“The Face of Mary”

"The Face of Mary"

His Eminence Bishop Mar Matthias Charles Mrad: Our encounter around the face of Mary, which is always radiant with the lights of motherhood, compassion, and tenderness, makes us discover a unique way that the face is the first means of communication before one utters words… because the face creates a relationship based on mutual respect

Professor Michel Abs: We wanted to limit the interventions to women only. They will talk about Mary from their intellectual perspective and faith background, addressing the people and telling them that society is united through women. We see it united in the face of Mary

The Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) and the Episcopal Committee for Christian-Muslim Dialogue, emanating from the Council of Catholic Patriarchs and Bishops in Lebanon, held a press conference to announce the symposium they are organizing on the occasion of the Feast of the Annunciation, entitled "The Face of Mary." The symposium will be held on Tuesday, March 25, 2025, at 1:00 pm Beirut time, at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Annunciation – Museum – Beirut.

The conference took place on Tuesday, March 19, 2025, live from the Platform of the Word at the Middle East Council of Churches headquarters in Beirut. Attendees were His Eminence Bishop Mar Matthias Charles Mrad, the Patriarchal Vicar of the Syriac Catholic Archdiocese of Beirut and the Head of the Episcopal Committee for Christian-Muslim Dialogue, the MECC Secretary General Professor Michel Abs, Father Michel Hamawi, Mrs. Annie Sarafian, Representing the Head of the Lebanese Press Editors' Syndicate Mr. Joseph Kosseifi, Members of the Episcopal Committee for Christian-Islamic Dialogue, and the Team of the MECC General Secretariat.

With Sister Nicolas Akiki, Former Director of the Sisters of Our Lady of the Rosary Hospital

Together we Pray and Work to Enhance the Ecumenical Spirit

The Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) General Secretariat continues its weekly meetings. This meeting, which constitutes a time for Prayer, reflection, and work, brings together colleagues with hearts filled with faith, hope, and determination to work together for the Ecumenical mission and the humanitarian service.

The last meeting, held by the MECC Secretary General Professor Michel Abs, on Tuesday, March 18, 2025, coincided with the Feast of Saint Joseph, the honest carpenter, the partner of Mary, and the righteous father who was distinguished by his humility, silence, and obedience. He is the Patron Saint of fathers and families, and he dedicated his life to service and acts of charity.

With His Eminence Archbishop Mor Kyrillos Babi, the Patriarchal Vicar for the Syriac Orthodox Charitable Institutions in Atchaneh

"The Face of Mary"

Watch the Press Conference for the launching of the seminar "The Face of Mary", on Wednesday 19 March 2025, at 12:25 pm Beirut Time, live from the headquarters of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) in Beirut, on Télé Lumière and Noursat, and the MECC Facebook Page.

The seminar is organized by the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) and the Christian Muslim Episcopal Committee for Dialogue, which stems from the Council of Catholic Patriarchs and Bishops in Lebanon, on Tuesday 25 March 2025, at 1:00 pm Beirut Time, at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Annunciation – Museum - Beirut.

Father Kamel Kamel, a Priest in the Maronite Diocese of Tripoli, met with Professor Michel Abs, the Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), on Tuesday, March 18, 2025, at the MECC headquarters in Beirut. The meeting was attended by the Journalist Lea Adel Maamary, the Media Officer, the Coordinator of the Church and Media Relations, and the Director of the Platform of the Word at the Middle East Council of Churches.

During the meeting, Father Kamel spoke about the Church's initiatives in the Lebanese Governorate of Akkar and the challenges it faces in light of the difficult living conditions that the country is passing through. He also talked about the Church's work in standing with the neediest people and healing their wounds.

An Episode with Father Kamel Kamel, a Priest in the Maronite Diocese of Tripoli, About the Platform of the Word at the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC)

“The Platform of the Word” at the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) presents an episode of the program “And the Family Remains,” entitled “Family Disintegration.”

The program raises issues related to the family, motherhood, and childhood, in addition to the Church’s view and response to challenges, especially in light of the difficult living conditions the region is passing through.

Exclusive: Media of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC)

March 16, 1942, at three o'clock in the afternoon... the dawn of a new era began in the See of Antioch. A date that carried hope, faith, and determination amidst the stagnation and crises that the Church was passing through at the time. A youthful date that formed a bright spring of joy which restored life to every spot of despair and sadness. It is the official founding date of a Movement that knows no identity other than life in Christ, and no system other than the Gospel translated into life. It is the Orthodox Youth Movement (OYM – MJO), the caring mother, the safe haven, and the community that believes in the talents of youth and the work of the Holy Spirit among them, bearing the slogan, "For in him we live and move and have our being" (Acts 17:28).

Together in an Ongoing Media Cooperation and Service to the Ecumenical Mission!

Here Are the Details

With His Eminence Archbishop Youssef Soueif, Archbishop of the Maronite Diocese of Tripoli and President of the Episcopal Committee for Ecumenical Work at the Assemblée des Patriarches et Evêques Catholiques du Liban (APECL)

A Ceremony Emphasizes the Need to Preserve Human Dignity and Enhance Cooperation and Solidarity

Media of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC)

The Sisters of Our Lady of the Rosary Hospital in Gemmayzeh, Beirut, held a ceremony to launch an initiative by John Paul II Foundation, which has provided the hospital, as well as many hospitals in Lebanon, with essential medical machines for their hospital services. The donation was made with the support of associations and donors in Italy.

The ceremony, held on Monday, March 17, 2025, was an initiative to support the hospital sector, particularly the Sisters of Our Lady of the Rosary, given their lofty mission. This is not the first such initiative, especially that hospitals in Lebanon are in dire need of essential support amidst the difficult circumstances that the country is passing through, which often hinder their normal work in serving people.

“The Platform of the Word” at the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) presents an episode of the program “And the Family Remains,” entitled “Sexual Harassment.”

The program raises issues related to the family, motherhood, and childhood, in addition to the Church’s view and response to challenges, especially in light of the difficult living conditions the region is passing through.

Continuous Prayers During the Blessed Season of Lent

In an Ecumenical spirit filled with fraternity and love, the family of the General Secretariat of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) lives the blessed Season of Lent by working and praying together on the intention of every person on this earth, during the meetings in which colleagues gather weekly to follow up on the developments of their work.

In this context, the Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Professor Michel Abs, presided over the latest weekly meeting on Tuesday, March 11, 2025, at the MECC headquarters in Beirut, in the presence of the MECC General Secretariat team from various departments that strive to achieve the desired Ecumenical and humanitarian goals.

Meets with the MECC Secretary General Professor Michel Abs

And Participates in an Episode within the Program "From Misery to Healing" Produced by the Platform of the Word

As part of his participation in an episode within the program "From Misery to Healing" produced by the Platform of the Word at the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), Reverend Dr. Hadi Ghantous, the Secretary of the Ecclesial and Spiritual Affairs Committee in the National Evangelical Synod of Syria and Lebanon, met with Professor Michel Abs, the Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), on Tuesday, March 11, 2025, at the MECC headquarters in Beirut.

Both parties discussed the latest developments in the work of MECC in light of the circumstances that the region is passing through, in addition to the most prominent challenges surrounding the MECC mission, as well as aspirations to enhance the Ecumenical spirit. They also discussed the importance of the media in spreading the values ​​of love, peace and dialogue, emphasizing the role of the Platform of the Word in conveying the good word.