The MECC Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs Congratulates His Beatitude Patriarch John X on Christmas and New Year
Discussions Were Held on the Middle East’s Situation and MECC Issues Towards its 50-Year Jubilee
On the occasion of Christmas and New Year, the Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches Dr. Michel Abs visited His Beatitude Patriarch John X, Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and all the East and MECC President for the Orthodox Family, on Wednesday 4 January 2023, at the Patriarchate Headquarters in Damascus, Syria.
Dr. Abs headed a delegation from the Council’s General Secretariat which included the MECC Associate Secretary General Father Nicolas Bustros and the Director of the Theological and Ecumenical Department Father Dr. Antoine Al Ahmar. A delegation from the MECC Syria’s office also joined Dr. Abs, and it included the Program’s Director Mr. Ghassan Chahine, the Director of Monitoring and Evaluation Mrs. Rita Farah, and the Photographer Paula Antoun. The visit was at the presence of His Eminence Bishops Saba Esber, Moussa El-Khoury, Moses Al-Khosi, Youhanna Batach, and the Patriarchal Vicar Romanos Al-Hannat.
During the meeting, the Secretary General presented his greetings to His Beatitude Patriarch John X on Christmas and New Year, and wished him good health, wellness and patience in his pastoral care of the Church and its service amidst the difficult circumstances the region is passing through.
From his end, His Beatitude wished the Secretary general and MECC a blessed season and assured the delegation of his support to the MECC’s Ecumenical and humanitarian mission and humanitarian service, wishing the Council’s success in its various tasks. His Beatitude also stressed the importance of the Church service and the Council's work in supporting the oppressed and marginalized people.
Various issues were also discussed in the meeting. The attendees talked about the history of Antioch and its relation with its community and Muslim brothers and sisters, as well as the MECC service aiming to help the neediest and most vulnerable groups. This is in addition to the circumstances of the region in general and the situation of its Christians and Ecclesiastical institutions. They also discussed the repercussions resulting from the imposed blockade and sanctions on Syrians and Lebanese.
The attendees also talked about the difficult living conditions in the Middle East, especially amidst the inflation and financial crises, in addition to the social decline in values internationally, unemployment and the danger of the drug phenomenon.
At the end, His Beatitude offered to all the delegation’s members an Icon of the Theotokos, the "Family, the Joy of Life" booklet issued by the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch and All the East, as well as the Antiochian Orthodox calendar and the Antiochian See guide. Then His Beatitude invited the visiting delegation to an agapee.
As part of the visit, His Beatitude Patriarch John X held a meeting with His Eminence Metropolitan Saba Esber and the Secretary General, in which they discussed many MECC administrative issues. His Beatitude gave his guidance to Dr. Abs and they all discussed the ongoing preparations for the celebration of the MECC 50-Year Jubilee and the future preparations in commemoration of the Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances, in memory of the abducted Bishops in Syria.
