The Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) expresses its deep concern and strong condemnation of the events that took place in Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, when His Beatitude the Latin Patriarch Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa was prevented from celebrating the Mass at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. This constitutes a clear violation of the special sanctity of these holy sites, as well as the right of access to places of worship and the freedom to practice religious rites.

This unfortunate incident strikes at the very core of fundamental religious rights and represents an infringement on the freedom of believers to observe their religious practices, especially on one of the most sacred occasions in the Christian calendar. It also contravenes the established historical and legal status (Status Quo), which ensures respect for the arrangements in place at the holy sites and their preservation.

While the MECC expresses its full solidarity with the Christians in the Holy City, it emphasizes the necessity of respecting their dignity and religious rights and safeguarding their authentic historical presence in Jerusalem, the City of Peace.

In these difficult times facing the region, the Middle East Council of Churches renews its call to uphold prayer as a source of hope and peace and urges all believers to offer prayers for an end to violence, the establishment of justice, and the realization of peace in the Holy Lands, in Lebanon, and across the Middle East.

"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God" (Matthew 5:9).

Produced By MECC

A Journey of Repentance and Prayer from the Darkness of Sin to the Joy of the Resurrection

Media of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC)

Here comes the Great Week or the Passion Week, and our East is still wounded and suffering, waiting for a resurrection that will save it from its sorrows. The people of the region are preparing for the Feast of Feasts and the Season of Seasons, eagerly awaiting the joy of the Resurrection with hearts full of faith and hope. They have nothing but this hope in the Lord Jesus, from Whom they draw all their strength and determination amidst the challenges that surround them.

However, no challenges are invincible before the power of Prayers, through which the faithful walk in a journey of Lent and reflection, culminating in one of the Holiest Christian Seasons: The Great Week. How Great this week is, carrying in its Liturgy Prayers and traditions that guide the faithful from the sea of sins to the harbor of salvation, from the darkness of days to the joy of the Resurrection.

The celebrations of the "Great and Holy Week" or "Passion Week" embody the most significant salvific events through which the Lord of all creation redeemed us by His death and Resurrection. It is a week that strengthens the faithful and urges them to examine themselves, deepen their repentance, and enhance their faith in preparation for Christ’s Resurrection.