The new issue of the weekly newsletter Momentum issued by the Communication and Public Relations Department of the Middle East Council of Churches, presents details of the Congratulatory Visit to the Patriarch of Cilicia for the Armenian Catholics His Beatitude Raphaël Minassian, held by a delegation from the MECC General Secretariat headed by Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs. As for the weekly message of Dr. Abs, it was entitled “So that identity does not become a tool of devastation”.

Nothing is more precious to a person's heart than his identity.

It defines who he is, towards himself as well as towards others, towards his narrow surroundings or towards his community.

Identity becomes more complex and richer and more diverse as civilization progresses, and it becomes made up of sub-identities and layers of belongingness.

Modern man is no longer monolithic, and there is no longer a single dimension that expresses his identity, but multiple dimensions that combine and multiply and may sometimes contradict one another, depending on the surrounding social structure as well as on the personality of the individual.

H.E Bishop Paul Rouhana:

‘The Lord invited us to be a Church’

‘Love is a spiritual battle we fight to free ourselves from ego and anger. Without it, our journey together would fail’

Injustice, hate speech, corruption, unfairness... All these are expressions that have always dominated the global scene, especially the Levantine, at a time when societies are suffering from severe crises on every front: health, environmental, economic, cultural, and political. But does anyone hear the pain of those marginalized? Are there initiatives contributing to alleviating the crisis? What is the Church’s role in all of the above?

A delegation from the General Secretariat of the Middle East Council of Churches visited His Beatitude Patriarch Raphaël Bedros XXI Minassian, the new Patriarch of Cilicia for the Armenian Catholics at the Patriarchate headquarters in Beirut. The delegation congratulated Minassian on his election as Patriarch and head of the Armenian Church, which has a remarkable role among the MECC member Churches.

The Middle East Council of Churches peruses its support to women who are facing many daily burdens and pressures due to the difficult living conditions in Lebanon through various vocational training sessions. Thus, the Service and Relief Department – Diakonia, Beirut office, implemented a sewing training program, at the Hebbaryeh municipality in South Lebanon.

Report: 10 November 2021

More countries in the Middle East are reporting increased daily corona rates during a time governments are declaring lax measures.

The ACT Alliance Lebanon Forum held its annual meeting at the Middle East Council of Churches General Secretariat’s headquarters in Beirut on Tuesday, November 9, 2021, in the presence of the ACT Regional Representative – MENA Rachel Luce and the Regional Humanitarian Program Advisor – MENA George Majaj.

Under the patronage and presence of the Maronite Patriarchal Vicar of Sarba, H.E Bishop Paul Rouhana, former MECC Secretary General, the Council’s General Secretariat organized a spiritual retreat presided over by the MECC Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs. The retreat was held on Friday, November 5, 2021, at the Saint Paul Monastery - Patriarchal Maronite Diocese, Vicariate of Sarba, Keserwan - Lebanon, which is newly renovated.

El Departamento de Servicio y Ayuda – Diakonia, oficina de Beirut del Consejo de Iglesias del Oriente Medio, ha llevado a cabo numerosas sesiones de concienciación sobre la salud para un grupo de mujeres en el Dispensario de Nuestra Señora, afiliado al MECC y situado en Sabtiyeh – Líbano. Las sesiones han tenido como objetivo capacitarlas y desarrollar sus potencialidades.

Cuanto mayor es la corrupción de los grupos gobernantes, mayor es su hostilidad hacia quienes les confiaron la gestión de sus asuntos, y con sus propias vidas.

Cuanto más extremado sea el objetivo del gobernante, más feroz será en la protección de sus oscuros expedientes y «logros».

Sabe que el ojo de Dios le persigue hasta en su más recóndita intimidad, y el ojo de Dios es el ojo del pueblo. Es como el inseguro que casi dice: «llévame», porque el ojo del Creador, el Creador que distribuye los medios de vida y la riqueza, no deja de percibir nada.

The Service and Relief Department - Diakonia, Beirut office at the Middle East Council of Churches, implemented many health awareness sessions for a group of women in Our Lady Dispensary, affiliated to MECC and located in Sabtiyeh – Lebanon. The sessions aimed at empowering them and developing their capabilities.

The new issue of the weekly newsletter Momentum issued by the Communication and Public Relations Department of the Middle East Council of Churches, presents the news of the MECC Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs’ participation as a guest in an episode entitled “You are the salt of the earth” as part of the TV program “La Takhaf” on Télé Lumière and Noursat, in addition to the full video of the episode. As for the weekly message of Dr. Abs, it was entitled “Starving and bringing to kneels to Avoid Accountability”.