At the Head of An MECC Delegation, in the Arab Republic of Egypt

Receives the Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Professor Dr. Michel Abs, and An MECC Delegation

Cairo, February 20, 2025

After an official Church visit that lasted eight consecutive days, the Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Professor Michel Abs left Cairo heading to Lebanon.

The MECC Secretary General Professor Abs and the MECC delegation were accompanied to the airport by the Associate Secretary General Reverend Dr. Refaat Fikry.

The visit of the Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Professor Michel Abs left positive repercussions on the Church and national levels.

Cairo, February 19, 2025

As part of his visit to the Arab Republic of Egypt, the Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Professor Michel Abs, met with the Journalist, Writer and Thinker Robert Al-Fares. The meeting was held at the Holy Family Coptic Catholic Church in Zeitoun as part of the Prayer for Christian unity held at the Church. Robert, one of the most prominent Coptic Journalists in Egypt, offered two of his books to the Secretary General. The first one is “Coptic Magazines, A Historical Study and Selections”, and includes a study on the emergence of Coptic magazines in Christian sects in Egypt. The second one is “The Genius of Christ: The Unknown Battle between the Copts and the Writer Abbas Al-Akkad”, and is a rare model of interfaith dialogue.

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

Speeches Stressed the Importance of the Dialogue of Love.

Emphasizing the Importance of the Prayer in Achieving the Desired Unity.

Cairo, February 19, 2025

Under the title “Do you believe this?” (John 11: 26), the Prayer Service for Christian unity for the year 2025 was held at the Holy Family Coptic Catholic Church in Cairo, presided over by Father Dr. Augustine Maurice, Pastor of the Church, with the participation of Representatives of the Heads of the Churches in Egypt, the Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Professor Michel Abs, and Members of the Priests Committee in the Egyptian Council of Churches, the MECC Honorary Secretary General Dr. Gergis Saleh, the MECC Associate Secretary General Reverend Dr. Refaat Fikry, the Media Officer and the Coordinator of the Church and Media Relations at MECC Lea Adel Maamary, the Women's Committee in the Egyptian Council of Churches, youth, scouts, Believers and choirs.

Cairo, February 19, 2025

The colleague Journalist Alaa Youssef conducted a media interview with the Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Professor Michel Abs, within the Religious Dialogue Section of Al-Shorouk Newspaper.

The interview focused on many topics related to the work of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) and the Christian presence in the region.

The Ecumenical Youth Committee in Egypt

And the Journalist Lea Adel Maamary, the Media Officer, the Coordinator of the Church and Media Relations, and the Director of “The Platform of the Word” at MECC

Speeches Emphasized That Prayer Is A Way to Strengthen the Unity of the Faithful Community

Cairo, February 18, 2025

With the blessings of His Beatitude Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa Theodoros II, and at the invitation of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) in cooperation with the Egyptian Council of Churches, the Prayer Service for the Week of Unity was held at St. George Patriarchal Monastery - Old Cairo, and presided over by the Deputy of the Greek Orthodox Patriarch in Alexandria the Rt. Reverend Archimandrite Dr. Damaskinos Alazrai. Participants were the Honorary Archbishop of Nubia and the Head of the St. George Greek Orthodox Patriarchal Monastery in Old Cairo His Eminence Metropolitan Saba, the Armenian Orthodox Archbishop in Egypt His Eminence Metropolitan Ashot, and Representatives of the Heads of the Churches in Egypt, Priests and Pastors, 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 Yaacoub, the Honorary Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Dr. Gergis Saleh, the Associate Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Reverend Dr. Refaat Fikry, the Media Officer and the Coordinator of the Church and Media Relations at the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Lea Adel Maamary, and believers.

During the Service, Prayers were recited by the Coptic Orthodox Church, the Evangelical Church, the Catholic Church, and the Episcopal Church.

Cairo, February 18, 2025

His Eminence Metropolitan Nicolas Antoniou, Greek Orthodox Metropolitan of Tanta and Its Dependencies, received the Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Professor Michel Abs, at the Archdiocese - Cairo.

Professor Michel Abs was accompanied by the Associate Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Reverend Dr. Refaat Fikry, the Media Officer and the Coordinator of the Church and Media Relations at the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Lea Adel Maamary.

The visit included discussions that focused on the Council's work, activities and programs.

Tuesday, February 18, 2025, at 10 pm, Lebanon and Egypt time

Watch the Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Professor Dr. Michel Abs, in a special interview live on the Egyptian “ME Sat” channel, today, Tuesday, February 18, 2025, at 10 pm, Lebanon and Egypt time, to talk about the tour he is making at the head of an MECC delegation, in the Arab Republic of Egypt and their participation in the celebrations of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity for the year 2025, entitled “Do you believe this?” (John 11:26).

Dr. Reverend Andrea Zaki: "We support the Middle East Council of Churches to promote Christian unity"

Professor Michel Abs: "Evangelicals have been pioneers of Ecumenical work since the establishment of the Council"

Cairo, February 18, 2025

Dr. Reverend Andrea Zaki, the President of the Evangelical Community in Egypt, received Professor Michel Abs, the Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), and a delegation from the Council, which included Reverend Dr. Refaat Fikry, the Associate Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) and the Journalist Lea Adel Maamary, the Media Officer, the Coordinator of the Church and Media Relations, and the Director of "The Platform of the Word" at the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC).

The delegation was received by Reverend Refaat Fathi, the Secretary General of the Evangelical Synod of the Nile, Mrs. Samira Louka, the Senior Head of the Dialogue Sector at the Coptic Evangelical Organization, Sheikh Essam Wassef, the Director of Public Relations at the Coptic Evangelical Organization, and Mr. Youssef Edward, the Director of Media at the Coptic Evangelical Organization.

Cairo, February 18, 2025

As part of his participation in the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, the colleague Journalist Michael Victor, the Media Officer at the Egyptian Council of Churches, conducted a media interview with the Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Professor Michel Abs. The interview centered around many issues related to the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), its programs and work, in addition to shedding light on the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity and its importance.

The Members of the Ecumenical Youth Committee in Egypt met with 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 Yaacoub, Bishop Claudio Lurati, Bishop of the Latin Church in Egypt, the Associate Secretary General Reverend Dr. Refaat Fikry, and Priests, the Media Officer and the Coordinator of the Church and Media Relations at MECC Lea Adel Maamary.

The Committee presented to the media of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) a detailed explanation about its activities and preparations for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity for the year 2025.

The Committee confirmed that Friday, February 21, 2025, is a special day due to its connotations of love, dialogue and integration, as the youth dedicate a special day for the Week of Unity entitled "Yes, I Believe" in the Church of the Cave and the Martyrs Sergius and Bacchus "Abu Serga - Old Cairo - Cairo".

Speeches Emphasized the Dialogue of Love and Integration

Cairo, February 17, 2025

Under the slogan “Do you believe this?” (John 11: 26), St. Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church in Cairo hosted the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity organized by the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) in cooperation with the Egyptian Council of Churches.

The Prayer was attended by Archdeacon “Ecclesiastical Rank” Emad Basilios, Pastor of the Church, 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 Yaacoub, His Eminence Bishop Claudio Lurati, Bishop of the Latin Church in Egypt, the Associate Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Reverend Refaat Fikry, Reverend Jaafar Tanqara, Pastor of the Sudanese Service at the Episcopal Church of Korba, Reverend Fayez Nadi, Member of the Prayer Committee at the Egyptian Council of Churches, Pastor of the Ain Shams and El Salam Episcopal Church, Reverend Michel Milad, Pastor of the Episcopal Church in Giza, Reverend Nagah Fawzy, Head of the Pastors and Priests Committee at the Egyptian Council of Churches, Reverend Refaat Fikry, the Associate Secretary at the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), Father Youhanna Saad, Member of the Priests and Pastors Committee, Martha Al-Qass Fayez, Member of the Women’s Committee, and Nora Edward, Member of the Women, Youth and Believers’ Committee.

With the Rt. Reverend Archimandrite Damaskinos Alazrai, Deputy of the Greek Orthodox Patriarch in Alexandria, at the Patriarchate - Alexandria

In the Closing Ceremony of the Project of Hope Academy for Arts and Sports, Which Was Held By the Village of Hope Association for People With Special Needs in Alexandria

Visit His Grace Bishop Hermina at the Church of the Great Martyr St. Mina the Wonderworker in Fleming El-Raml, Alexandria

Details In This Report!

Cairo, 17-2-2025

His Beatitude Anba Ibrahim Ishak, Coptic Catholic Patriarch and President of the Council of Catholic Patriarchs and Bishops in Egypt, received the Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Professor Michel Abs, and the Media Officer and the Coordinator of the Church and Media Relations at MECC Lea Adel Maamary, at the Patriarchate - Cairo.

Following the greetings, His Beatitude congratulated the Secretary General Professor Michel Abs on his election for a second term, wishing him continued health, wellness and giving, and praising all the purposeful activities and programs being implemented by the Council.

Both parties also discussed important topics related to the issue of the Christian role in the Middle East, Ecumenical witness, cooperation between the Churches, the role of the Council in raising new issues on the humanitarian and social levels, the Council's activities, and the new media progress as a way of positive interaction.

At the end of the visit, the Secretary General Professor Michel Abs offered to His Beatitude Bishop Anba Ibrahim Ishak the slogan of “The Fiftieth Year” of the Founding of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) as a token of love and appreciation.