5 de septiembre de 2021, en la Iglesia Evangélica Nacional de Beirut

A pesar de todas las circunstancias trágicas que agobian a Beirut en particular y al Líbano en general, rezamos juntos por el bien del hombre, de la naturaleza y de toda criatura viviente que lucha por sobrevivir. Desde la dolorida Beirut, les informamos que la oración de apertura del «Tiempo de la Creación» de este año será el 5 de septiembre de 2021, en lugar del 31 de agosto, como habíamos anunciado anteriormente. Y cambiará también el lugar, que originalmente estaba previsto en la Iglesia de San Nicolás en Ashrafieh, a la Iglesia Evangélica Nacional en el centro de Beirut, a causa de las desafortunadas circunstancias logísticas a las que se enfrentan el Líbano y todos los ciudadanos libaneses.

September 5, 2021, At The National Evangelical Church of Beirut

Despite all the tragic circumstances burdening Beirut in particular and Lebanon in general, we pray together for the sake of man, nature, and every living creature that struggles to survive. From the pained Beirut, we introduce the start of the prayers for this year’s “Days of Creation Season” on September 5, 2021, instead of August 31, as we previously announced. The location will be changed from St. Nicolas Church in Ashrafieh to the National Evangelical Church in downtown Beirut due to the unfortunate logistical circumstances that Lebanon and all Lebanese citizens are facing.

Los preparativos para «El Tiempo de la Creación 2021» que se celebra por primera vez en Oriente, están en marcha. El Departamento de Comunicación y Relaciones Públicas del MECC presenta un video introductorio (en árabe) sobre este proyecto, preparado y presentado por el miembro del Comité Ambiental y Teológico del MECC, el padre Elías Marswanian.

The preparations for the “Season of Creation" 2021, which is celebrated for the first time in the East, are ongoing. The MECC Communication and Public Relations Department presents an introductory video about this project, prepared and presented by member of the MECC Ecojustice Adhoc Committee Father Elias Marswanian.

El MECC celebrará la apertura de «El Tiempo de la Creación 2021» en la Iglesia de San Nicolás, Beirut

El Comité Medio Ambiental y Teológico del MECC está llevando a cabo una serie de visitas a los jefes de las Iglesias. Así, una delegación en representación del Comité ha visitado hoy, 18 de agosto, al Metropolitano de Beirut y sus Dependencias de la Iglesia Ortodoxa Griega, Su Eminencia el Obispo Elías Audi, en la sede de la Archidiócesis en Achrafieh, Beirut.
La delegación estaba compuesta por miembros del Comité, la Dra. Rima Nasrallah de la Iglesia Evangélica, el Dr. Dany El-Obeid de la Iglesia Ortodoxa y la Directora del Departamento de Comunicación y Relaciones Públicas del MECC, la Sra. Huguette Salameh.

El Departamento de Comunicación y Relaciones Públicas del Consejo de Iglesias del Oriente Medio ha publicado su calendario ecuménico para el mes de agosto de 2021. Incluye las fiestas eclesiásticas y litúrgicas de las distintas familias de Iglesias del Oriente Medio. Además de los días internacionales identificados por las Naciones Unidas, y que están relacionados con la identidad del MECC y su misión espiritual y humana. Señalando que los meses restantes del año se publicarán consecutivamente.

MECC is Celebrating the Opening of the “Season of Creation” 2021 in St. Nicolas Church, Beirut

The MECC Ecojustice Adhoc Committee is conducting a series of visits to the heads of Churches. Thus, a delegation representing the committee visited today on 18th of August the Metropolitan of Beirut and its Dependencies of the Greek Orthodox His Eminence Bishop Elias Audi, in the Archdiocese headquarters in Achrafieh, Beirut.

The delegation included members of the committee, Dr. Rima Nasrallah from the Evangelical Church, Dr. Dany El-Obeid from the Orthodox Church and the Director of the MECC Communication and Public Relations Department Mrs. Huguette Salameh.

The Communication and Public Relations Department at the Middle East Council of Churches have now issued its Ecumenical calendar for the month of August 2021. It includes the Ecclesiastical and Liturgical feasts of the various families of Churches in the Middle East. In addition to international days identified by the United Nations, and which are related to the MECC identity and its spiritual and human mission.

En el marco de las actividades de «El Tiempo de la Creación 2021», el Consejo de Iglesias del Oriente Medio publicó, por primera vez en Oriente, este proyecto mediante la traducción al árabe del folleto internacional del proyecto. De este modo, las personas y los cristianos del Oriente podrán participar en las celebraciones del Tiempo de la Creación, del 1 de septiembre al 4 de octubre, como cada año. El tema de este año es «¿Una casa para todos? Renovando el Oikos de Dios».

Within the framework of the “Season of Creation” 2021 activities, the Middle East Council of Churches issued for the first time in the East this project through translating the project’s international booklet into Arabic. Therefore, people and Christians in the East will be able to participate in the season’s celebrations, from 1 September to 4 October, as each year. This year’s theme is " A home for all? Renewing the Oikos of God ".

Una de las paradas de la bendita peregrinación del icono de la Sagrada Familia al Líbano fue la sede del Consejo de Iglesias del Oriente Medio en Beirut, donde fue recibido por el Secretario General del Consejo, el Dr. Michel Abs, y el equipo del Consejo.
El icono estuvo acompañado por el Vicario Patriarcal Sirio-Católico de la Eparquía de Beirut y Jefe del Comité Organizador de las Visitas del Icono, emanado del comité de «Justicia y Paz», de Su Eminencia el Obispo Mathias Charles Mrad, y de la Coordinadora General del Comité Sra. Suzy Hajj.

One of the stops of the blessed pilgrimage of the Holy Family Icon to Lebanon was the headquarters of the Middle East Council of Churches in Beirut, where it was received by the Council’s Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs and the Council's team.

The icon was accompanied by the Syriac Catholic Patriarchal Vicar of Eparchy of Beirut and Head of the organizing committee for the icon’s visits, emanating from the "Justice and Peace" committee, His Eminence Bishop Mathias Charles Mrad, and the General Coordinator of the committee Mrs. Suzy Hajj.

Following an invitation from Arigatou International organization dedicated to children, the Middle East Council of Churches participated in a webinar that was held in order to launch the “Learning To Live Together manual to Middle Childhood”. MECC was represented by its Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs and the coordinator of the Trauma and Wound Healing and Spiritual Counseling Program of the Theological and Ecumenical Department Sister Emilie Tannous.

El Comité Medioambiental y Teológico del MECC está llevando a cabo una serie de visitas a los jefes de las Iglesias con el fin de informarles sobre el proyecto «Temporada de la Creación» 2021.

La delegación que representa al Comité visitó hoy, 22 de julio, al Patriarca Maronita de Antioquía y de todo el Oriente, Su Beatitud el Cardenal Mar Bechara Boutros Al-Rai, en la residencia de verano del Patriarca en Diman–Líbano, y al Patriarca Ortodoxo Griego de Antioquía y de todo el Oriente y Presidente del Consejo para la Familia Ortodoxa de Antioquía, Su Beatitud Juan X, en Balamand–Líbano, en presencia del Vicario Patriarcal, Su Gracia el Obispo Ephraim Maalouli.

The MECC Ecojustice Adhoc Committee is conducting a series of visits to the heads of Churches aiming at informing them of the “Season of Creation” project 2021. A delegation representing the committee visited today on 22th of July, the Maronite Patriarch of Antioch and all the East His Beatitude Cardinal Mar Bechara Boutros Al-Rai at the Patriarchal summer residence in Diman – Lebanon, and the Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and all the East and the President of the Council for the Antioch Orthodox Family His Beatitude John X in Balamand - Lebanon, in the presence of the Patriarchal Vicar, His Grace Bishop Ephraim Maalouli.

For the first time in the region, the Middle East Council of Churches launched the “Season of Creation” project for the year 2021 to allow people in the East to Pray and work for the protection of the environment through participating in its celebrations and activities using its international booklet. Thus, what are the meanings behind this season? How is the MECC participating this year? What does the project’s booklet include? and who are the members of the MECC Ecojustice Adhoc Committee?

An Introductory Meeting for the 2021 Celebrations

Together We Pray and Work for the Protection of the Environment

#SeasonOfCreationME #MECC

Within the framework of the preparations, celebrations and activities of the “Season of Creation” 2021, the Middle East Council of Churches launched for the first time in the Middle East this universal environmental project during a virtual meeting held on Monday, July 12, 2021 via Zoom. It was organized by the MECC Ecojustice Adhoc Committee and was attended by representatives of involved international and regional organizations such as TearFund, Danmission and A. Rocha Lebanon, in addition to a group of interested participants, members of the committee and a team from the Council.

MECC General Secretariat held its annual meeting today on 14th April 2021 with international and regional partner organizations and institutions on Zoom to discuss different opinions and share knowledge in order to develop the role of the council and improve work mechanism and cooperation in future projects.

The Middle East Council of Churches General Secretariat issued its annual report for the year 2020, a year in review burdened by challenges and obstacles in the world in general, and the Middle East in particular. The East witnessed a never-ending cycle of crises for decades now.