The WCC Secretary General Reverend Professor Dr. Jerry Pillay Meets with His Eminence Metropolitan Antonios Al Soury
Cooperating Together to Work for Peace Is Needed
With great hope, the Secretary General of the World Council of Churches (WCC) Reverend Professor Dr. Jerry Pillay continues his tour in Lebanon, He visited His Eminence Metropolitan Antonios Al Soury, Greek Orthodox Metropolitan of Zahle, Baalbek and Dependencies, and Member of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Executive Committee, representing His Beatitude Patriarch John X, Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and All the East and President of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) for the Orthodox Family, on Thursday 21 March 2024, at the Headquarters of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate - Zahle. (All photos)
The visiting delegation included the Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Professor Dr. Michel Abs, the MECC Associate Secretary General Dr. Nicolas Bustros, an MECC Delegation, and the WCC Programme Executive for the Middle East Mrs. Carla Khijoyan. As well as, participants were a group of Priests.
At the beginning of the meeting, His Eminence Metropolitan Antonios Al Soury brought greetings from His Beatitude Patriarch John X, who welcomed Reverend Professor Dr. Pillay and expressed his happiness at his visit to Lebanon. His Eminence also praised the WCC work for unity and peace and building bridges between Churches. His Eminence also spoke about the challenges of Christians in the region, stressing the need to live in peace and dignity and cooperate together away from wars. As well as, His Eminence praised the MECC role in various fields.
For his part, Reverend Professor Dr. Pillay said that the World Council of Churches is conscious of what is happening in the Middle East, and always seeks to work for peace and justice in the Middle East and the world. He also talked about the issue of Christian identity and presence in the region, stressing the need for dialogue and solidarity together.
After exchanging souvenirs, His Eminence Metropolitan Antonios Al Soury invited the WCC and MECC delegation to visit the Cathedral of Saint Nicholas and check the construction work of both the International Orthodox School and the Church of Our Lady of Joy in Zahle. (All Photos)