In the new issue of the weekly newsletter Momentum issued by the Communication and Public Relations Department of the Middle East Council of Churches, the “Week of Prayer for Christian Unity” Booklet 2022 is now published and available to the whole world. Noting that the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity entrusted MECC with the task of selecting the theme of the Week of Prayer for the year 2022 and preparing drafts of its texts.

As for the weekly message of the Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs, it was entitled “And The Looted Land Has Its Shepherd”.

Difficult is parting, bitter in taste, painful, leaving scars that may not heal.

For Metropolitan Paul Yazigi and Metropolitan Youhanna Ibrahim to be absent is one thing, and to acknowledge that they may not return is another thing.

There is no doubt that the decision taken by the Holy Synod of Antioch to transfer Metropolitan Paul Yazigi to the honorary post of Metropolitan the diocese of Diyarbakir, given the passage of nearly nine years since his absence, is a practical and realistic decision, but it is a decision that emerged from the depth of the suffering felt by the absence of the two shepherds whose fate was deemed unknown to all military, political, legal as well as media references.

Watch the Virtual Tour of the Pavilion of the Holy See, Where Bridges are Built, and the Culture of Peace is Spread

The Middle East and the world witnessed between October 1 and March 31, 2021, a historic 6-month event full of culture, creativity, and innovation: Expo 2020 Dubai. Organizers wanted it to be a meeting point of civilizations, cultures and heritage, and a link between all people and religions. This World Expo in Dubai carries with it a humanitarian message reflected in the richness of diversity, brotherhood, dialogue, and acceptance of others. This year, a special pavilion for the Vatican was allocated for the first time, an initiative proving the commitment of the UAE to the encyclical Fratelli Tutti and was manifested as its most prominent fruits.

With the end of the Season of Creation 2021, the Middle East Council of Churches concluded the first season of the television program “Days of the Season of Creation” with a final episode broadcasted on Sunday, October 10, at 8:30 pm Beirut time and 5:30 GMT. The program was in cooperation between Télé Lumière, Noursat and the Middle East Council of Churches, and was broadcasted in parallel with the global celebrations of this Christian environmental season throughout the month of September. It was prepared by the Council's Communication and Public Relations Department.

MECC launched a WASH campaign within its Cash for Work Program aiming at providing a temporary employment opportunities in Msefra and Kherbet Ghazaleh towns in Rural Dara’a.

160 workers participated in garbage removal and transportation. In addition, 75 women, who received health awareness sessions on COVID-19 and the importance of correct hygiene, implemented home visits in both towns to disseminate the learned information to local community and spread the knowledge to the biggest possible number of population.

As part of the "Season of Creation" 2021 activities, the MECC Communication and Public Relations Department and the Council’s Ecojustice Adhoc Committee release a video about the importance of cultivating peace among generations, as well as the difference between the peace of people and the free peace of Jesus Christ.

Report: 13 October 2021

All Middle East countries with the exception of Turkey, reported a decrease in daily COVID rates. This is due to continuous rollout of vaccines and preventive measures.

The Service and Relief Department – Diakonia, Beirut office at the Middle East Council of Churches organized 6 psychosocial support sessions for a group of children aiming at enhancing their abilities and developing their skills.

The Psychosocial sessions for children play a valuable role in promoting the well-being and resilience of children.

«Nosotros hemos visto aparecer su estrella en el Oriente y venimos a adorarlo» (Mateo 2, 2)
Un título esperanzador para la unidad en la oración

La versión árabe del folleto de la Semana de Oración por la Unidad de los Cristianos se publica este año con gran alegría. El Consejo Pontificio para la Promoción de la Unidad de los Cristianos encomendó al Consejo de Iglesias del Oriente Medio la tarea de seleccionar el tema de la «Semana de Oración para el año 2022« y preparar los borradores de sus textos.

“We saw his star at its rising and have come to do him homage.” (Matthew 2:2)

A Hopeful Title for Unity in Prayer

The Arabic version of The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity booklet is released this year with great joy! The Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity entrusted the Middle East Council of Churches with the task of selecting the theme of the Week of Prayer for the year 2022 and preparing drafts of its texts. The Ecumenical Committee appointed by the Theological and Ecumenical Department of the Council, tasked with this project, chose as a subject the appearance of the star in the sky of Judea as a sign of hope for God’s loving presence for humanity under the title: “We saw his star at its rising and have come to do him homage” (Matthew 2:2).

Los fracasos de la raza humana no tienen límites, y cuanto más progresa la «civilización», más se diversifican los fracasos y mayor es el número de personas que sobresalen en ellos utilizando todo lo nuevo y brillante.

Desde el principio de la creación, el hombre ha cometido una ofensa tras otra, de todo tipo y color, y ha engañado a sus hermanos o a su entorno en un intento de encontrar posición, estatus o riqueza. El hermano mató a su hermano, el hijo renegó de su padre y el amigo traicionó a su amigo.

Como parte del desarrollo de capacidades y habilidades, el Consejo de Iglesias del Oriente Medio está interesado en desarrollar el rendimiento de su equipo, con el fin de trabajar juntos y superar las dificultades y desafíos, especialmente lo que rodea a nuestras Iglesias orientales, su Consejo y las sociedades.

El Secretario General del Consejo de Iglesias del Oriente Medio, el Dr. Michel Abs, visitó al vicario de la Arquidiócesis Ortodoxa Siria de Monte Líbano, S.E. Mons. Georges Saliba, en la archidiócesis del Monte Líbano y Trípoli, en Sabtieh - Líbano, y a S.E. el arzobispo ortodoxo sirio de Beirut, Daniel Kourieh, en la sede de la Arquidiócesis en Beirut. El Dr. Abs estuvo acompañado por el Secretario General Asociado en nombre de la familia ortodoxa oriental, Adel Syryany.

Con el inicio de las reuniones del Santo Sínodo Antioqueno en su 12ª sesión ordinaria en la Sede Patriarcal - Balamand, Líbano, encabezada por el Patriarca Ortodoxo Griego de Antioquía y de todo el Oriente Su Beatitud Juan X, el Secretario General del Consejo de Iglesias del Oriente Medio Dr. Michel Abs participó en su sesión celebrada el miércoles 6 de octubre de 2021.

On October 9, 2021, the Armenian Church celebrates the feast of the “Translation of the Holy Bible into Armenian”. What does this feast symbolize? and what are the meanings behind it?