MECC Presents the Constantinople Hymn

Praying for the Ascension Thursday

The Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Professor Michel Abs presided over the weekly meeting of the MECC General Secretariat, with an online participation of the Associate Secretary General Reverend Dr. Refaat Fikry, and colleagues from various departments, in person and online. The meeting took place on Tuesday, May 27, 2025, at the MECC headquarters in Beirut.

As is customary, the meeting began with a Biblical Reading, which this week focused on the Gospel of Luke 46: 24-53 and Acts 1: 1-14. The attendees then raised their Prayers on the occasion of the Ascension Thursday, saying together, "Lift with you, O Lord, our souls and minds from emptiness and temporal concerns to divine understanding and truth."

The Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Professor Michel Abs received Deacon Royce Bahjat Samir Malak Hanin, Head of the Committee of the Coptic Orthodox Church in Lebanon, appointed by His Grace Anba Antonios, Metropolitan of Jerusalem and the Near East for the Coptic Orthodox Church, and President of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) for the Eastern Orthodox Family. The meeting took place on Tuesday, May 27, 2025, at the MECC headquarters in Beirut.

Attendees were Ms. Nina Hallak, the Director of the Beirut Office in the Diakonia and Social Service Department at MECC, the Journalist Lea Adel Maamary, the Media Officer, Coordinator of the Church and Media Relations, and Director of the Platform of the Word at MECC, and the Council's Media Team.

Child Labor Is a Phenomenon That Is Worsening Daily. Are There Any Solutions to Reduce It?

Dr. Haifa’ Salam to the MECC Media: It is necessary to develop a national strategy for social protection in Lebanon

Exclusive: Media of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC)

A phenomenon unlike any other social phenomenon... a phenomenon that affects the rights of the most vulnerable groups... They are the children searching for their childhood in street corners, factories, mines, agricultural lands, and deserts... searching for rights that have been taken away from them under a scorching sun, bitter cold, and the worst conditions a person can experience. The reason?

They were forced to work! They were forced to give up the innocence of childhood to face the harshness of life.

Child labor is nothing but the murder of a childhood deprived of play, entertainment, proper upbringing, and education.

A dangerous reality that we cannot ignore. Who bears responsibility for the danger they are exposed to? And is there anyone who listens to their pain?

An Episode Within the "Community Knowledge" Series

The MECC Secretary General Professor Michel Abs Participates in the Graduation Ceremony of the Near East School of Theology in Beirut

In the presence of Reverend Dr. Paul Haidostian, President of the Union of the Armenian Evangelical Churches in the Near East (UAECNE), President of Haigazian University in Lebanon, and President of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) for the Evangelical Family, Dr. Martin Accad, President of the Near East School of Theology (NEST), and Reverend Dr. Rima Nasrallah, Dean of NEST, the MECC Secretary General Professor Michel Abs participated in the graduation ceremony of the Near East School of Theology (NEST) in Beirut, on Saturday, May 24, 2025, in the NEST Church.

During the ceremony which was attended by Professors, parents and friends, Mr. John Sagherian delivered a word in which he called the graduates to consider their primary task to make Jesus' presence felt through their service.

The ceremony included various hymns and ended with a toast for the occasion.

A New Ecumenical Day Within the “Youth Leadership Building” Program in Lebanon

The Theological and Ecumenical Department at the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) continues its "Youth Leadership Building" program in Lebanon. It organized a new Ecumenical youth day, the last before the summer camp, which will culminate the program with the graduation of participants representing various Church Families.

Noting that this program is implemented in partnership with Youth for Christ (YFC), Kerk in Actie (KIA), Ithraa Center in Lebanon, the Bible Society in Lebanon and the World Student Christian Federation (WSCF).

The youth day was held at the Theopolis Center in Lebanon and began with icebreakers activities to strengthen fraternal bonds between the participants. It also included two interactive sessions with Mr. Maher Al Jamal who came all the way from Qatar specifically to accompany and support the youth.

“Momentum”

23-5-2025

This issue includes reports, videos, news, articles, and a full coverage of the latest developments in the MECC activities, as well as the Church, Ecumenical, and social events, particularly the Mass marking the beginning of the Pontificate of His Holiness Pope Leo XIV, and the Meeting of the Patriarchs of the Eastern Orthodox Churches in the Middle East in Egypt، and other Church News.

This is in addition to the weekly word of the MECC Secretary General Professor Michel Abs which is written in this issue on the occasion of the press conference to announce the joint scientific conference between the Middle East Council of Churches and the Romaion Cultural Association, entitled “Strengthening Christian Faith Unity: The 1700th Jubilee Of the First Ecumenical Council of Nicaea”.

You can check the issue via the following link: https://mailchi.mp/ab2f7994b5f2/momentum-mecc-weekly-newsletter.

An Episode Within the "Community Knowledge" Series

A New Book for the MECC Associate Secretary General Mrs. Seta Margossian Hadeshian

Published by the Printing House of the Armenian Orthodox Catholicosate of Cilicia

With great joy, the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) announces the release of a new book for its Associate Secretary General our colleague Mrs. Seta Margossian Hadeshian, entitled "Mer douneh" (Our Home). The book is in Western Armenian and newly published by the Printing House of the Armenian Orthodox Catholicosate of Cilicia in Antelias - Lebanon.

The publication centers on the memories of the author's family “Margossian” and her parents, in which she recounts how they survived the genocide, how they were able to win life’s challenges and setbacks, teachings of life not defeat; not to forget the past and never lose or forget the Armenian language and the memory of genocide. Knowing that they embraced the losses, learned from them, and used them as stepping stones on their path to success, teaching their children that road to winning is paved with resilience and determination.

The Middle East Council of Churches and the Romaion Cultural Association

The 1700th Jubilee of the First Ecumenical Council of Nicaea

Speech of the Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Professor Michel Abs

Distinguished guests, those interested and following the affairs of the Council of Nicaea, and members of the media,

Welcome to the General Secretariat of the Middle East Council of Churches, in the first year after its fiftieth anniversary, and after decades of tireless work towards unity among the churches, as well as social unity, promoting and defending the values of justice and peace.

This is the first joint project between the Middle East Council of Churches and the Romaoin Cultural Association, and it marks the beginning of promising joint activities in the field of intellectual interaction, openness, and dialogue among the components of Christianity in our region and the world.

It is also the fifth scientific conference of this association, which is active in the field of Romaion culture, now and in the future, and whose members include an elite group of scholars and thinkers from our country, with some of the MECC’s staff as its members.

It is a given in faith-based cultural work that those concerned with unity initiatives meet around an intellectual and research project of such historical importance, as this represents a consolidation of Christian faith unity and brings believers closer together based on shared faith aspirations.

On the thirty-first of May 2025, more than two thousand years after the birth of Christianity in our blessed and troubled East, and seventeen centuries after the Council of Nicaea was held, Christians are gathering around this great event in the history of the Christian mission. They will review its details, dynamics, and the events surrounding it, shedding new light that will increase the understanding of believers and scholars of this chapter in the Church's life…

The Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Professor Michel Abs received a delegation from the Romaian Cultural Society, including its President Professor Najib Jahshan, the Head of the Society's Cultural Activities Committee Engineer Abdallah Hayek, and the Head of the Society's Committee for Honoring Creative People Dr. Elie Mouwakadie, on Wednesday, May 21, 2025, at the Council's headquarters in Beirut.

This meeting took place within the framework of a press conference held in the Platform of the Word at the Middle East Council of Churches to announce the Fifth Scientific Conference organized by the Council and the Romaian Cultural Society, under the title "Strengthening Christian Faith Unity: The 1700th Jubilee Of the First Ecumenical Council of Nicaea." The conference will be held on Saturday, May 31, 2025, at 9:00 am, at the Liqaa Center in Rabweh, Metn, Lebanon.

"Strengthening Christian Faith Unity: The 1700th Jubilee Of the First Ecumenical Council of Nicaea"

Based on the importance of capacity building in line with modern developments, the Media of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) participated in a training on "Artificial Intelligence and Its Use in Publishing" with the Jordanian trainer Mr. Emad Hanna. The course was organized by the Christian Publisher League (CPLL) at the Bible Society in Lebanon on Thursday, May 22, 2025, at the Society's headquarters in Beirut.

This course is the sixth in a series of training sessions on the subject of Christian publishing, bringing together representatives from various organizations and publishing houses.

Strengthening Christian Faith Unity: The 1700th Jubilee Of the First Ecumenical Council of Nicaea

Secretary General Professor Michel Abs: It was a decisive Council for faith, settling doubt with certainty and producing the Creed, which the Church continues to follow to this day

Professor Najib Jahshan: Our duty as a cultural Society that sheds light on our ancient Roman heritage, we are holding this international conference to highlight this unique historical event

Engineer Abdallah Hayek: The conference will include sessions focusing on the historical situation and Church issues that preceded the Council, the Council's convening and agenda, and its near- and long-term outcomes

Dr. Elie Mouwakadie: During the conference, Dr. Asad Rustum will be inscribed in the Golden Register of Roman Creators during the conference

At the invitation of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) and the Romaian Cultural Society, a press conference was held to announce the “The Fifth Scientific Conference - Strengthening Christian Faith Unity: The 1700th Jubilee Of the First Ecumenical Council of Nicaea”, on Wednesday, May 21, 2025, live from the Platform of the Word at the MECC headquarters in Beirut. Noting that the Fifth Scientific Conference will take place on Saturday, May 31, 2025, at the Liqaa Center in Rabweh, Metn, Lebanon.

Attendees in the press conference, which was broadcasted live on Télé Lumière and Noursat TV Channel, and the MECC Facebook Page, were the Director of the Theological and Ecumenical Department at MECC Fr. Dr. Antoine Al Ahmar, and the Coordinator of the "Dialogue, Social Cohesion, and Human Dignity" program at MECC Dr. Laure Abi Khalil.

Following the Lebanese National Anthem, the press conference began, and was hosted by the Journalist Lea Adel Maamary, the Media Officer, the Coordinator of the Church and Media Relations, and the Director of the Platform of the Word at MECC.

"The Status and Role of Women in Christianity and Islam"

Within the framework of the “Cooperation Protocol”, the “Meeting for Religious and Social Dialogue” and the “Lebanese Council of Women” organized a symposium entitled "The Status and Role of Women in Christianity and Islam" on Tuesday, May 23, 2025, at the Auditorium of the Child and Mother Welfare Association in Beirut.

Attendees were the Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Professor Michel Abs, represented by Dr. Laure Abi Khalil, the Coordinator of the MECC "Dialogue, Social Cohesion and Human Dignity" Program, along with intellectuals, researchers, experts, and interested people.

An Episode Within the "Community Knowledge" Series