“Listen to the Voice of Creation”

The Middle East will be soon celebrating the annual international Christian and environmental “Season of Creation”, which was launched by the Middle East Council of Churches for the first time in the region last year. This is through many environmental activities and an awareness campaign to protect the creation, in addition to translating the Season’s Prayer booklet into Arabic, which is adopted internationally and in different languages. Thus, the people of the East may also celebrate the Season’s activities with the whole world, from the 1st of September till 4 October.

The theme of this year’s Season is “Listen to the Voice of Creation” taking the slogan of “The Burning Bush”. Hence, MECC issues the booklet of the 2022 Season in Arabic and in two versions. A full version translated from the original English booklet, including all details and information related the season, in addition to prayers and suggestions for the celebrations... The second version is shorter and ready for printing and distribution.

“Social Justice” in Times of Crisis

Thursday 25 August 2022, 7 p.m

Save the Date!

As part of the series of monthly seminars launched last June, the Middle East Council of Churches invites you to participate in its second webinar entitled "Social Justice in Time of Crisis", on Thursday 25 August 2022, at 7 p.m.

This webinar comes within the framework of the “Human Dignity Project” as part of the Dialogue and Social Cohesion-Social Capital Rehabilitation Programs. You can participate in it through the following link: https://bit.ly/3T7PQNv.

Extends Its Deepest Condolences to His Holiness Pope Tawadros II and the Coptic Orthodox Church Over the Victims of the Imbaba Church

With great sadness and pain, the Middle East Council of Churches, on behalf of its Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs, extends its deepest condolences to the Coptic Orthodox Church headed by His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark, and to the families of the victims of the fire that ripped, during the Divine Liturgy on Sunday, through St. Mercurius the Martyr Church in Abu Sefein, Imbaba district, in Egypt.

The death of the 41 victims, including the priest of the Church, while praying during the Virgin Mary’s fast, is a consolation and confirmation that they passed away to the Heavenly Father gaining eternal life, through grace and Prayer.

As prevention is better than cure, The Service and Relief Department – Diakonia at the Middle East Council of Churches office in Syria aims at raising health awareness to reach as many persons as possible in society through implementing health awareness trainings to women, who will, in turn, transfer the gained knowledge to their communities.

Health awareness trainings were implemented in Dara’a and Damascus for 15 trainees in each governorate. The trainees were introduced to the most common diseases; causes, treatment and prevention methods in addition to introducing the correct methods of using a blood pressure monitor in addition to the basics of first aid.

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 about the visit of the MECC Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs, heading a delegation from the General Secretariat, to His Beatitude Patriarch Cardinal Mar Bechara Boutros Al-Rai, Maronite Patriarch of Antioch and all the East. As for the weekly message of Dr. Abs, it is entitled “On their International Day: Youth, Challenges and Questions”, and is dedicated for the International Youth Day celebrated on August 12.

The issue also presents a news and pictures about the congratulatory visit held by Dr. Michel Abs, heading a delegation from the MECC General Secretariat, to Father Hadi Mahfouz following his election as General President of the Lebanese Maronite Order, besides the new General Presidency complex.

Dr. Michel Abs: Reactivating the work of the Dialogue Committee, is a necessity

Headed by its Secretary-General, Dr. Michel Abs, a delegation from the Middle East Council of Churches visited His Eminence Sheikh Al-Aql of the Unitarian Druze Community, Sheikh Dr. Sami Abi Al-Muna, to emphasize the relationship that binds the Council to the Unitarian Druze Community sect alongside its historical role in promoting the dialogue between the various religions and references in Lebanon.

The visit, which took place today, Thursday, August 11th, began with a word from the Secretary-General, Dr. Abs, where he spoke about the firm relations that were always present with Sheikh Al-Aql and the personal bond they shared while being part of the Islamic-Christian Dialogue Committee in Lebanon, in addition to attending meetings and other joint initiatives that took place in cooperation between both sides. The Secretary-General also stressed that the interest in Christian issues does not negate the important need to cooperate with our partners in our homeland.

The world celebrates on August 12 of each year the International Youth Day, and the interaction with this occasion varies between one country and another, and between one institution and another.

Young people rarely find the necessary attention for them, as society considers them a young, strong and solid group, capable of overcoming difficulties due to their age, health and aspirations. The social injustice that is clearly visible and which needs direct and, in most cases, urgent support.

As an educator for more than four decades, having lived through various categories of youth, I can simply consider that young people constitute a vulnerable and marginalized group, unintentionally excluded by society by virtue of the cultural and economic dynamics that govern the course of society.

There are many challenges facing the youth of our modern world, varying from one society to another in terms of the nature of these challenges and their weight on the lives of young people, their aspirations and, consequently, their future. However, in all cases, it bears a heavy burden on a social group that is silently marginalized and excluded under the pretext that it is a group that, because of its lack of maturity coupled with high energy, is able to withstand.

And Inviting the Maronite Church to Participate in the “Season of Creation” 2022 Celebrations

The Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches Dr. Michel Abs visited His Beatitude Patriarch Cardinal Mar Bechara Boutros Al-Rai, Maronite Patriarch of Antioch and all the East, heading a delegation from the MECC General Secretariat that included the Director of the Theological and Ecumenical Department Father Dr. Antoine Al Ahmar, the Coordinator of the Ecojustice Unit Reverend Rima Nasrallah, and the Coordinator of the Rehabilitation of Social Capital project Professor Laure Abi Khalil. The visit was on Wednesday 10 August 2022, at the Patriarchal edifice in Al Diman, Lebanon.

During the meeting, Dr. Abs gave His Beatitude Patriarch Al-Rai a brief overview of the activities of the MECC 12th General Assembly, which was held under the theme of “Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid” (Matthew 14:27), between 16 and 20 May 2022, at the Papal Logos Center in Egypt.

On the Occasion of the Silver Jubilee of the Election of His Holiness Aram I as Catholicos of the Armenian Church, Holy See of Cilicia

Dr. Michel Abs: Aram I, Catholicos of Cilicia: A leader of Principles and Challenges

On the occasion of the Silver Jubilee and the 25th anniversary of the election and consecration of His Holiness Aram I as Catholicos of the Armenian Church, Holy See of Cilicia, the Catholicosate issued a new book entitled “Արժեւորում եւ Վկայութիւններ”, “Appraisal and Testimonies”. Hence, 52 contributors participated in the book from various fields such as religious, ecumenical, academic, political, church administration, community leadership, and highlighted the most prominent bright stations and achievements made by His Holiness Catholicos Aram I during this period.

The Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches Dr. Michel Abs was among the participants.