Report: 8 December 2021

Countries in the Middle East are preparing themselves for the omicron variant of the coronavirus by restricting travel, announcing lockdowns and closing airports. Although several decision makers have assured the public that their countries are ready to face whatever the new challenges omicron might bring, many are skeptical whether their governments are up for the challenge.

As part of his visit to Egypt, the Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches Dr. Michel Abs was the guest of an episode within the program “Men Jil Ila Jil” (From Generation to Generation) live on the Egyptian TV Channel ME Sat and the Coptic Orthodox Cultural Center Facebook page, on Friday December 3, 2021.

Dr. Abs was interviewed by Dr. Caroline and underlined during the episode the most prominent founding phases of MECC and its history. In addition to its identity, mission and role in the region.

The Middle East Council of Churches mourns Rev. Dr. Salim Sahyouni, who passed on to be with the Lord at the age of 90. He spent his years dedicated to working in God’s name and the Ecumenical work. It was stated in the letter of condolence the Secretary General of the Council Dr. Michel Abs addressed to the President of the National Evangelical Synod of Syria and Lebanon Rev. Joseph Kassab the following:

“Greetings in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, risen from the dead,

‘Where I am, there also will my servant be’ (John 12:26)

With great sadness and sorrow, we received the news of the passing of Rev. Dr. Salim Sahyouni to the arms of the Heavenly Father!…

It is true that the deepening economic, social and health crises that are afflicting the Middle East are overwhelming the citizens. But do you know how difficult is the psychological impact of these crises on the most affected groups? Do you realize how anxious teenagers are becoming at this delicate stage of their lives?

In fact, teenagers today, especially in Eastern societies, are suffering from several life upheavals, manifested with the displacement, social isolation and delay in education among them, which push them live in severe depression and despair.

La guerra siria ha ensombrecido todos los aspectos de la vida. Así, con el objetivo de devolver la vida a las iglesias, se han completado las obras de restauración de la Parroquia de San Pablo en la ciudad de Darayya, en la zona rural de Damasco.

El Cairo.– Durante la mañana del 4 de diciembre de 2021, Su Beatitud Anba Ibrahim Ishaq, Patriarca de Alejandría para los católicos coptos, recibió al Consejo de las Iglesias del Oriente Medio, en la Sede Patriarcal de Kobri Al-Qubba, en presencia de Su Eminencia Anba Bakhoum, Vicario Patriarcal de la Diócesis Patriarcal.

The Syrian war cast its shadow over all the aspects of life. Thus aiming at bringing life back to Churches, restoration work at St. Paul's Church in the city of Darayya, in Rural Damascus has been completed.

A Egipto se dirigió nuestra delegación del Consejo Ecuménico del Oriente Medio en el proceso de preparación de su XII Asamblea General, que se celebrará allí por la amable invitación y el apoyo de Su Santidad el Papa Tawadros II, además del apoyo del Reverendo Padre Andrea Zaki.

En el marco de las visitas preparatorias a la Asamblea General, la delegación del MECC visitó a los líderes espirituales y continuará su recorrido en los próximos días.

El Dr. Michel Abs, Secretario General del Consejo de Iglesias del Oriente Medio, visitó el Instituto de Estudios Coptos, en la Catedral de San Marcos en Abbasiya, Egipto, el martes 30 de noviembre de 2021. Fue recibido por el Prof. Dr. Ishaq Ajban, Decano del Instituto, Prof. Dr. Adel Fakhry, Vicedecano del Instituto, y Prof. Gerges Saleh Secretario General Honorario del Consejo de Iglesias del Oriente Medio.

Padre Agapios: Cristo habita en nuestra nave y calma toda turbulencia tormentosa

En medio de las olas de violencia, de la expiación, de la cultura del odio y de la mercantilización (...) a menudo nos alejamos de la esencia misma de nuestra vida, del fundamento manifestado en la fe, la esperanza y el amor. Es cierto que no podemos negar este hecho porque nos ahogamos diariamente en grandes tormentas que nos alejan de la orilla de la seguridad, pero estamos de acuerdo en que la seguridad deseada no puede alcanzarse sin adherirse a la fe.

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 about a series of visits held by Secretary General Dr. Abs with an MECC delegation to the head of Churches and leaderships in Egypt, aiming to prepare for the 12th General Assembly. The visits started with a meeting with His Holiness Pope Tawadros II at the Papal Logos Center in Wadi El Natrun. As for the weekly message of Dr. Abs, it was entitled “An ecumenical celebration in the care of the Holy Family”.

To Egypt went our delegation from the Ecumenical Council of the Middle East is in the process of preparing for its twelfth General Assembly, which will be held there at the kind invitation and support of His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, in addition to the support of the Most Reverend Pastor Andrea Zaki.

In the context of the preparatory visits to the General Assembly, the MECC delegation visited the spiritual leaders and will continue its tour in the coming days.

Father Agapios: Christ dwells in our ship and calms every stormy turmoil

Amid waves of violence, atonement, the culture of hatred and commodification...we often distance ourselves from the very essence of our life, the foundation manifested in faith, hope, and love. It is true that we cannot deny this fact because we are drowning daily in great storms pushing us away from the shore of safety, but we agree that the desired safety cannot be reached without adhering to faith.

Report: 16 to 30 November 2021

The World Health Organization held a special emergency meeting to discuss the emergence of a new COVID strain that may be deadlier than the others that preceded it. Although the organization stated that there is no reason to panic, the WHO did confirm that the variant has already been observed to have “a large number of mutations,” raising questions and concerns over how that will impact diagnostics, therapeutics, and vaccinations.

The Communication and Public Relations Department at the Middle East Council of Churches have now issued its digital Ecumenical calendar for the month of December 2021. It includes the Ecclesiastical and Liturgical feasts of the various families of Churches in the Middle East. In addition to international days identified by the United Nations, and which are related to the MECC identity and its spiritual and human mission.