Saturday, October 4, 2025 – 4 pm Beirut Time

In a world immersed in wars and conflicts, the “Season of Creation” 2025 ends on October 4, with the Feast of Saint Francis of Assisi, the Patron Saint of ecology, as is customary annually, after it had started on 1 September, with the Feast of Creation.

On this occasion, the Ecumenical Youth Committee in the “Season of Creation” is organizing an international online celebration, with to Pray and praise God the Creator, with the participation of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) represented by the Coordinator of the Eco Justice Unit Father Movses Yosolkanian. It will be held on Saturday, October 4, 2025, at 4 pm Beirut time, and you may join it by clicking here.

Let us participate together in this celebration and unite in Prayer on the intention of creation and our common home, hoping to achieve peace in the Middle East and the world. Noting that this year's "Season of Creation" carries the theme “Peace with Creation” and the symbol of “Garden of Peace”, inspired by Isaiah 32: 14-18.

Middle East Socioeconomic Overview

Report: September 2025

The Occupier is currently creeping into Gaza destroying anything that it deems a threat. Breakdown in communications is being observed as the truth of what is really happening is being muted. The humanitarian situation is worsening for the Palestinians living in Gaza to the point that some walk barefoot trying to escape the massacre. All this happens under the watchful eyes of the international community who till now is unable to prevent what is happening.

Tenth Episode Entitled: "The Education Sector and Current Challenges"

Prepared and Presented by the Journalist Lea Adel Maamary

Produced by MECC

In the Presence of Reverend Dr. Paul Haidostian

Secretary General Professor Michel Abs: “Reverend Hovhannes Aharonian... His deep Armenian Evangelical roots did not prevent him from opening to the whole Church of Christ and from formulating the ecumenical strategic vision embodied in MECC”

In honor of the Armenian Evangelical and Ecumenical Leader, the Late Reverend Hovhannes Aharonian (1909-1986), the Union of the Armenian Evangelical Churches in the Near East (UAECNE) inaugurated the renovated reception hall of the First Armenian Evangelical Church in Beirut, named "Aharonian Hall."

The inauguration ceremony was held on Saturday, September 27, 2025, 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, as well as Religious and Ecumenical figures, social and cultural personalities, and guests.

The Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) was present at the ceremony, with the participation of the Secretary General Professor Michel Abs, the Associate Secretary General Mrs. Seta Hadeshian, the Director of the Theological and Ecumenical Department Father Dr. Antoine Al Ahmar, and the Social Media Officer Johnny Antoun.

Reverend Haidostian opened the celebration with a Prayer and an expressive speech that embodied the journey of the honoree and his achievements.

During the celebration, the Secretary General Professor Michel Abs delivered a speech entitled "Reverend Hovhannes Aharonian, a Radiant Ecumenical Figure," in which he noted that Aharonian “was the first President of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) for the Evangelical family…”.

Produced by MECC

Video - His Holiness Pope Tawadros II: "The path to heaven is the path of love"

22-9-2025

One of the leading ecclesiastical and ecumenical figures of the 20th century in the Middle East, the late Rev. Hovhannes P. Aharonian (1909-1986), was honored on Sept. 27, 2025, with the naming of a meeting hall of the First Armenian Evangelical Church of Beirut. Lay and clergy heads of the Union of the Armenian Evangelical Churches in the Near East (UAECNE) were joined by ecumenical leaders in a special service of dedication for the opening of the newly-renovated Aharonian Hall.

Gathering in the church yard, the Rev. Dr. Paul Haidostian, Acting President of the UAECNE, President of Haigazian University in Lebanon, and President of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) for the Evangelical Family, welcomed the approximately forty persons present and undid the ribbon at the doors, after which the attendees sang a hymn of praise in Armenian and proceeded to the Hall. Pausing at the entranceway, Rev. Haidostian noted the commemorative wall displaying highlights of Rev. Aharonian’s Armenian Evangelical and ecumenical leadership.

Video - His Beatitude Patriarch Mor Ignatius Joseph III Younan: “Pastors of service, righteousness, piety and integrity”

29-9-2025

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

By the Journalist Lea Adel Maamary

Douma is preparing to welcome His Beatitude Patriarch John X, the Blessed Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, at the invitation of Metropolitan Silouan Moussi, the Greek Orthodox Archbishop of Byblos and Batroun and Dependencies. His Beatitude carried his pastoral slogan since his enthronement as Patriarch of the See of Antioch: "With grace we grow, with service we rise, and with love we build in harmony."

Yes, His Beatitude visited Saint John Monastery in Douma in the Easter Season of 2012, during the ministry of the Highly Respected Metropolitan George Khodr.

Today, Douma, with all its Congregations, is preparing to welcome him as the 158th Patriarch of the See of Peter and Paul. He is the Father of Fathers and the Shepherd of Shepherds, who preserved the deposit of faith despite crises.

Produced by the Middle East Council of Churches

“Ecumenical Horizons” is a weekly program that features spiritual, cultural, intellectual, educational, youth and environmental topics.

Report Produced By MECC

Video - His Beatitude Patriarch Cardinal Mar Bechara Boutros Al-Rai: Consecration of Lebanon and the East to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary

Report Produced By MECC