Reverend Dr. Paul Haidostian: The Jubilee Celebrations Are an Opportunity to Glorify God, Be Humble Before the Lord, And Strengthen Hope in Times of Decadence

We Prayed for A New Beginning in the Life of the Church

The Armenian Evangelical Church starts a new bright era in its path, as it celebrates its 175th anniversary, crowned with faith and martyrdom, pursuing its mission with great hope and determination. For the occasion, the Armenian capital Yerevan witnessed many celebrations between 1st and 7 July 2022, during which the children of the Armenian Evangelical Church met together and intended to celebrate, coming from the United States of America, Europe, Australia, Canada and the East.

Participation of the Union of the Armenian Evangelical Churches in the Near East

Reverend Dr. Paul Haidostian, President of the Union of the Armenian Evangelical Churches in the Near East, President of Haigazian University, and President of the Middle East Council of Churches for the Evangelical Family, participated in these Jubilee and historical celebrations.

In the new issue of the weekly newsletter Momentum issued by the Communication and Public Relations Department of the Middle East Council of Churches you can find a news and pictures about the tour of His Grace Anba Antonios, Metropolitan of Jerusalem and the Near East for the Coptic Orthodox Church, and MECC President for the Eastern Orthodox Family, in Beirut, and his visit to the headquarters of the MECC General Secretariat. As for the weekly message of the MECC Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs, it was entitled “The MECC President and the MECC Team in an Interactive Panel Discussion” and it was his speech during the visit of His Grace Anba Antonios to the MECC main headquarters.

And A Pledge to Convey the Concerns of the Eastern Churches to the WCC General Assembly in Germany

Weeks ahead the 11th General Assembly of the World Council of Churches, the WCC Acting General Secretary, Rev. Prof. Dr Ioan Sauca, visited Beirut, heading a delegation from WCC including the Director of the Communication Department Mrs. Marianne Ejdersten, and Syria’s Programme Executive Mr. Michel Nseir, on Thursday 7 July 2022. The MECC Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs accompanied the delegation.

This visit aims at strengthening the fraternal relations between the Churches in the East and West and to listen to the concerns of the children and Christians of the region amidst all the difficult living conditions they are passing through. Hence, the delegation will raise the needs and expectations of the Middle Eastern people to the WCC 11th General Assembly, that will be held between 31 August and 8 September, 2022 in Karlsruhe in Germany.

From the gateway to the eastern Mediterranean and its pearl, Beirut, this ecumenical delegation came to the Middle East in order to visit spiritual leaders who historically constituted the pillars of ecumenical work.

The leading delegation came to visit Lebanon and the Levant at the kind invitation of His Beatitude Patriarch John X, President of the World Council of Churches and the Middle East Council of Churches. Its visits will include Beirut, Damascus, Aleppo and their suburbs, either to meet our regional ecumenical leaders as well as to visit projects that constitute a model of ecumenical and human solidarity at the global level.

El presente discurso fue pronunciado como intervención introductoria durante la visita del miembro del Presidium del Consejo de Iglesias del Oriente Medio en representación de la Familia Ortodoxa Oriental durante su encuentro con el Equipo central del MECC. El objetivo de la reunión era rezar juntos e intercambiar ideas sobre asuntos ecuménicos.

El Consejo es un lugar de encuentro, armonía y construcción de puentes lejos de todos los obstáculos

En su primera visita pastoral al Líbano tras su elección como Presidente del MECC para la Familia Ortodoxa Oriental en la XII Asamblea General del MECC, Su Gracia Anba Antonios, Metropolitano de Jerusalén y del Cercano Oriente para la Iglesia Ortodoxa Copta, realizó una gira ecuménica en Beirut, acompañado por el Secretario General del MECC, Dr. Michel Abs, el lunes 4 de julio de 2022. En primer lugar, Su Gracia recibió al Dr. Abs en la Iglesia Ortodoxa Copta de Santa María y San Marcos en la región de Sin El Fil, en presencia del Padre Andraos Al Anthouny, Pastor de la Iglesia Ortodoxa Copta en el Líbano, y del Diácono Sami Tadros.

The present speech was delivered as an introductory intervention during the visit of the member of the Presidium of the Middle East Council of Churches representing the Oriental Orthodox Family during his meeting with the central MECC Team. The aim of the meeting was for praying together and exchanging ideas on ecumenical affairs.

We seek to institutionalize the occasional proceeding, for the team to meet with the leaders of the MECC and the leaders of the churches in open sessions during which matters are raised frankly and lovingly with the aim of establishing an institutional and social cohesion between the leaders of the Council and the working teams in the field.

Report: June 2022

Nearly every nation in the region is struggling to cope with the aftermath of the war in Eastern Europe. Some succeeded in implementing policies that would adequately address ramifications such as grain and fuel shortages. Others still struggle with past hurdles and are finding it difficult to maneuver in the difficult situation, especially when they are still mired with corruption. Nevertheless, the world is looking towards the Middle East to solve the energy crisis and this might provide the required impetus for a new beginning.

The Council Is a Place for Gathering, Harmony and Building Bridges Away from All the Obstacles

On his first pastoral visit to Lebanon following his election as MECC President for the Eastern Orthodox Family at the MECC 12th General Assembly, His Grace Anba Antonios, Metropolitan of Jerusalem and the Near East for the Coptic Orthodox Church, made an Ecumenical tour in Beirut, accompanied by the MECC Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs, today, Monday 4 July 2022. Firstly, His Grace welcomed Dr. Abs at the St. Mary & St. Mark Coptic Orthodox Church in Sin El Fil region, in the presence of Father Andraos Al Anthouny, Pastor of the Coptic Orthodox Church in Lebanon, and Deacon Sami Tadros.