebanon:

"Based on the Jubilee of Hope, this meeting is a sign of hope, as our brothers and sisters draw hope from these meetings that we hold between us.

Jesus Christ laid the foundations of hope when He gave us the Beatitudes, which constitute the basic foundation of Christian hope. Hope generates joy, and we need in our country to be a sign of joy and thus a source of hope."

"There is a longing for Christian unity"

His Beatitude Patriarch Mor Ignatius Youssef III Younan, Syriac Catholic Patriarch of Antioch, and Honorary President of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), at the opening of the meetings of the Council of Catholic Patriarchs and Bishops in Lebanon:

"There is a longing for Christian unity, and this year we celebrate Easter together according to the Eastern and Western calendars. This unity requires not only that we think about the affairs of our Church in Lebanon, but also that we open horizons to the Churches of the East.

We hope that the Council of Catholic Patriarchs and Bishops will be represented in all the Episcopal Councils in all countries."

To the Attendees of the Meetings of the Council of Catholic Patriarchs and Bishops in Lebanon

“It has become urgent to Pray and work for peace”

The Apostolic Nuncio to Lebanon His Excellency Monsignor Paolo Borgia sends the blessing of His Holiness Pope Francis to the attendees of the meetings of the Council of Catholic Patriarchs and Bishops in Lebanon, entitled “Hope Does Not Disappoint,” and mentions that “Lebanon is witnessing a miracle for which we have all Prayed, following the security and social developments and events. It has also become urgent to Pray and work for peace.”

Photos By: the Media of the Middle East Council of Churches

Cairo-16-2-2025

The Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Professor Michel Abs, and a delegation from the Council, met with the Egyptian Thinker and Former Minister Dr. Samir Morcos in Cairo.

The meeting was attended by the Associate Secretary General Reverend Refaat Fikry, and the Media Officer and the Coordinator of the Church and Media Relations at MECC Lea Adel Maamary.

During the meeting, both parties discussed Church and national issues, especially amidst the challenges facing the region and the need to implement development and cultural projects in light of the Middle Eastern situation.

Professor Michel Abs also presented the most prominent activities implemented by the Council in its various departments and divisions, which serve the interests of Christians, Churches, and the nation.

Maadi, Cairo, February 16, 2025

The Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Professor Michel Abs continued his visit to the Arab Republic of Egypt. This visit comes as part of his participation in the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity for the year 2025, entitled “Do you believe this?” (John 11: 26).

Following his tour at the Coptic Catholic Seminary in Maadi - Cairo, Professor Michel Abs, His Grace Bishop Thomas Adly, Pastor of the Coptic Catholic Diocese of Giza, Fayoum and Beni Suef, the MECC Associate Secretary General Reverend Dr. Refaat Fikry, and the Media Officer and the Coordinator of the Church and Media Relations at MECC Lea Adel Maamary, headed to the Anba Stephanos House for Elderly Priests - Maadi - Cairo.

They were received by the Head of the House Sister Souad Nohra, amidst great love and warmth, as it was the first visit made by the MECC Secretary General Professor Michel Abs to the House of Anba Stephanos. During the visit, Professor Michel Abs was informed about the services provided by the House of Anba Stephanos, the humanitarian mission it devotes, and the care it presents for the elderly Priests, along with the Franciscan Sisters of the Cross, following in the footsteps of our Father Yaacoub the Capuchin, adopting the Cross as its emblem.

Receives the MECC Secretary General Professor Michel Abs And the MECC Delegation at the Coptic Catholic Seminary - Maadi - Cairo

Maadi, Cairo, February 16, 2025

His Grace Bishop Thomas Adly, Pastor of the Coptic Catholic Diocese of Giza, Fayoum and Beni Suef, and Father Romany Fawzy, Head of the Coptic Catholic Seminary in Maadi - Cairo, received the Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Professor Michel Abs, the Associate Secretary General Reverend Dr. Refaat Fikry, and the Media Officer and the Coordinator of the Church and Media Relations at MECC Lea Adel Maamary, at the Coptic Catholic Seminary - Maadi - Cairo.

At the beginning, His Grace Bishop Thomas Adly welcomed Professor Michel Abs and the MECC delegation, congratulating him on all the work and activities being implemented by all the Council's departments.

With the Participation of the Heads of the Churches in Egypt Under the Title “Do you believe this?” (John 11: 26)

The Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Professor Dr. Michel Abs, and An MECC Delegation to His Grace Bishop Anba Ermia, General Bishop, President of the Coptic Orthodox Cultural Center and Assistant Secretary General of the Egyptian Family House

The MECC Secretary General Professor Michel Abs: “We all seek, as bearers of the message of the Incarnate Lord, who fought evil with love, to be His messengers if we strive, through good words and good deeds”

Cairo, February 14, 2025

With the blessings and Prayers of His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark, and at the invitation of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) in cooperation with the Egyptian Council of Churches, the Prayer of the Week of Unity was held for the second consecutive day at St. George and the Samaritan Woman Church for the Coptic Orthodox in Shoubra El-Kheima - Cairo, presided over by His Grace Bishop Marcos, Bishop of Shoubra El-Kheima and Its Dependencies, with the participation of Priests, Pastors, and large crowds of believers.

The Prayer was attended by the Heads of the Churches of Egypt, the Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Professor Michel Abs, the Secretary General of the Egyptian Council of Churches Reverend Yachouh Ayoub, the MECC Honorary Secretary General Dr. Gergis Saleh, the MECC Associate Secretary General Reverend Dr. Refaat Fikry, the Media Officer and the Coordinator of Church and Media Relations at MECC Lea Adel Maamary, youth and scouts.

At the Church of St. George and the Samaritan Woman Church for the Coptic Orthodox in Shoubra El-Kheima

The Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Professor Michel Abs delivered a speech in the Prayer of the Week of Unity held at the Church of St. George and the Samaritan Woman Church for the Coptic Orthodox in Shoubra El-Kheima. The most prominent points in the speech were:

"The expansion of participation in the Week of Prayer for Unity demonstrates the extension of the "Ecumenical oil patch" and the adoption of Ecumenical thought and values as a solid position among wide segments of believers in various parts of the world.

It is worth noting that our Ecumenism, which stems from Christian roots, is not limited to Christians alone; it includes all people, as God created them in His image and likeness and surrounded them with His love. This real Christian Ecumenical dimension constitutes a starting point for inviting everyone to dialogue, rapprochement and fraternity, no matter how different their affiliations are.

We all seek, as bearers of the message of the Incarnate Lord, who fought evil with love, to be His messengers if we strive, through good words and good deeds, to fulfill His message of salvation and serve humanity. We, in the Council, are fully aware of the importance of the talents that the Lord Has placed in our charge, and we seek to make them fruitful as much as possible, through the services we provide to people with dignity and love.”

During His Lecture Entitled "The Church and Scientific Research" at the Institute of Coptic Studies - Cairo

Cairo, February 14, 2025

Within the framework of his visit to the Arab Republic of Egypt to participate in the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, Professor Michel Abs, the Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), delivered a lecture at the Institute of Coptic Studies in Cairo, entitled "The Church and Scientific Research".

The lecture was attended by the Honorary Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Dr. Gergis Saleh, the Associate Secretary General Reverend Dr. Refaat Fikry, Father Paula Attieh, the Deputy of the Theological Seminary in Fayoum, and the Dean of the Institute of Coptic Studies Dr. Ishaq Ajban, the Deputy of the Institute of Coptic Studies Dr. Adel Fakhry, the Media Officer and the Coordinator of the Church and Media Relations at the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Lea Adel Maamary, and Professors, students of the Sections of Church and Ecumenical Relations and Theology at the Institute and Priests.

Cairo, February 13, 2025

With great love, translated into true fraternity, the Honorary Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Dr. Gergis Saleh, offered a painting of Jesus Christ to the Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Professor Michel Abs, the Associate Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Reverend Dr. Refaat Fikry, and the Media Officer and the Coordinator of the Church and Media Relations at the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Lea Adel Maamary, as a token of love and appreciation.

The painting of Jesus Christ was decorated with the Bible Verse “That Your Eyes may be Open toward this house night and day” (1 Kings 8: 29).

Emphasizing the Importance of Dialogue, Social Cohesion, and Media Cooperation

Cairo, February 13, 2025

His Grace Bishop Anba Ermia, General Bishop, President of the Coptic Orthodox Cultural Center and Assistant Secretary General of the Egyptian Family House, received the Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Dr. Michel Abs, and a delegation from the Council at the Center's headquarters - Cairo.

The meeting was attended by the MECC Honorary Secretary General Dr. Gergis Saleh, the MECC Associate Secretary General Reverend Dr. Refaat Fikry, and the Media Officer and the Coordinator of the Church and Media Relations at MECC, the Journalist Lea Adel Maamary.  

Bishop Shehata Praises the Work of the Council's Departments, Programs and Advanced Media.

Professor Michel Abs: "We always strive for joint Christian work and to enhance dialogue with others."

Cairo, February 12, 2025

Within the framework of enhancing joint Christian work and affirming the role of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) in spreading the spirit of love among all, the Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Professor Michel Abs, along with a delegation from the Council, visited the Bishop of the Episcopal Church in Egypt, North Africa and the Horn of Africa, His Eminence Bishop Sami Fawzi Shehata at the headquarters of the Episcopal Church in Cairo.

The meeting was attended by the MECC Honorary Secretary General Dr. Gergis Saleh, the MECC Associate Secretary General Reverend Dr. Refaat Fikry, the Secretary General of the Egyptian Council of Churches Father Yachouh Ayoub, and the Journalist Lea Adel Maamary, the Media Officer and the Coordinator of the Church and Media Relations at the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC).

At the beginning, His Eminence Bishop Sami Shehata welcomed the Secretary General Professor Michel Abs and the Council's delegation, stressing that his visit enhances fraternity and cooperation between the Churches.

Drama Therapy and Psychological Support

In light of the daily pressures surrounding our societies, children became in dire need of a safe space in which they can feel free to express themselves. Therefore, it has become necessary to develop their abilities and skills and teach them valuable skills which can elevate them to better heights once they reach adulthood. Hence, the Diakonia and Social Service Department, Lebanon’s Office, at the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), in cooperation with the international organization Mennonite Central Committee - MCC, launched 10 drama therapy sessions over a period of 3 weeks, for a group of 7 children.

The aim was to empower the participants, build skills for self-expression and self-regulation, which can in turn boost self-confidence, enhance empathy and social skills, reduce stress and anxiety, and foster cognitive development.

Stay Tuned for a Special Episode with Monsignor Abdo Abou Kasm and the Journalist Lea Adel Maamary on Télé Lumière and Noursat TV Channel

Watch with us a special episode entitled “The Word Unites Us”, from “The Platform of the Word” at the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), with the Director of the Catholic Information Center in Lebanon Monsignor Abdo Abou Kasm, on Thursday 13 Februatry 2025, at 1:45 pm Beirut Time, on Télé Lumière and Noursat TV Channel. He was interviewed by the Journalist Lea Adel Maamary, the Media Officer at the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), the Director of “The Platform of the Word”, and the Coordinator of the Church and Media Relations at MECC.

The episode focused on the importance of the media in spreading the values of love, fraternity and peace away from the discourse of hatred and injustice, in addition to the role of "The Platform of the Word" in the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) and its mission in strengthening the Ecumenical spirit.

Held in Amman, Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, from January 23 to 24, 2025

The Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), in cooperation with the United Church of Canada, organized a consultative seminar entitled "Dismantling the Authority of Decision or Participation in the Authority of Decision", with the aim of discussing the mechanism of the new partnership relationship between the United Church of Canada and its partners in the world, including its partners in the Middle East, such as the Middle East Council of Churches, in order to give partners more future freedom to choose their humanitarian and development needs and have their direct management to the programs supported by the United Church of Canada.

This initiative comes in response to the new strategic goals of the United Church of Canada on the topic of abandoning the authority of choice and decision that Church institutions in the West have been accustomed to following for many years in the past, which contradicts the spiritual and moral concept of respecting the needs of others without imposing specific goals or strategies that do not achieve the partners' goals and actual needs.

The consultation session was attended by the United Church of Canada partners in the Middle East from Lebanon, Palestine and Jordan, along with some ACT Alliance members present in Jordan and abroad, either in person or via Zoom.

With the blessing and 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, the UAECNE hosted an Ecumenical Prayer Service on the occasion of the ending of the "Week of Prayer for Christian Unity" 2025 entitled “Do you believe this?” (John 11: 26), in celebration of the conclusion of the Fiftieth Year of the Founding of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), as well as the announcement of the launch of the 1700th Anniversary of the First Ecumenical Council in Nicaea, on Saturday, January 25, 2025, at the First Armenian Evangelical Church - Kantari, Beirut.