MECC Secretary General Dr.Souraya Bachealany, condemned the Israeli police assault against Coptic Deir al-Sultan monks outside the Holy Sepulcher Church in Jerusalem’s Old City and their interference on the Monastery grounds, saying: “Once more the Israeli occupation shows its blatant violations to all conventions, agreements, human rights and international laws on all levels, not only including violation against sacred Christian symbols, but also Islamic symbols as well. Therefore, we appeal to the international community for a conscientious stand to protect these sacred symbols and the rights of the Palestinian people”.

Represented by Reverend Father Gabriel Hachem, Director of the Theological and Ecumenical Department, the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) participated in the International Conference held by the United Bible Societies (UBS) under the title “The Holy Scriptures in the Changing World” in Etchmiadzin-Armenia.

Secretary General Gives Condolences Over the Phone to His Holiness Pope Twadros II

The Middle East Council of Churches expresses its sorrow over the loss of its Executive Committee member, His Eminence Anba Bishoy, Metropolitan of Damietta and Kafr El-Sheikh and the Monastery of Saint Demiana, Barrari-Belkas, who passed away on October 3, 2018, aged 76.

MECC SG Souraya Bachealany: We Choose to Fight Against the Killing Indifference Towards the Middle East

The Middle East Council of Churches Secretary General Dr. Souraya Bachealany called the world community for more serious efforts to ensure peace in the Middle East.

Within MECC “Cash for Work Program”, a Waste Management campaign was implemented in Dara’a responding to an urgent request received from the people of the region to remove the accumulated wastes from the area.

One of the major goals of the MECC is to improve the psycho-social wellbeing of children affected by the crisis, through training teachers in trauma resilience strategies.

Mireille Girard UNHCR representative in Lebanon visits the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC): Working together for the Human Dignity
MECC General Secretary: While stressing the importance of relief programs for the refugees, displaced, and migrants, of development programs within the host countries, I insist upon the need for effective measures to help these populations return home, under decent humanitarian and security conditions

Dr Souraya Bechealany, Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) participated in the conference organized by the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development on September 13-14 in the Pontifical Urban University.

Message from the Conference
“Xenophobia, Racism, and Populist Nationalism in the context of global migration”
organized jointly by the Dicastery for promoting integral human development (Vatican City) and the World Council of Churches (Geneva) in collaboration with the Pontifical Council for promoting Christian Unity (Vatican City)

At a global conference on xenophobia in Rome, a panel of four religious leaders from, respectively, Buddhist, Christian, Hindu and Islamic traditions, spoke candidly about how xenophobia can sometimes be woven deeply into the fabric of these traditions.

Middle East Council of Churches Evangelical Family President, Rev. Dr. Habib Badr, attended on behalf of the Council the first ever Ministerial to Advance Religious Freedom hosted by the U.S. Department of State in Washington D.C. 23-26 July, 2018.

On Saturday, 7 July, 2018 the Middle East Council of Churches and Catholic, Orthodox and Protestant heads of Eastern Churches gathered in Bari, Italy at the invitation of His Holiness Pope Francis for a special ecumenical prayer service for peace in the Middle East and closed round-table discussion among the church leaders.

The Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) hosted its annual Partners Meeting, 8-10 May, 2018 at Deir Saydet el Bir in Bkennaya, Lebanon, welcoming both local and global partners to engage with the organization and commit to being a part of its mission and work.

MECC President for the Eastern Orthodox Family, His Holiness Moran Mor Ignatius Aphrem II, Patriarch of Antioch and All the East and Supreme Head of the Universal Syriac Orthodox Church, and MECC Acting Secretary General, Dr. Souraya Bechealany, attended the Global Christian Forum’s Third Global Gathering in Bogotá, Colombia April 24-27, 2018.

In response to the pressure that the Churches are facing in Jerusalem, and which led to the decision to close the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, the Middle East Council of Churches issues the following statement.

The Middle East Council of Churches welcomed its Executive Committee to Antonine University in Baabda, Lebanon where representatives from all four ecclesiastical families took up the business of the Council, including the appointment of an Acting Secretary General.

The Middle East Council of Churches is proud to announce the Bridges to Bethlehem Christmas documentary series. This series of 12 short documentaries showcases the rich diversity of tradition surrounding the celebration of the coming of the Christ child across the Middle East.

Watch MECC Secretary General, Fr. Dr. Michel Jalakh, Rev. Dr. Mitri Raheb and Rev. Najla Kassab discuss the current realities faced by Christians living in the Holy Land and how to choose hope this Advent season.

Heads of Churches in Jerusalem issued a joint-statement condemning the official recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital & the moving of the U.S. embassy from Tel Aviv.

MECC invites you to an ecumenical prayer service in celebration of God’s creation. His Beatitude, Patriarch Mar Youssef Absi, head of the Melkite Greek Catholic Church, will preside over the service.