Consolidating Human Fraternity and Promoting the Ecumenical Spirit

Media of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) - Egypt

Photos: World Council of Churches (WCC)

The eyes of the world are today on the Arab Republic of Egypt, specifically on the Papal Logos Center in Wadi El Natrun, where the global Ecumenical family is gathering to Pray and celebrate together the 1700th anniversary of the First Ecumenical Council in Nicaea in 352.

This historic event, organized by the Faith and Order Commission of the World Council of Churches (WCC) under the title "Where now for visible unity?", is taking place from October 24 to 29, 2025, and hosted by the Coptic Orthodox Church.

More than 400 attendees from Church leaders, Religious and Ecumenical leaders, and even youth, from around the world are participating in the conference’ sessions and delved into the various topics and issues it raises about the Council of Nicaea and the importance of Christian unity.

This unity is truly embodied by the participants, with their diverse traditions, the richness of their Churches, and the experiences they share in an atmosphere of fraternity, joy, and determination to continue cooperation, solidarity, and working together.

“Christian unity is much more visible than we think… The Christ is one and we are one, and in His name we celebrate life and salvation.

As Christians, we develop huge number of togetherness settings.

Christians accept each other regardless their differences.

We are in a way one… Unity is there we just need to know how to live it”

Being held under the theme “Where now for visible unity?”, at the Papal Logos Center in Wadi El Natrun, Egypt

Being held under the theme “Where now for visible unity?”, between 24 and 29 October 2025, at the Papal Logos Center in Wadi El Natrun, Egypt

ببركة وحضور قداسة البابا تواضروس الثاني، بابا الإسكندريّة وبطريرك الكرازة المرقسيّة، تنطلق، وبرجاء كبير، فعاليّات المؤتمر العالمي السادس للجنة الإيمان والنظام التابعة لمجلس الكنائس العالمي، الّذي ينعقد بين 24 و29 تشرين الأوّل 2025، في مركز لوغوس البابوي في وادي النطرون – مصر.

الأمين العام لمجلس كنائس الشرق الأوسط البروفسور ميشال عبس مشاركًا على رأس وفد من المجلس.

His Beatitude Patriarch Raphaël Bedros XXI's During the Thanksgiving Mass Following the Canonization of Archbishop Ignatius Maloyan

20-10-2025

The Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Professor Michel Abs departs from Lebanon to the Arab Republic of Egypt to participate in the Sixth World Conference on Faith and Order at the World Council of Churches (WCC), which will be organized under the theme “Where now for visible unity?”. The Conference, which commemorates the 1700th anniversary of the First Ecumenical Council of Nicaea in 325, will be held from October 24 to 28, 2025, at the Papal Logos Center in Wadi El Natrun, Egypt.

During the Conference, the Secretary General Professor Michel Abs will deliver many interventions about the importance of the Council of Nicaea and its implications, as well as Christian unity and the need to work to achieve it. He will also hold a series of meetings with Heads of Churches, and Religious and Ecumenical leaders from around the world.

Under the Title "Peace with Creation, Spiritual and Practical Perspectives from the East"

10-11 October 2025 - At the Coptic Orthodox Cathedral, Abbassia - Cairo

Words Emphasizes that the Goal of Ecumenical Work Is Measured by Its Spiritual Depth

The participation of the Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Professor Michel Abs, in the Canonization Ceremony of Archbishop Ignatius Maloyan, included a series of meetings with Cardinals and Priests at the Vatican. Professor Abs met with Cardinal Kurt Koch, Prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity in the Vatican. Attendees were also the Coordinator of Media and Church Relations at MECC Lea Adel Maamary, and the Assistant in the MECC Media Department Subdeacon Chady Chata.

With true brotherhood, Cardinal Koch welcomed Professor Abs and expressed his joy at this meeting, which promotes the virtue of love.

For his part, Professor Abs presented a detailed explanation about MECC: its history, stages, structure, and working strategy. He also highlighted the work of each of the Council's departments and their initiatives, projects, and activities on many spiritual, social, humanitarian, Theological, Ecumenical, and other levels.

Words Emphasizes the Importance of the MECC Role in Promoting Interfaith Dialogue

As part of his visit to the Vatican, the Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Professor Michel Abs met with the French DominicanMonk Father Hyacinthe Destivelle, an Officer at the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity in the Vatican.

Attended were the Coordinator of Media and Church Relations at MECC Lea Adel Maamary, and the Assistant in the MECC Media Department Subdeacon Chady Chata.

Both sides discussed many issues related to dialogue, Christian unity, the MECC programs and current challenges, the importance of Theology in human life, and other topics of interest to the Church and the Council.

An Episode Within the "Community Knowledge" Series

Emphasizing the Importance of Dialogue and Media Role

With deep joy, the Prefect of the Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue in the Vatican Cardinal George Koovakad, received the Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Professor Michel Abs, and a delegation from the Council, including the Journalist Lea Adel Maamary, Coordinator of Media and Church Relations, and Archdeacon Chady Chata, Assistant in the Media Department, on Monday, October 20, in Rome.

During the meeting, Professor Abs gave a detailed explanation about the various activities and projects implemented by the Middle East Council of Churches, focusing on the importance of dialogue, particularly at the core of the Council's projects and programs.

Professor Abs also emphasized that this visit to be part of strengthening cooperation between the Middle East Council of Churches and the Vatican.

For his part, Cardinal George Jacob Koovakad expressed his great joy at the visit of the Secretary General Professor Michel Abs, whom he had met at the VIII Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions, held last September in Astana.

Discussions Centered Around Cooperation and Coordination

As part of his tour in Rome to participate in the Canonization Ceremony of Archbishop Ignatius Maloyan and six other Saints, the Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Professor Michel Abs, accompanied the Archdeacon Chady Chata, Assistant in the MECC Media Department, visited the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development in the Vatican, on Monday, October 20, 2025.

During this visit, Professor Abs and the MECC delegation met with Mrs. Pasquale Debbane, the Middle East Regional Coordinator of the Listening and Dialogue Section, and Mr. Tebaldo Vinciguerra, from the Reflection and Research on Ecology and Creation Section. They discussed common aspirations, visions, and concerns.

As well as, the activities of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development in the Vatican were also presented, along with the most prominent programs implemented by the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) at various Ecumenical and humanitarian levels. The attendees also discussed joint projects implemented in the previous period and ways to develop future programs between both parties.

The MECC Secretary General Professor Michel Abs and an MECC Delegation Participate in the Meeting

The Delegation Included the Journalist Lea Adel Maamary, Coordinator of Media and Church Relations, and Subdeacon Chadi Chata, Assistant in the Media Department