In the new issue of the weekly newsletter Momentum issued by the Middle East Council of Churches, Communication and Public Relations Department, you can find the weekly message of the MECC Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs, which title is “Between the chair of Mark and the chair of Peter, A promise of love for humanity”. Dr. Abs talked about the meeting of His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark, with His Holiness Pope Francis, in the Vatican, on Wednesday 10 May 2023. The visit aims to celebrate together the 50 years since the return of relations between the Coptic Orthodox Church and the Catholic Church, after 15 centuries after the Council of Chalcedon in 451, and also to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the declaration of the Day of Brotherly Love called for by His Holiness Pope Tawadros II during his visit to the Vatican in 2013.

A promise of love for humanity

The visit of His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark, to His Holiness Pope Francis, Head of the Catholic Church, bears many meanings and promises.

It comes on the occasion of the fiftieth anniversary of the visit of the Late, Pope Shenouda III, to the Vatican, and between the two visits there was sustained communication, strengthened relations, and love rooted within the one faith, within the redemptive time, and in one Holy, Apostolic Church on which the gates of Hell will not prevail as The Master told us.

This visit means, first of all, that there is no turning back in the relations between churches, between institutions and people with each other, but rather a deepening of partnership and a relentless march towards unity that must be achieved no matter how long it takes.

Towards Strengthening the Partnership Between Both Sides

Within the framework of strengthening the partnership between Church of Sweden which is a member in ACT Alliance, and the Middle East Council of Churches, a delegation from the Church visited the offices of the MECC General Secretariat in Beirut, on Monday 8 May 2023. The delegation included Mrs. Anna Levine, Church of Sweden Programs Manager for the Middle East Unit, Mrs. Jessica Lendbergdik, Regional Representative of ACT Church of Sweden on the Development Programs for the Middle East and North Africa, and Mrs. Rania Salameh, Regional Representative of ACT Church of Sweden on the Humanitarian Programs for the Middle East and North Africa.

Awareness Sessions for Pregnant and Lactating Women about Infant and Young Child Feeding

Breastfeeding is an important source of nutrition for infants to obtain essential nutrients for growth in the first months of life. Breast milk is considered the first vaccine for infants, protecting them from many common childhood diseases, as it contains antibodies that help protect infants against many common childhood illnesses and strengthen their immune systems.

WHO recommends that infants initiate breastfeeding within the first hours of birth and be exclusively breastfed for the first 6 months of life – meaning no other foods or liquids are provided, including water, as it enhances sensory and cognitive development.  

Report: April 2023

Despite the global economic crisis and the years of proxy wars in Syria, two formally competing major players in the area are pursuing dialogue and mutual cooperation. As such, Saudi Arabia and Iran’s coming together is leading to positive implications such as the re-induction of Syria into the Arab World.  With this massive shift in policy from both of their ends, the region is moving towards greater economic cooperation and harmony.

A delegation from the Middle East Council of Churches’ partners, United Church of Christ Canada, United Church of Christ America and Disciples of Christ (Global Ministries), headed by Dr. Peter Makari, the Global Relations Minister of the Middle East and Europe Global Ministries, visited the MECC offices in Amman, Jordan, on 22 of April 2023.

In reception of the delegation was the MECC Jordan Team:
1. Ms. Wafa Goussous: the office’s Director
2. Azmi Udwan
3. Berta Ziadeh
4. Anni Koshkeryan

The MECC Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs in an Episode on Télé Lumière and Noursat

Sunday 7 May 2023 - 20:30 pm Beirut time and 17:30 GMT

Watch the Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches Dr. Michel Abs in an episode entitled “One Holy Universal Church” within the program “Between Yesterday and Today”, on Télé Lumière and Noursat. He will be interviewed by the journalist George Rached, on Sunday 7 May 2023 at 20:30 pm Beirut time and 17:30 GMT.

Dr. Khalil Khairallah, Law Professor at the Lebanese University, delivered a message via video during the seminar organized by the Middle East Council of Churches on the 10th yearly commemoration of the abduction of the Archbishops of Aleppo, His Eminence Archbishop Boulos Yaziji and His Eminence Archbishop Gregorius Youhanna Ibrahim, under the title “The Issue of the Abducted and Forcibly Absented, Violation of Human Dignity”, on Monday 24 April 2023.

Report: May 4th, 2023

The Middle East Council of Churches is being involved in the relief and rehabilitation efforts in Syria under the name of "Rescue Syria Campaign" through which the Council shall be dealing with the relief efforts in this emergency period and later on with rehabilitation plans in order to help people survive properly and resume a normal life with dignity.

MECC will be publishing a periodical report under the name of "Rescue Syria Update" which will keep you informed about the developments of MECC action as well as the overall situation in a context analysis perspective. 

Survivors in Syria Remember the Most Difficult Moments

Almost three months have passed since the catastrophic earthquake that struck the North of the Antiochian Levant on 6 February 2023, the Syrian people are still suffering from its tragic repercussions that weight heavily on their shoulders and cast a shadow over the country. Therefore, the wounds of the Syrian people are still not healed, and the humanitarian need is still increasing on many levels.

In the video, some of the earthquake survivors describe the bitter first moments and difficult circumstances they passed through following the disaster. The video also presents footages from the heart of the tragedy in Syria.

In the new issue of the weekly newsletter Momentum issued by the Middle East Council of Churches, Communication and Public Relations Department, you can find a message via video delivered by His Eminence Metropolitan Silouan Moussi, Greek Orthodox Bishop of Byblos, Batroun and Dependencies (Mount Lebanon), during the seminar organized by MECC on the 10th yearly commemoration of the abduction of the Archbishops of Aleppo, under the title “The Issue of the Abducted and Forcibly Absented, Violation of Human Dignity”, on Monday 24 April 2023. As for the weekly message of the MECC Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs, it is entitled “Freedom of the press and the martyrs of the word”. Dr. Abs talked about the World Press Freedom Day, which the world celebrates on 3 May of each year, describing the positive impact of the "word" and the repercussions resulting from it.

The issue also presents a news and photos about the reception of the Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs for a delegation of German tourists and pilgrims at the offices of the MECC General Secretariat in Beirut, on Thursday 27 April 2023.

As well as, you can find a news about the election of Reverend Rifaat Fikry for a second term as President of the Dialogue Council of the Evangelical Synod of the Nile, in addition to his biography.