Video - A Congratulations Message from the MECC Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs

On the occasion of the 10th Anniversary of the Enthronement of His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark, the Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches Dr. Michel Abs congratulates His Holiness via video in Arabic, praising his endless love and kindness.

Here the Voice of Hope Rises Against War and Destruction

Whoever visits Aleppo and walks in its streets can notice the wars’ repercussions in this city, and can even hear its groaning and pain. But amidst all the destruction, we can witness the determination of Aleppo’s people to restore their city and lives as it was before the war. In fact, they are seeking God’s help, believing in His power and support to rebuild what was destroyed by the Evil’s hands and war.

The Middle East Council of Churches and “Kerk in Actie” organization in the Netherlands supported the Syrians and Aleppo’s people within the “Restoration Fund for Rehabilitation of Faith-based Social Services & Religious Infrastructure Damaged During the Crisis in Syria”. A program which aims to restore what was damaged by the war so that hope can revive in the lives of people who are essential part of their Church.

In the new issue of the weekly newsletter Momentum issued by the Communication and Public Relations Department of the Middle East Council of Churches, you can find a news about the funeral service of His Beatitude Archbishop Chrysostomos II of Nea Justiniana and All Cyprus, in which MECC participated and was represented by its Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs. As for the weekly message of Dr. Abs, it is entitled “Corruption: the silent killer of culture and society” in which he denounced the corruption in Lebanon and many societies in the Arab world, speaking about its danger and the concepts of combating it.

Faith Leaders and Organizations, Including MECC, Sign a Joint Statement at the End of COP27 Climate Change Summit in Sharm El Sheikh

A call for Urgent and Ambitious Action for the Most Vulnerable People and Communities

Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt

Faith leaders from around the world at COP27 have watched with concern as the negotiations have stalled and not pushed for more ambition to prevent the drastic consequences predicted if global temperature rise goes past 1.5C, to support the most vulnerable communities and nations facing the brunt of climate change’s impacts today, and to ensure that human rights, a gender lens, and indigenous people’s knowledge are enshrined in the structures and work of the UNFCCC and its parties as they confront the climate emergency.

Faith leaders have issued on November 17, 2022, an urgent call for increased ambition in the final days of COP27.

The press and social media share with us articles and appeals to combat and eliminate corruption for the good of society and the well being of people. Writers or authors of tweets and statements deal with the phenomenon of corruption as if it is a fruit that has ripened and it is time to pick it, and it is ready for whoever reaches out to crush it.

They have missed the thorough sociological knowledge and analysis of social phenomena, and they have forgotten that when people become accustomed to something, its removal is not accomplished by a decree or an order issued by governing bodies to executive bodies. If this were the case, we would have considered that society is a machine, and it is enough to change the worn-out part in it, so that it can return to work in an appropriate manner.

Corruption in Lebanon, and in many of our societies in the Arab world, has become a culture deeply rooted in the mentality at the individual level as well as at the collective level. Consequently, it is neither possible nor reasonable to eradicate it from day to day, especially as it is rooted in our minds and souls for centuries.

Together Building Bridges and Restoring Hope

The Middle East Council of Churches held its annual meeting with representatives of its partner organizations and institutions, in addition to a series of activities it implemented with them, between 2 and 5 November 2022. The video presents the point of views and aspirations of some of the MECC partners participating in the meeting. It is prepared and produced by the MECC Communication and Public Relations Department.

Our children, who are one of the main pillars of our society, are born into this world, hoping to reap its rewards. Unfortunately, present times are not that comforting and children are being left forsaken and in need.

Luckily, the Service and Relief – Diakonia Department, Beirut’s Office, at the Middle East Council of Churches is still organizing a series of ongoing Psychosocial sessions aiming to promote the well-being and resilience of children. They would be engage through a series of recreational activities that would help them deal with emotional, social, and practical challenges.

MECC Meets with Its International and Regional Partners

The Middle East Council of Churches met with its international and regional partners as part of a series of activities and meetings in Lebanon between 2 and 5 November 2022. What did the meetings include? And what did the attendees discuss? The video presents a brief overview of these meetings, activities, and the most important discussed topics. It is prepared and produced by the MECC Communication and Public Relations Department.

“Women are half the society”. Many countries in the world are making efforts aiming to integrate women into all productive and economic sectors. However, the recent security, political, health conditions, and the outbreak of the Corona pandemic, have negatively affected their lives, especially in the Middle East, which is sinking into escalating crises.

In the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, for example, the Department of Statistics mentioned that the female unemployment rate has increased to 31.5% in the first quarter of the current year compared to last year. Another country report issued in 2021 shows that women's economic participation has decrease by 3.3%, after it recorded the highest rate of 17.3% in 2017.

A Field Tour Held by MECC and “Kerk in Actie” in the Netherlands Delegation

Eleven years have passed since the outbreak of the severe war in Syria which have took the lives of thousands of Syrians. Not only people have been affected but also stones and buildings. The war has caused massive damage in infrastructure and impacted the economy. As well as, house, religious, educational and medical institutions have been destructed.

If stones in Syria could speak, it would talk about a history and civilization which goes back thousands of years, witnessing for a Christianity which was spread from this country to the world.

Amidst this deepening human crisis, the Church's first challenge was to shine a light in the darkness and sorrow hope in the midst of despair.

A Solemn Funeral at the Cathedral of the Apostle Barnabas in Nicosia

The funeral service of His Beatitude Archbishop Chrysostomos II of Nea Justiniana and All Cyprus, was held on Saturday 12 November 2022 at the Cathedral of the Apostle Barnabas in Nicosia, Cyprus, after he passed away on Monday 7 November 2022.

During the funeral, Churches’ bells rang in Cyprus and flags outside Churches and on all public buildings flown half-mast. The service was presided over by His Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I, Archbishop of Constantinople and New Rome. The body of the Archbishop of Cyprus was exposed for public pilgrimage in the Cathedral of the Apostle Barnabas, from Thursday 10 till the morning of Saturday 12 November 2022. In addition, a Book of Condolences was opened at the Office of His Beatitude the late Archbishop Chrysostomos II.

En 2001, la UNESCO designó el 10 de noviembre como Día Mundial de la Ciencia para la Paz y el Desarrollo. «Este día pone de relieve el importante papel de la ciencia en la sociedad y la necesidad de que el público en general participe en los debates sobre las nuevas cuestiones científicas. También hace hincapié en la importancia y la relevancia de la ciencia en nuestra vida cotidiana», según se indica en la página web de la organización en cuestión.

Además, este día pretende «vincular más estrechamente la ciencia con la sociedad», así como «garantizar que el público en general esté informado sobre los avances científicos».

Este día también responsabiliza a los científicos de «ampliar la percepción sobre la Tierra en la que vivimos y su fragilidad, lo que motiva la acción para hacer nuestras sociedades más sostenibles».

ACT Alliance Has Many Messages to the Climate Summit, What Are They?

ACT Alliance has released many key messages to COP27 climate summit in Sharm El Sheikh. It includes: General ACT Climate Justice messaging for COP27, role of ACT as a faith based organization, climate finance, loss and damage, Paris Agreement, climate ambition and mitigation, gender & human rights, and migration.

In the new issue of the weekly newsletter Momentum issued by the Communication and Public Relations Department of the Middle East Council of Churches, MECC mourns passing of His Beatitude Archbishop Chrysostomos II of Nea Justiniana and All Cyprus, who passed away on Monday 7 November 2022. As for the weekly message of the MECC Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs, it is entitled “Modern man between science and ignorance”, which is for the occasion of the World Science Day for Peace and Development celebrated on 10 November.

In 2001, UNESCO designated the 10th of November as the World Science Day for Peace and Development. “This day highlights the important role of science in society and the need to engage the wider public in discussions on emerging scientific issues. It also emphasizes The importance and relevance of science in our daily lives” as stated on the website of the organization concerned.

In addition, this day aims to "link science more closely with society" as well as to "ensure that the general public is informed on scientific developments."

This day also holds scientists responsible for "expanding perceptions about the Earth we live on and its fragility, which motivates action to make our societies more sustainable."

As part of the annual partners meeting of the Middle East Council of Churches, which was held on Thursday 3 and Friday 4 November 2022 in Beirut, the MECC General Secretariat organized an Ecumenical tour to the Churches in Lebanon, on Saturday 5 November 2022. Participants were a delegation of representatives of MECC partner organizations and institutions, alongside the Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs, the Director of the Theological and Ecumenical Department Father Dr. Antoine Al Ahmar, the Executive Assistant to the Secretary General Mrs. Seta Hadeshian and the Social media Officer Chady Chata.

It is with great sadness that the Middle East Council of Churches received the news of the death of His Beatitude Archbishop Chrysostomos II of Nea Justiniana and All Cyprus, at the age of 81, on Monday 7 November 2022. His Beatitude passed away after his struggle with illness which he faced with a Christian courage and faith, witnessing to the depth of God’ love, our Lord Jesus Christ.

With the absence of His Beatitude, the Middle East Council of Churches will miss a Church leader with whom MECC had many Ecumenical occasions and achievements recorded in the history of the Ecumenical movement in the Middle East. His Beatitude has generously hosted the MECC 10th General assembly held between 29 and 30 November 2011 in Paphos, and many MECC Executive Committee meetings, such as the latest one convened with him between 21 and 22 January 2020 in Larnaca.