La historia de la Navidad debe ser tomada en sus significados, lecciones y símbolos.

La historia de la Navidad nos habla de la lucha entre la supervivencia y el exterminio, entre el bien y el mal, entre el amor y el odio.

La historia de la Navidad nos habla de la victoria de un niño indefenso sobre un tirano armado hasta los dientes, rodeado de ejércitos.

La historia de la Navidad nos asegura que la codicia y el aferramiento al poder y a los intereses son tan antiguos como la raza humana y persistirán mientras ésta continúe.

The first issue of the year 2022 of the weekly newsletter Momentum issued by the Communication and Public Relations Department of the Middle East Council of Churches presents the message of the MECC Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs following the afforestation campaign organized by the Council with a group of youth in the Lebanese Town of Bejjeh, within the framework of the global environmental campaign “Season of Creation”; in addition to details and photos of this project. As for the weekly message of Dr. Abs, it was entitled “Act of Birth and Act of Annihilation”. He wrote it for the introduction of the “Week of Prayer for Christian Unity” Booklet for 2022.

The story of Christmas is to be taken in its significances, lessons, and symbols.

The story of Christmas tells us about the struggle between survival and extermination, between good and evil, between love and hate.

The story of Christmas tells us about the victory of a defenseless little child over a tyrant armed to the teeth, surrounded by armies.

The story of Christmas assures us that greed and clinging to power and interests are as old as the human race and will persist as long as it continues.

With the beginning of the new year 2022, the Communication and Public Relations Department at the Middle East Council of Churches issues its digital Ecumenical calendar for the month of January 2022. 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. Noting that the remaining months of the year will be published consecutively.

MECC Has Prepared the Prayer Booklet for the 2022 Week

A Message from the East to the World

“In One, Holy and Apostolic Church” we declare in our Nicene Creed to emphasize the importance of our Christian unity with our Lord Jesus Christ. Heads of churches around the world have always seek to this unity which is today highlighted by Christians through daily prayers and meditations during the "Week of Prayer for Christian Unity" that is scheduled from 18 to 25 January of each year.

Report: 5 January 2022

Alarm bells continue to sound in the ME, as more countries are either reporting Omicron cases for the first time or by the hundreds. Governments are worried that the holiday period exacerbated the spread and that current vaccination efforts are not enough.

An Overview of the past to anticipate the future

Much has occurred during the past years. From armed escalations, economic sanctions, social unrest, to the pandemic, the Middle East became mired in a series of challenges. 2021 was an epic year; it is the period where most countries demonstrated to the world their resiliency and their ability to enact reforms which allowed them to modernize their economies. However, other countries remain to be in a deplorable situation as their leaders have yet to check their actions and inactions.

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

Booklet, Poster, Pocket Prayer and the Celebrations Program in Lebanon

Christians around the world celebrate the “Week of Prayer for Christian Unity” between 18 and 25 January of each year. They pray together with one heart to God the Father on the intention of enhancing the spirit of unity and brotherhood among them. Hence, a unified booklet is specially prepared for this week which is yearly awaited.

A delegation from the Middle East Council of Churches headed by Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs visited His Holiness Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II, Patriarch of Antioch and All the East and Supreme Head of the Universal Syriac Orthodox Church, and president of the Council for the Eastern Orthodox Family, on Wednesday 29 December 2021 at the Patriarchal Headquarters in Atchane, Lebanon.

You can find the speech of His Beatitude Cardinal Louis Raphael Sako, Chaldean Patriarch in Iraq and the World and president of MECC for the Catholic Family, during the MECC 11th General Assembly, held between 6 and 8 September 2016 in Amman, Jordan, under the title of “Give thanks to the Lord for He is good, His mercy endures forever” (Psalm 136: 1).

MECC Distributed Summer Seeds to Farmers in Dara’a

In order to continue supporting poor and affected families through enabling them to participate in the economic life; the Service and Relief Department - Diakonia, at the Middle East Council of Churches, Syria’s office, provided summer seeds to farmers in Samej and Um Al Mayathen villages in Daraa Governorate.

Youth Renewing the Beauty of Earth with the Middle East Council of Churches

Within the framework of the global environmental campaign “Season of Creation” the Middle East Council of Churches launched in the region for the first time in September 2021, the Council concluded its environmental activity for the year in partnership with Danmission organization, and in cooperation with Bejjeh Club and the parish of the town with an afforestation campaign and distribution of fruitful trees to the people of Bejjeh on Sunday December 26, 2021.

Bejjeh was the venue

We came to this peaceful Lebanese village perched on the hills of the Byblos region, where the first boats known in history sailed across the sea carrying the cypher to the world.

We got there on Sunday the twenty-sixth of December thanks to the joint initiative of the Theological and Ecumenical Relations Department and the Environmental Justice Committee of the Middle East Council of Churches in coordination with the village parish and its cultural and sports club.