Dr. Michel E. Abs

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

Next week, we in the Levant will commemorate two painful occasions, though they differ in historical context and magnitude.

The first occasion, which falls on the 22nd of April, marks the day of the abduction of the Archbishops of Aleppo, Archbishop Boulos Yazigi and Archbishop Gregorios Youhanna Ibrahim. They were captured in the Mansoura area, west of Aleppo, while returning from the Turkish border. Nothing has been known about them since that day, and they have been missing for eleven years.

The second occasion, which falls on the 24th of April, is the beginning of the massacres against the Armenian people. These took place in the northeast of Antioch, Cilicia, as well as in the rest of Anatolia, where the Armenian presence in those regions was almost completely eliminated. These massacres occurred eleven decades ago.

In both cases, the saying circulating in the literature of political and social sciences applies: “Killing a man in a forest is an unforgivable crime, but killing a peaceful people is a matter of consideration?”

“Wars, Abduction, Absence, and Ways to Reduce Harm”

Thursday 25 April 2024 - 7 pm Beirut time

On the commemoration of the day of the kidnapping of the two Archbishops of Aleppo, Metropolitan Boulos Yaziji and Metropolitan Gregorios Youhanna Ibrahim, and on the commemoration of the "The Ecumenical Day for the Abducted and the Forcibly Absented", which the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) had launched and designated on 22 April of each year, MECC invites you to participate in its monthly webinar, entitled “Wars, Abduction, Absence, and Ways to Reduce Harm”, on Thursday 25 April 2024 – 7 pm Beirut Time.

You can participate in the webinar via the following Zoom link https://www.tinyurl.com/2wbyvvyr, and live on the MECC Facebook Page.

Within the framework of strengthening the Ecumenical relations between the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) and its partners, the Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches Dr. Michel Abs held an online meeting with the ACT Alliance Regional Representative – MENA, Mrs. Rachel Luce, on Tuesday, 16 April 2024.

During the meeting, Dr. Abs and Mrs. Luce discussed ways to enhance cooperation between both parties, in addition to the future of joint projects in the Middle East, especially in Jordan and Egypt, as well as the programs planned to be implemented in Lebanon, Syria, and Palestine.

Dr. Abs and Mrs. Luce also talked about various other topics, especially the establishment of the ACT Alliance Forum in Jordan. Hence Mrs. Luce invited Dr. Abbas to attend the ACT Middle East meeting that will be held soon in Amman.

Our role in this time of conflicts and wars must be taken very seriously as to how we can become instruments of goodwill and peace

Within the activities of the Fiftieth Year of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Founding, the Secretary General of the World Council of Churches (WCC) Reverend Professor Dr. Jerry Pillay, visited Lebanon during last March, in solidarity with the Lebanese and Eastern people amidst the difficult security, social, economic and health conditions that the region is witnessing, as well as in order to Pray with the Church Families and listen to their challenges and aspirations.

As part of this visit, the team of the MECC Communication and Public Relations Department made an exclusive interview with Reverend Dr. Pillay. The interview focused on several issues related to the path of Christian unity, the challenges of Ecumenical work, and consolidating the Christian presence in the region, in addition to various Theological and Ecumenical topics.

In view of the emerging conditions, the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) announces the postponement of the workshop that its Diakonia and Social Service Department, was going to implement in cooperation with the TearFund organization, on Churches in Disasters, during this month in Lebanon, to a date to be determined later.

Noting that the workshop aims to empower participants and develop their capabilities in order to support them in responding in times of crises. The workshop also aims at providing the participants with skills that will enable them in turn to train members of their congregations, so they can all help the Church heal the wounds of the most affected people in times of disasters, on various humanitarian, social, health and psychological levels.

Recent events in Lebanon have starkly revealed the fragility of civil peace within our country. Any incident, no matter how seemingly minor, can have far-reaching negative consequences for Lebanese society and its people.

The gravity of what occurred cannot be overstated. A person was kidnapped from his local area, robbed of his car, and taken beyond the country’s borders. Tragically, he was later found dead. Such an occurrence cannot be dismissed as a mere footnote in the Lebanese daily life, especially considering the victim’s esteemed reputation. Notably, he holds two significant positions: first, as the director of informatics in one of Lebanon’s largest banks, and second, as a party coordinator within a pivotal political movement for an area considered to be the heart of Mount Lebanon.

The rumor mill sprang into action, fueled by the vivid imaginations of the Lebanese populace. Amidst this rich and diverse society—comprising artists, intellectuals, and technical experts—there exists a troubling contradiction. Despite their considerable competencies, individuals readily succumb to the temptation of hurling accusations and engaging in hate speech.

MECC Invites You to A Conference (In Arabic) on the Armenian Genocide

Under the Auspices of His Beatitude Patriarch Raphaël Bedros XXI Minassian

“Keeping Memory Alive”, Delivered by the Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs

Monday 22 April 2024

As part of the activities of the Fiftieth Year of the Founding of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), and under the auspices of His Beatitude Patriarch Raphaël Bedros XXI Minassian, Catholicos Patriarch of the Armenian Catholic Church of Cilicia, and President of the Middle East Council of Churches for the Catholic Family, MECC invites you to a conference (in Arabic) on the Armenian Genocide entitled “Keeping Memory Alive”, which will be delivered by the Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Dr. Michel Abs. It will be held on Monday 22 April 2024, at 7 PM, in the Armenian Catholic Patriarchate in Geitawi, Lebanon.

What Are Its Objectives?

With the worsening security, living, social, economic and health crises in the Middle East and the world amidst the heightened severity of the repercussions of conflicts and wars taking place across the globe, humans are now living in front of an unknown future, facing daily challenges and pressures, and searching for a dignity that was stolen from them, but are there any ears listening to their pain? In fact, people are living in a bitter reality that may sound the alarm bell!

In light of the absence of government action in various countries around the world, especially in the Middle East, the Church has become the only safe refuge for many citizens that are unable to overcome the difficulties of their lives and secure the necessities of their livelihood. Hence, this is a factor that indicates that the burden has become great on the Church, which seeks with all its capabilities to help people restore their hope.

In this context, the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), Diakonia and Social Service Department, in cooperation with TearFund organization, is organizing a workshop on the Church’s response in times of disasters, that will be implemented for the first time in Lebanon, for a group of clergy and laic people who are working in the Church field, between 19 and 21 April 2024, in Bethania - Harissa, Lebanon.

The difficult security conditions in the South of Lebanon have cast a shadow over the citizens of the region and burdened them. In fact, they are facing now many living challenges that confuse them and limit their usual activities, especially since many of them have been internally displaced to other areas or even to shelter centers. In light of all these humanitarian developments, children are victims of injustice and unfairness as a result of the various crises which are surrounding their families.

Therefore, the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) continues its field relief work in the South of Lebanon in order to heal the wounds of the most affected people by the social and economic conditions. Hence, the MECC Diakonia and Social Service Department, Lebanon’s Office, recently distributed 1656 cans of milk to children from 1 to 3 years old in collective shelters and houses in the Tyr and Zahrani regions, where each child received two cans of milk.

The MECC Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs Participates in the Book Launching Ceremony and Honoring His Eminence Bishop Youssef Kallas

His Beatitude Patriarch Youssef Al-Absi, Melkite Greek Catholic Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, and Honorary President of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), headed the launch ceremony of the book “A Strive for a Fraternal Reconciliation in Antioch,” and honoring His Eminence Bishop Youssef Kallas, former Metropolitan of Beirut, Byblos, and their dependencies. The ceremony was in cooperation with the Archdiocese of Beirut and Byblos and their Dependencies, the Congregation of the Missionaries of Saint Paul, and the Father Jean Corbon Foundation. It was held on Sunday 7 April 2024, at the “Liqaa” Center - Rabweh, Lebanon.

The MECC Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs Participates in A Ramadan Iftar

His Eminence Sheikh Dr. Sami Abi Al-Muna: The truth exists and hope is placed on people of reason and wisdom and on advocates of peace in every place and time

At the invitation of the Sheikhdom of the Mind and the Sectarian Council in Lebanon and in the presence of His Eminence Sheikh Al-Aql of the Unitarian Druze Community Sheikh Dr. Sami Abi Al-Muna, an official and spiritual Ramadan Iftar was held on Wednesday 10 April 2024, at the Headquarters of the Unitarian Druze Sect in Beirut. It was held with the participation of political, official and social figures, Deputies, Ministers, Spiritual Leaders from various Sects, Judges, Cheikhs, Fathers, the Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Dr. Michel Abs, and guests.

Is there anything uglier than need? Is there anything more painful than extending your hand to others, asking for what will sustain you?

God has created man with mind and body to be his means of survival and progress, which can only be achieved through knowledge and work. These two magical words have defined the course of humanity and charted the paths for its growth and prosperity.

We are in societies that were the first to invent science and technologies that have become the means of work, from the invention of the alphabet, to the wheel, to chemistry, to algebra, and geometry, and exporting all these achievements to the world.

Our societies, which the world unanimously calls the cradle of civilization, have been subjected for centuries, and in the past few decades at a harsher pace, to fierce attacks that destroy both people and structures in an attempt to erase our role from history.

We are exposed to impoverishment because the saying "impoverishment conquers" complements the saying "divide and rule." Therefore, our economic facilities are destroyed, in the Antiochian Levant, as in the rest of the Arab countries, our civilization is dismantled, and our scientific edifices are targeted. This leads to the migration of our brainpower, aiming to replace our people with outcasts... but the dreams of those aiming at that will not come true.

Middle East Socioeconomic Overview

Report: March 2024

Although the occupant force has yet to officially launch an operation on Rafah and therefore send ground forces, airstrikes that are killing innocent women and children are already being reported. This alone is an indicator that they may be not shying away from the future operation which is being fully prepared for. Despite diplomatic efforts by countries from all the world to establish a cease fire that will allow humanitarian assistance to make its way to civilians, the occupation entity claims that would give their enemies a chance to regroup. For the time being, much of international community is worried about escalation in Rafah as it will lead to a bigger humanitarian catastrophe.

The Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), Communication and Public Relations Department, have now issued its online Ecumenical calendar for the month of April 2024. 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.

With the worsening security circumstances in the South of Lebanon due to the ongoing conflicts in the region, its residents are still suffering from many living challenges and psychological pressures that increase daily in the face of an unknown future. In this context, psychological and social support has become necessary, especially for the most vulnerable citizens, in order to alleviate their pain and help them overcome the difficulties surrounding them with hope and determination.

Hence, the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) continues its relief work in the South of Lebanon with the aim of supporting the internally displaced people in various regions and shelter centers by providing in-kind assistance as well as psychological and social support. Thus, the MECC Diakonia and Social Service Department, Lebanon’s Office, implemented training courses for many displaced women on “self-care and services specialized in protecting women and children”. At the end of the courses, the participants received food and personal kits dedicated for women and children.

Mrs. Rosaline Mousa Presents Her Story and How She Benefited from the Course

With the aim of empowering people in Syria and enhancing their capabilities and livelihoods, the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), Syria’s Office, organized a new Business Start Up Course in Syria, which helped many families secure a source of income and restore hope to their lives. Hence, the video sheds light on the story of Mrs. Rosaline Mousa, one of the course’s beneficiaries, and how the Middle East Council of Churches supported her.

In order to alleviate the economic burden on families and enhance their ability to access low-cost food and produce a variety of crops and foods in home gardens, a team from the Diakonia and Social Department, at the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), provided winter seeds to the most vulnerable families in Tibneh village in Dara’a Governorate – Syria.

Families received winter seed kits which included beans, cabbage, lettuce, radish, parsley, cauliflower, coriander, and onions, as well as fertilizer and tools such as shovel, rake, hoe, plastic hose, brass tap, mulch, and a plastic water tank.

Noting that 190 families, including women-headed households, in Tibneh, benefited from the seed distributions.

An agricultural engineer visited all the beneficiaries twice a month to check on the plants and provide all necessary support and advice to the farmers to ensure good production.