The Phenomenon of Violence Is Still Rampant in Our Societies!

MECC Contributes in Reducing It Through Awareness Sessions in Lebanon

They are practices that threaten life, health, and a violation of human rights, requiring urgent protection for the affected people... With these words, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) presents a definition of one of the most social phenomena that threatens the safety of humanity. It lies in the issue of gender-based violence. However, these phrases are not just words, slogans, and ink on paper, but rather describe a bitter reality that expresses the lack of social justice and sounds the alarm, especially with the high rate of violence around the world and in the Middle East.

What are the reason? In fact, there are countless reasons, and directly related to the daily pressures resulting from the difficult living conditions due to the crises and conflicts that cast their shadows all over the world, especially in the Middle East region, which has always suffered from many social challenges. But what are the solutions? How long will violence remain a weapon for many? Questions we must ask to those involved and concerned!

for the Students of Theological Institutes in Lebanon

On Télé Lumière and Noursat TV Channel

Father Dr. Michael Kanbar, the Executive Secretary of the Association of Theological Institutes in the Middle East (ATIME), was the guest in an episode within the program “All Nour Maana” (which means “The Lights Is with Us”), broadcasted on Télé Lumière and Noursat TV Channel, on Thursday 15 February 2024, to talk about the annual gathering that ATIME will organize for the students of Theological Institutes in Lebanon, on Tuesday 20 February 2024, at La Sagesse University, Lebanon.

During the interview, which you can watch in the video, Father Dr. Michael presents an introduction about the Association of Theological Institutes in the Middle East (ATIME), highlighting its mission and the projects it is implementing in the Middle East region. Father Dr. Michael also talks about the goals of the gathering that ATIME will hold for the Theological students in Lebanon and its program.

In the new issue of the weekly newsletter Momentum issued by the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), Communication and Public Relations Department, you can find the message of the MECC Secretary General Professor Dr. Michel Abs which is entitled this week “Adequate housing and human dignity”. It was the speech that Professor Dr. Abs delivered at the monthly webinar organized by MECC on “Adequate Housing and Human Dignity”, on Thursday 25 January 2024.

The issue also presents the video of the episode in which the Secretary General Professor Dr. Michel Abs was the guest of Father Elias Karam, within the program “I Came to Serve,” on Télé Lumière and Noursat, on Sunday 11 February 2024. During the episode, Professor Dr. Abs highlighted the message of the Middle East Council of Churches, the most prominent programs it is implementing at the various Ecumenical, Theological, humanitarian, relief and media levels, and the program of activities that will be held on the occasion of the Fiftieth Year of its Founding. In addition, Dr. Abs spoke about the issue of Christian unity and other related topics.

In preparation for celebrating the “Season of Creation” 2024, the international Laudato Si’ movement launched the Season’s theme for this year, which is “To hope and Act with Creation,” emphasizing the importance of clinging to hope despite all the challenges that surround us, especially the environmental ones, and the necessity of working together to protect our common home and responding to the cry of creation. Thus, the video highlights the theme of the “Season of Creation” for this year and the symbol that was chosen. Noting that this season extends between 1 September and 4 October of every year.

Following the earthquake that struck the North of the Antiochian Levant, the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) worked on the field to help the affected people in Syria and provide relief to them at various levels through distributing food and health kits, and rehabilitating some homes that had been damaged... MECC was also able to help 32 people establish their small businesses in Wadi Al-Nasara area in Rural Homs. This helped them have a source of income to secure a decent life for themselves and their families. In this context, the video presents an overview about this support program in addition to a testimony from one of the beneficiaries. 

There is no dispute that housing is the basic framework within which the family grows well and naturally, and its quality is the basic criterion for determining the living standard of a society.

Our popular culture abounds with sayings about the home, its importance, and its role in contentment, stability, and social progress. At home, a person finds comfort after a tiring day at work or study. There, he relaxes and retires to himself, searching for a comfort that he has missed throughout the day, wherever he may be, at work, at university or at school.

In order for the home to be a place of comfort and self-development, and not a place for family quarrels and disputes, it must have the specifications that make it a suitable place to live. Note that this condition is a basic condition, but it is not a sufficient one or nullifying other conditions.

The dwelling must be sufficient for the size of the family, enjoy comfort and even luxury conditions, preserve the family’s privacy, allow the privacy of all family members, be healthy, free from starch and dampness, and be provided with all elements of basic services related to health, hygiene, and prevention. Its residents are not to be exposed to problems that may come from the surroundings, such as noise, dust, and unhealthy odors, its ventilation is appropriate and it is subject to regular maintenance, as an individual house or as a building, and that public services in the building are available, as well as guarding and security.

"Human dignity of the Addicted Youth"

Thursday 29 February 2024 – 7 pm Beirut Time

The Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) has the honor to invite you to participate in its monthly webinar, entitled “Human Dignity of the Addicted Youth,” on Thursday 29 February 2024, at 7 pm Beirut Time. 

You can participate in the webinar via the following Zoom link https://shorturl.at/AJMR9, and live on the MECC Facebook Page.  

The webinar, that will include three interventions, will start with an opening speech by its moderator Dr. Lubna Tarabey, which will be followed with a speech by the Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches Dr. Michel Abs.

The Diakonia and Social Service Department, at the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), continues its efforts to provide a safe and healthy environment for students by renovating and rehabilitating schools that have been damaged by war in various Syrian governorates.

In Dara’a, the MECC team of the Diakonia and Social Service Department worked on the rehabilitation of four schools in the villages of Al Sahweh and Al Yadouda.

The rehabilitation activities included the rehabilitation of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) infrastructure and pertinent equipment: maintenance of the pipes and water networks, and installation of taps, toilets, windows, doors, tile, ceramic, electric cables, water pumps, and tanks, in addition to completing the required painting work. The entire school was painted, along with the provision of new classrooms benches, fences for every school, and canopies were installed in the courtyards to protect students from the sun and rain.

It is worth mentioning that 987 students benefited from the rehabilitation and also received hygiene kits.

The Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Professor Dr. Michel Abs was the guest of Father Elias Karam in an episode within the program “I Came to Serve,” on Télé Lumière and Noursat, on Sunday 11 February 2024.

During the episode, which you can watch in the video, Professor Dr. Abs highlighted the message of the Middle East Council of Churches, the most prominent programs it is implementing at the various Ecumenical, Theological, humanitarian, relief and media levels, and the program of activities that will be held on the occasion of the Fiftieth Year of its Founding.

As well as, Professor Dr. Abs spoke about the issue of Christian unity, in addition to the Ecumenical musical event “Beirut 2024,” which was held on Saturday 20 January 2024, at the Forum de Beirut, on the occasion of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity and the Fiftieth Year of the founding of the Middle East Council of Churches.

Moreover, Professor Dr. Abs talked about the role of the Church regarding the environmental issue, in addition to the MECC work in environmental issues and in dealing with crises. He also highlighted the “Human Dignity Project” - “Dialogue and Social Cohesion-Social Capital Rehabilitation”, and the importance of the seminars it holds monthly in this context. 

Sunday 11 February 2024, at 8:30 pm Beirut Time

Watch the Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Professor Dr. Michel Abs in an episode of the program “I Came to Serve,” prepared and presented by Father Elias Karam, on Télé Lumière and Noursat, on Sunday 11 February 2024, at 8:30 pm Beirut Time.

During the episode, Professor Dr. Abs will highlight the mission of the Middle East Council of Churches and the activities that will be held on the occasion of the Fiftieth Year of its Founding. He will also talk about the issue of Christian unity, in addition to the Ecumenical Musical event “Beirut 2024,” which was held at the Forum de Beirut on the occasion of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity and the MECC Fiftieth Jubilee. In addition, Professor Dr. Michel Abs will speak about the Church’s role regarding the environmental issue, as well as the MECC work in dealing with crises and the importance of the seminars it holds monthly.

Within the framework of maintaining a healthy and clean environment in schools, the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), Diakonia and Social Service Department, Syria’s Office, restored and rehabilitated health facilities in many schools in Dara'a Governorate. The restoration activities included the rehabilitation of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) infrastructure, maintenance of the drinking water network, and installation of the other necessary equipment. It contributed to providing clean and safe health facilities away from the spread of diseases. Hence, this video highlights this restoration program that was implemented in Dara’a.

In the new issue of the weekly newsletter Momentum issued by the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), Communication and Public Relations Department, you can find a video word delivered by 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 the occasion of announcing the theme of the “Season of Creation” 2024 around the world, which is “To Hope and Work with Creation”. His Beatitude stressed that the “Season of Creation” is a time to renew our relationship with our Creator and all of Creation through celebration, conversion and commitment together. You can also find details about this theme and the activities that will be implemented in the world in celebration of the “Season of Creation”.

As well as, the issue includes the message of the MECC Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs which is entitled this week “Common life and human fraternity, The role of the Middle East Council of Churches as a model”. It was the speech that Dr. Abs delivered at the Human Fraternity Meeting: A Journey and Participation, on Saturday 3 February 2024, in Al-Zahraa Hall - Haret Hreik, Lebanon.

The literature of the dialogue field is full of terms that played a major role in bringing minds together and bringing people closer when they were used in the context of conflict resolution and extinguishing hostilities between people. But these terms, after fulfilling the role assigned to them for a certain era, no longer fulfill the conceptual and practical purpose that we need at the current stage, where human mixing has reached its peak, accompanied by escalating hostilities between peoples, ethnic groups, religions and communities, and also accompanied by hate speech that was exacerbated by social media to reach its peak and turn into a poison and a separation tool par excellence.

These inspiring concepts at the time, we, those working in the dialogue, began to discover how much they carried within them the seeds of discord, while we used them as a means of rapprochement. Truth be told, their introduction at that stage was only out of good faith, but the conceptual and field horizon did not require more than that.

Peaceful coexistence, between religions or groups, for example, shows us that there is an existing balance between diverse identities, but this balance can be disturbed at any moment as soon as an external factor interferes with the balance or one of the balance-coexistence parties makes a mistake, which leads to something undesirable with unforeseen consequences.

At the Invitation of the Journal “Ilmolmabdaa”, “Tahawoulat” Forum and the Delta Center for In-depth Research

Friday 23 February 2024 – 3pm Beirut time, at “Ilmolmabdaa” Headquarters

As part of the “Reflection Sessions” series, the journal “Ilmolmabdaa”, “Tahawoulat” (Transformations) Center and the Delta Center for In-depth Research have the honor to invite you to participate in the first episode entitled “The Values of the West in their Cognitive and Moral Integration” (Current Evidence). The episode includes two interventions with Professor Michel Abs, Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), and Professor Talal Atrissi, a Researcher and Professor of sociology. The episode is moderated and presented by the Researcher Sarkis Abou Zeid, and the two interventions are followed by an open discussion.

On the Occasion of the Announcement of the “Season of Creation” 2024 Theme

With the launching of the “Season of Creation” theme for this year, which is “To Hope and Work with Creation,” 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, delivered a video message in which he stressed that the “Season of Creation” is a time to renew our relationship with our Creator and all of Creation through celebration, conversion and commitment together.

Noting that this message, which you can watch and listen to it in the following video, came as part of a video released by the international Laudato Si’ movement, which includes several messages addressed by many Religious Leaders from around the world.

“To Hope And Act With Creation”

Stemming from its belief in the importance of the creation care during all the year, the international Laudato Si’ movement announced, at the beginning of this month, February, the theme of this year’s “Season of Creation,” which is "To hope and act with Creation". It is an encouragement to Christians all over the world to prepare for this international Ecumenical and environmental season that is celebrated between 1 September, the Feast of Creation, and 4 October which coincides with the Feast of Saint Francis of Assisi.

The symbol of this year’ “Season of Creation” is "The firstfruits of hope," inspired by the Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Romans (8: 19-25). It emphasizes the importance of clinging to hope despite all the challenges that surround us, especially the environmental ones, and the necessity of working together to protect our common home and responding to the cry of creation.

Health and Psychological Support for a Group of Elderlies in Lebanon 

On the 24th of January, the medical team at the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) collaborated with ABAAD association and the Lebanese university, to launch an event under the title of “Everyone Deserves a Better Life” in which a Health Session and a Psychosocial session were held in parallel for 25 beneficiaries. The event took place at the Our Lady Dispensary, affiliated with MECC, and located in the Sabtieh region - Lebanon. 

The Health Session aimed to promote health and a good nutritional diet, as well as a positive mental wellbeing. For this reason, 4 nutritionists from the Lebanese University inspected the beneficiaries by checking their weight, height, blood pressure, Hemoglobin level for warning signs such as Anemia, and made recommendations for a proper nutritional diet. Also 4 social workers from the Lebanese University evaluated their mental health condition and collected information regarding the things that they need in their life to be happy.  

The theme and symbol for the Season of Creation 2024 are now available, with a theological reflection inspired by the Letter to the Romans, encouraging Christians around the world to prepare to experience the ecumenical season next September.

This Friday, February 2, the 2024 Season of Creation was presented with the theme "To hope and act with Creation". The annual Christian celebration is convened each year to pray and respond to the cry of Creation, between September 1st, the Feast of Creation, and October 4th, the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi.

The “Week of Prayer for Christian Unity” 2024 will be held in Egypt carrying the theme “You shall love the Lord your God... and your neighbour as yourself” (Luke 10:27), through a program of celebrations that will start on Wednesday 13 March, and continue until Friday 22 March, at the invitation of the Middle East Council of Churches and the Egyptian Council of Churches.

The celebrations program includes many Prayers and meetings with various Church Families according to the following program:

- Wednesday 13 March 2024: Church of the Virgin Mary and Anba Bishoy in Saint Mark’s Cathedral in Abbasiya - Meeting of His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of Saint Mark, in the presence of Heads of Churches.

During the Weekly Sermon of His Holiness Pope Tawadros II

Under the theme “You shall love the Lord your God... and your neighbour as yourself” (Luke 10:27), the Saint Mark's Cathedral in Abbasiya - Egypt, invites you to participate in the opening of the “Week of Prayer for Christian Unity” 2024 in Egypt, during the weekly Sermon of His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of Saint Mark, on Wednesday 13 March 2024, in the presence of the Heads of the Churches and their representatives.