Professor Dr. Michel Abs

The Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC)

When the Lord created the universe, He created it for all the beings He brought forth, granting them the right to utilize the resources with which the Creator honored His creation.

The Lord created us equal in the right to exist, in dignity, in the continuity of life, and in the improvement of that life. He became incarnate so that we might have a better life.

Humankind, with its soul inclined to wrongdoing, in the early ages, before recognizing the existence of the Creator, before the Creator revealed Himself, and before understanding the essence of His message, spread corruption, plundering and brutalizing one another, practicing all forms of harm and torture.

It was the law of the survival of the fittest, where the stronger prevails, leaving no place for the weak, and the universe supposedly belongs to the powerful. Such justifications were fabricated by the sick human mind to excuse seizing another’s wealth and resources.

Christianity emerged as a remarkable shift in this grim human history. The incarnate Lord proclaimed new ways of interaction among people, ways unheard of before Him. This was intolerable to the soldiers of emperors and conquerors, as well as the guardians of old laws, so they crucified Him, unable to conceive of His resurrection after three days.

During His time on earth, the Lord taught principles contrary to everything taught before, often saying, “It was said to you... but I say to you.” These teachings shone in His eternal Sermon on the Mount, a sermon unmatched by humanity in the field of human conduct and cultural values. He, whose kingdom never ends, overturned millennia of greed, hatred, and savagery, raising humankind to a noble rank above other creatures…

Stressing: "We are not afraid, and as Christians in the region, we must coordinate and unite together and adhere to our land. The Council is the nucleus of Church, humanitarian and media work."

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, received the Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Professor Dr. Michel Abs, at the head of a delegation including colleagues from the MECC General Secretariat, on Thursday, January 23, 2025, at the Patriarchate in Balamand, Lebanon.

Firstly, His Beatitude received the Secretary General Professor Michel Abs and the accompanying delegation from the General Secretariat team with great love and warmth.

He delivered a speech in which he stressed:”

The importance of the Christian presence in the Middle East and preserving it no matter how severe the storms are because we are not afraid, calling on Christians in the region to remain steadfast and cling to their land despite all the challenges. He stressed that what matters to us as Christians today is achieving human dignity for every human being regardless of his religion or sect."

In the same context, His Beatitude Patriarch John X stressed the need to unify ranks and words, coordinate, unite and work together as Churches and believers from different Church Families. He also praised the role played by the Middle East Council of Churches at the Ecumenical, humanitarian, social, Theological and media levels, noting that this work entrusted to it is essential, especially in the Middle East region. As well as, he reviewed the latest developments in its Theological, relief, development and media programs.

On Suboro TV

The Journalist Lea Adel Maamary, the Media Officer at the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), the Director of the Platform of the Word, and the Coordinator of the Church and Media Relations at MECC, was the guest in an episode of “Kel Yom Bi Yawmo” (“Everyday”) program on Suboro TV, to talk about the Media’s Role in Christian Unity, within the framework of the “Week of Prayer for Christian Unity” 2025 entitled “Do you believe this?” (John 11: 26).

On Suboro TV

The Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Professor Dr. Michel Abs was the guest in an episode of “Kel Yom Bi Yawmo” (“Everyday”) program on Suboro TV, to talk about the activities of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) within the framework of the “Week of Prayer for Christian Unity” 2025 entitled “Do you believe this?” (John 11: 26).

On Mariam TV

In the video, you can find a Church News Bulletin on Mariam TV, prepared and presented by the Journalist Lea Adel Maamary, the Media Officer at the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), the Director of “The Platform of the Word”, and the Coordinator of the Church and Media Relations at MECC.

This report presents an overview about the visit of the Head of the Catholic Information Center in Lebanon Monsignor Abdo Abu Kasm, to the headquarters of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) in Ras Beirut, on Tuesday, January 21, 2025.

The of Service and Relief - Diakonia Department at the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), Syria’s Office, holds health and psychological awareness sessions for pregnant and breastfeeding mothers in three governorates which are Damascus and its Countryside, Aleppo and Daraa.

Details in this report!

You can find the Prayer of the eighth day of the "Week of Prayer for Christian Unity" 2025, included in its booklet, and which you may publish and distribute.

The theme of this year’s Week of Prayer is “Do you believe this?” (John 11: 26).

You can find the Prayer of the seventh day of the "Week of Prayer for Christian Unity" 2025, included in its booklet, and which you may publish and distribute.

The theme of this year’s Week of Prayer is “Do you believe this?” (John 11: 26).

Middle East Socioeconomic Overview

Report: December 2024

There is no doubt, 2024 was an unusual year full of surprises and shocking developments. Whether those changes will lead to positive or negative developments within the Middle East, the matter is still open to debate. Nevertheless, one thing can be surely said is that the end of the conflicts has allowed citizens in the region to breathe a sigh of relief so that they can reconsider their future plans. But fears of renewed conflict will be always present. That’s each person will be monitoring the coming period with great consideration.

You can find the Prayer of the sixth day of the "Week of Prayer for Christian Unity" 2025, included in its booklet, and which you may publish and distribute.

The theme of this year’s Week of Prayer is “Do you believe this?” (John 11: 26).

the Media Officer at the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), the Director of “The Platform of the Word”, and the Coordinator of the Church and Media Relations at MECC

In an Episode About the Media’s Role in Christian Unity

On Suboro TV

Watch with us the Journalist Lea Adel Maamary, the Media Officer at the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), the Director of the Platform of the Word, and the Coordinator of the Church and Media Relations at MECC, in an episode of “Kel Yom Bi Yawmo” (“Everyday”) program on Suboro TV, today, Wednesday, January 21, 2025, at 5:30 Beirut time, to talk about the Media’s Role in Christian Unity, within the framework of the “Week of Prayer for Christian Unity” 2025 entitled “Do you believe this?” (John 11: 26).

What Are the Details?

This report sheds light on the Ecumenical Prayer that was held by the Churches of Qamishli on the occasion of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2025 under the title “Do you believe this?” (John 11: 26), with the blessing of the Bishops and Priests of the Churches in the city of Qamishli, and through the organization of the Christian Youth Meetings Committee.

Reverend Dr. Paul Haidostian, President of the Union of the Armenian Evangelical Churches in the Near East (UAECNE), President of Haigazian University in Lebanon, and President of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) for the Evangelical Family, was the guest of the Journalist Lea Adel Maamary, the Media Officer at the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), the Director of the Platform of the Word, and the Coordinator of the Church and Media Relations at MECC, in a special episode from “The Platform of the Word” at the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC).

The episode, which you can watch in the video, focused on the most important meanings of the “Week of Prayer for Christian Unity”, in addition to explanations about the theme that was chosen for this year, which is “Do you believe this?” (John 11: 26). In addition, the episode highlighted the Prayer Service that will be held on the occasion of the closing of the "Week of Prayer for Christian Unity" 2025, in celebration of the conclusion of the Fiftieth Year of the MECC Founding, as well as the announcement of the launch of the 1700th Year of the Council of Nicaea. The Prayer will be held on Saturday, January 25, 2025, at 6:00 pm Beirut Time, at the First Armenian Evangelical Church - Kantari, Beirut.

What is Its Broadcasting Date and Time?

Watch with us on Télé Lumière and Noursat, a special episode about the "Week of Prayer for Cristian Unity" 2025 and the theme of this year “Do you believe this?” (John 11: 26), with Reverend Dr. Paul Haidostian, President of the Union of the Armenian Evangelical Churches in the Near East (UAECNE), President of Haigazian University in Lebanon, and President of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) for the Evangelical Family. He was interviewed by the Journalist Lea Adel Maamary, the Media Officer at the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), the Director of the Platform of the Word, and the Coordinator of the Church and Media Relations at MECC.

The episode, produced by "The Platform of the Word, at MECC, will be broadcasted on Friday 24 January 2025 at 12:30pm Beirut Time.

Video - Monsignor Abdo Abou Kasm in a Special Episode From "The Platform of the Word" at the Middle East Council of Churches with the Journalist Lea Adel Maamary

As part of his visit to the headquarters of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) in Beirut, the Director of the Catholic Information Center in Lebanon Monsignor Abdo Abou Kasm was the guest of the Journalist Lea Adel Maamary, the Media Officer at the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), the Director of “The Platform of the Word”, and the Coordinator of the Church and Media Relations at MECC, in a special episode from “The Platform of the Word” at the Middle East Council of Churches, entitled “The Word Unites Us”.

The episode focused on the importance of the media in spreading the values of love, fraternity and peace away from the discourse of hatred and injustice, in addition to the Christian media conference that will include more than 150 Christian media organizations in the world, and will be held in Rome as part of the activities of the “Hope” Jubilee of the Catholic Church. The episode also centered around the role of "The Platform of the Word" in the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) and its mission in strengthening the Ecumenical spirit.

What Are its Aim and Objectives?

A Video Produced by the Middle East Council of Churches

The theme of this' year "Week of Prayer for Christian Unity" is “Do you believe this?” (John 11: 26).

What Is the Importance of the Theme of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2025?

Below you can find the Prayer of the fifth day of the "Week of Prayer for Christian Unity" 2025, included in its booklet, and which you may publish and distribute.

The theme of this year’s Week of Prayer is “Do you believe this?” (John 11: 26).