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 MECC General Secretariat issues its 2021 Annual Report under the title of "Against Wind and Waves: Challenging the Challenges". As for the message of the Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs, it was entitled this week “The sea is not a false witness” and came after the incident of the migrant boat that capsized off Tripoli in north Lebanon, with 75 people on board. Noting that around 23 people were missed, as search and rescue operations continue by land and sea, and 6 people have died. The Lebanese army rescued 45 people.

El mar no aceptó ser ni falso testigo ni diablo mudo, así que nos informó de todo lo que sabe.

Nos envió a las víctimas de nuestra violencia política, legislativa y cultural, un pueblo sin vida.

Le suplicaron que escapara a un mañana mejor, huyendo de una sociedad que ha perdido el sentido de la misericordia, la justicia y el deber.

Pero eran demasiado débiles para sus exigencias.

Eran demasiado débiles para cruzar sus caminos y seguir su camino, así que cayeron en medio del camino.

No tiene ninguna culpa el mar, excepto que es cruel.

The sea did not accept to be neither a false witness nor a dumb devil, so he informed us of all that it knows

He sent us the victims of our political, legislative and cultural violence, a lifeless people

They begged him to escape to a better tomorrow, fleeing from a society that has lost the meaning of mercy, justice and duty

But they were too weak for his requirements

They were too weak to cross their paths and go on their way, so they fell in the middle of the road

He has no fault, the sea, except that he is cruel

The General Secretariat of the Middle East Council of Churches issues its annual report for the year 2021 under the title of "Against Wind and Waves: Challenging the Challenges". The report presents the MECC activities and the achievements it has accomplished at various ecumenical, theological and humanitarian levels.

Noting that international challenges and fluctuations occurred during 2021 and cast their shadows on the wounded Middle East, which was affected by the repercussions of these global and regional developments.

You can find a document including links to all the activities of the MECC Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs during 2021, such as the Weekly messages, Media interviews, Meetings, Webinars, Lectures, Gatherings, other Activities…, Visits, Statements and Press Releases.

For refusing the restrictions on the Holy Saturday celebrations in the Church of the Holy Sepulcher and for not restricting the freedom of believers in Jerusalem

In keeping with the alarming developments in the city of Jerusalem and the restrictions imposed by the occupying power on worshipers and pilgrims to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, the Middle East Council of Churches and its General Secretariat declare their support for the position of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem, and affirm the sanctity of freedom of religion and the right to worship and pray in the city of Jerusalem. Furthermore, the Council calls for a consolidation of this position and to rally around the principled and correct position of the Patriarchate.

The Patriarchate addressed a letter to the occupation police, rejecting any restrictions on the number of people who may celebrate Holy Saturday inside the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, its courtyard, its surroundings, its roof, or the entrances leading to it.