Momentum, the Weekly Newsletter from the Middle East Council of Churches

In the new issue of the weekly newsletter Momentum issued by the Middle East Council of Churches, Communication and Public Relations Department, MECC on behalf of its Presidents, the members of its Executive Committee, its Secretary General, its Associate Secretaries General and its team, extends its warmest congratulations to His Beatitude Patriarch Raphaël Bedros XXI Minassian, Catholicos of the Armenian Catholic Church of Cilicia, and MECC President for the Catholic Family, on the occasion of the 50-Year Golden Jubilee of his Priesthood. As for the weekly message of the MECC Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs, it is entitled “Religion: Its Position and Role in Organizing Life and Society”, in which he talked about the religious phenomenon from the sociological point of view in the modern world.

In the issue, you can also find a video that sheds light on some quotes and reflections from His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark, and the Pope of the Vatican, His Holiness Pope Francis, about the Holy Family's journey to the land of Egypt that assures us that the Divine Provision transcends everything and that God’s Divine Power transforms hardships into accomplishments, as the journey has become the source of many blessings extending to this day.

As well as, the issue includes an article by His Eminence Bishop Dr. Munib A. Younan, Honorary President of the Middle East Council of Churches, entitled “The Future of Christianity in the Middle East", in which he spoke about the role of Arab Palestinian Christians, highlighting the reasons of Christians’ emigration in addition to the challenges they face and how to support them in light of the situations they are passing through.

Moreover, the issue presents an article by Dr. Gergis Saleh, Honorary Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches, entitled “The Coptic Church in the Old Testament”, in which he explains who the Copts are, talking about how Egypt was mentioned in the Bible, in addition to some of the prophecies from the Coptic Church in the Old Testament. Hence, Dr. Saleh presents in his article a historical overview of the path of the Holy Family and its entry into the land of Egypt.

You can also find the invitation of MECC to participate in its monthly webinar for the month of June, which was held on Thursday 29 June 2023, under the title “Media and Stereotyping the Other”.

Furthermore, you can find the Ecumenical Calendar for the month of July 2023, issued by the Middle East Council of Churches, Communication and Public Relations Department.

In addition, the issue includes many reports issued by MECC after the earthquake that hit the North of the Antiochian Levant, under the name of "Rescue Syria Update" which will keep you informed about the developments of MECC action as well as the overall situation in a context analysis perspective. The MECC will be also publishing other periodical and updated reports. This is in addition to photo albums showing the difficult humanitarian situations in Syria.

The issue also includes the international “Season of Creation” guide 2023 entitled “Let Justice and Peace Flow” in Arabic and English. Noting that MECC has translated it into Arabic. As well as, you can find Ecumenical reports, the weekly Prayer, videos, and news of the Middle Eastern Churches.

Additionally, the issue presents a socio-economic overview of the Middle East during May 2023 and the latest updates of the Coronavirus in the region.