‘They are trying to change the demographics of Beirut, we will not tolerate that!’

On his face, you can see Beirut. In his voice resonating every Sunday in St. George Cathedral in Beirut, you hear the voice of Beirut. Through his aching heart, and his saddened eyes ever since August 4 of last year, you can feel the pain of Beirut, gem of the Middle East, mourning in her black dress…

Far from his political opinion that disdains our irresponsible leaders, and his stance against corruption and the corrupted, Metropolitan of Beirut and its dependencies of the Greek Orthodox Bishop Elias Audi said during the mass of commemoration of the blast victims:

The Ghost of death is still haunting Beirut as we still live in the deadly unknown.

The new and special issue of the MECC magazine "Al Muntada" is now issued, under the title of "Beirut in the Heart of the Church, the Risen Beirut Does Not Die!", in the weekly newsletter Momentum prepared by the Communication and Public Relations Department of the Middle East Council of Churches. The department produced this issue for the commemoration of the Beirut Port explosion, as it includes exclusive interviews with the heads of Beirut's churches and special articles shedding the light on this disaster and its repercussions, in addition to the role of the churches amidst the tragedy.

The Communication and Public Relations Department of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) published a new and special issue of its quarterly magazine, “Al Muntada”, for the month of August 2021, in Arabic and English. It is entitled "Beirut, in the Heart of the Church, Beirut, a City of Resurrection". The department has dedicated this issue as a tribute to Beirut and its people on the first commemoration of the Beirut Port explosion which occurred on August 4, 2020.

On the first commemoration of the Beirut Port devastating blast, the Middle East Council of Churches Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs addressed a message that was published in a special issue of “Al Muntada” magazine, issued by the MECC Communication and Public Relations Department. Hence, Dr. Abs presented what Lebanese people passed through since August 4, 2020, in addition to the latest updates of their living circumstances today. He also described the various human aspects that shook the world, as well as its consequences.

His Holiness Pope Tawadros II:

Please unite in good so your country would go back to being shining, brilliant, successful, and distinguished

On the first commemoration of the tragic 4 August Beirut Port explosion, His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark, addressed a letter to the Lebanese entitled “One Year Post-Explosion…?”. Through it he urged them the necessity of cooperation and solidarity as one population in order to overcome all the repercussions and difficulties resulting from this disaster aiming at building a better future.

August 4 Explosion Commemoration Eve

Remembers the Victims and the People Affected, Calls to Pray for them and for Lebanon

Press release

The MECC Executive Committee held its online periodic meeting on Tuesday the 3rd of August 2021. The members of the committee, the Council teams in Beirut, Damascus, Amman, Jerusalem, and Cairo attended the meeting along with guests concerned with the Council’s work.

After the opening prayer, attendees addressed the tragedy of the Beirut port explosion, as it has been a year since the unfortunate accident without reaching any outcome, to determine responsibilities and achieve justice.

Report: 3 August 2021

The World Health Organization once again, warned of the dangerous spread of the new corona strain which has infected 15 out of 22 countries stretching from Morocco to Pakistan.

The new issue of the weekly newsletter Momentum issued by the Communication and Public Relations Department of the Middle East Council of Churches, presents an exclusive interview with MECC Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs prepared by the World Council of Churches Communication Department about the living conditions in Lebanon and how Churches are helping. As for the weekly message of the Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs, it was entitled " Trafficking in Human Beings!".

Cuando uno oye esta frase, se apresura a comprobar su calendario pensando que tal vez se ha equivocado al identificar en qué época se encuentra.
¿Estamos realmente en el siglo XXI después del tiempo de la Encarnación?
¿Estamos en una época de libertades, derechos humanos, conocimientos, descubrimientos e inventos de los que la humanidad se siente orgullosa?
Es realmente una paradoja que un día del año, el 30 de julio, se dedique a ser el «Día Internacional contra la Trata de Personas».

En el sitio web de las Naciones Unidas dedicado a la lucha contra este delito, le sorprenderán los hechos y datos que en él se mencionan.

A raíz de una invitación de la organización «Arigatou International» dedicada a los niños, el Consejo de Iglesias del Oriente Medio participó en un webinar que se celebró con el fin de lanzar el «Manual para aprender a vivir juntos en la adolescencia». El MECC estuvo representado por su Secretario General, el Dr. Michel Abs, y por la coordinadora del Programa de Sanación de Traumas y Heridas y de Asesoramiento Espiritual del Departamento Teológico y Ecuménico, la hermana Emilie Tannous.

El Consejo de Iglesias del Oriente Medio sigue apoyando a los ciudadanos y residentes en el Líbano en medio del empeoramiento de la crisis y el aumento del estrés diario que los ha agotado psicológica y moralmente. Por lo tanto, puede ayudarles a recuperar su salud psicológica y su actividad habitual.
Sensibilización sobre la violencia de género
El Departamento de Ayuda y Servicio – Diakonia, oficina de Beirut, organizó 2 sesiones de sensibilización sobre la violencia de género para 40 mujeres y otras 2 sesiones para 40 hombres.

Dentro de una semana, el Líbano volverá a ver al día 4 de agosto con, nada más, que melancolía, ya que ha pasado un año con poco que mostrar, en cuanto a la investigación. Si no fuera por la ayuda de los socios internacionales del Líbano en estos tiempos oscuros, cerca de 300,000 libaneses seguirían sin hogar o desplazados. Mientras tanto, los líderes libaneses, los responsables de la toma de decisiones y los políticos se regodean en sus torres de marfil o nadan en sus piscinas privadas, riéndose de toda la riqueza que han acumulado a lo largo de los años.

When you hear this phrase, you rush to check your calendar thinking that perhaps you misidentified what era you are in.

Are we really in the twenty-first century after the time of the Incarnate?

Are we in a time of freedoms, human rights, knowledge, discoveries, and inventions that humanity is proud of?

It is truly a paradox that one day of the year, 30 July, is dedicated to be The International Day against Trafficking in Persons.

On the United Nations website dedicated to combating this crime, you will be shocked by the facts and data mentioned therein.

Following an invitation from Arigatou International organization dedicated to children, the Middle East Council of Churches participated in a webinar that was held in order to launch the “Learning To Live Together manual to Middle Childhood”. MECC was represented by its Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs and the coordinator of the Trauma and Wound Healing and Spiritual Counseling Program of the Theological and Ecumenical Department Sister Emilie Tannous.