Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs and an MECC Delegation on a Visit to His Holiness Catholicos Aram I

Preparations for the MECC Fifty-Year Jubilee

The Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Dr. Michel Abs, heading a delegation from MECC, visited His Holiness Catholicos Aram I, Catholicos of the Armenian Apostolic Church, Holy See of Cilicia, on Saturday 23 December 2023, at the headquarters of the Catholicosate in Antelias - Lebanon.

The MECC delegation included the MECC Associate Secretary General Mrs. Seta Hadeshian, the Director of the Theological and Ecumenical Department Father Dr. Antoine Al Ahmar, and the Coordinator of the Ecumenical Musical Event that MECC will hold in 2024 Mr. Marc Merhej.

During the visit, the delegation presented to His Holiness Catholicos Aram I an overview about the ongoing preparations for the MECC fifty-year jubilee of its founding in 2024, highlighting the most important activities that the Council will implement for the occasion. In this context, Dr. Abs asked the blessing of His Holiness for the Ecumenical musical event that MECC will hold next January, and invited him to participate in it. It is worth mentioning that this event will bring together a group of musical choirs from various Church families and Liturgical traditions.

Moreover, Dr. Abs discussed with His Holiness Catholicos Aram I some matters related to the jubilee of the Middle East Council of Churches, as coordination was made with His Holiness to implement special jubilee activities with the Armenian Apostolic Church.

In addition, the attendees talked about many Ecumenical issues, as well as the unity of the Church, and stressed the importance of bridging the distances between Churches and building bridges between them.