A Spiritual Recital at the Church of Christ the King - Zouk Mosbeh, Lebanon, and Live on Télé Lumiere - Noursat TV Channel 

Because light is stronger than darkness, and peace is stronger than war, and under the patronage and blessings of His Beatitude Patriarch Mar Bechara Boutros Al-Rai, Maronite Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) and the Pastoral Office for Persons with Disabilities (POPD) in the Maronite Patriarchate - Bkerke, Lebanon, are honored to invite you to participate in the spiritual recital, “Your Sight On Our Homeland,” performed by the Artist Dalia Freifer, accompanied by Mr. Fadi Abi Hachem. The recital will be hosted by the Journalist Lea Adel Maamary. 

MECC and the Heads of the Churches Explain the Harsh Situations to the Whole World

In an initiative of love and solidarity with Lebanon amidst the difficult circumstances it is passing through due the war raging throughout it, the World Council of Churches (WCC) held an online solidarity meeting with the Ecumenical family in Lebanon and the Middle East, at the invitation of the WCC General Secretary Reverend Professor Dr. Jerry Pillay, on Friday 4 October 2024. This consultation aimed at highlighting the dangerous security, social, and humanitarian field conditions that Lebanon is currently going through, in addition to discussing ways of WCC support to the country.

The meeting was attended by His Eminence Metropolitan Antonios Al Soury, Greek Orthodox Metropolitan of Zahle, Baalbek and Dependencies, and Member of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Executive Committee, representing 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, and Reverend Dr. Paul Haidostian, President of the Union of the Armenian Evangelical Churches in the Near East (UAECNE), President of Haigazian University in Lebanon, and President of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) for the Evangelical Family.

Attendees were also the WCC General Secretary Reverend Professor Dr. Jerry Pillay at the head of a WCC delegation, the MECC Secretary General Professor Dr. Michel Abs and the Associate Secretaries General at the head of an MECC delegation, the ACT Alliance General Secretary Mr. Rudelmar Bueno de Faria at the head of an ACT Alliance delegation, as well as concerned participants and invitees.

A Spiritual Recital Under the Patronage and Blessings of His Beatitude Patriarch Mar Bechara Boutros Al-Rai

At the invitation of the Middle East Council of Churches and the Pastoral Office for Persons with Disabilities (POPD) in the Maronite Patriarchate - Bkerke

Under the patronage and blessings of His Beatitude Patriarch Mar Bechara Boutros Al-Rai, Maronite Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) and the Pastoral Office for Persons with Disabilities (POPD) in the Maronite Patriarchate - Bkerke, Lebanon, are honored to invite you to participate in the spiritual recital, “Your Sight On Our Homeland,” performed by the Artist Dalia Freifer, accompanied by Mr. Fadi Abi Hachem. The recital will be hosted by the Journalist Lea Adel Maamary.

The celebration will be held on Friday 11 October 2024, at 7pm Beirut time, in the Church of Christ the King - Zouk Mosbeh, Lebanon. It will be broadcasted live on Télé Lumiere - Noursat TV Channel, and the social media platforms.

Friday 11 October 2024 – 7pm Beirut Time, at the Church of Christ the King - Zouk Mosbeh, Lebanon

Let us Pray together for Lebanon and participate in the spiritual recital “Your Sight On Our Homeland”, under the patronage and blessings of His Beatitude Patriarch Mar Bechara Boutros Al-Rai, Maronite Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, and at the invitation of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) and the Pastoral Office for Persons with Disabilities (POPD) in the Maronite Patriarchate - Bkerke, Lebanon.

The recital will be performed by the Artist Dalia Freifer, accompanied by Mr. Fadi Abi Hachem. It will be hosted by the Journalist Lea Adel Maamary.

The celebration will be held on Friday 11 October 2024, at 7pm Beirut time, in the Church of Christ the King - Zouk Mosbeh, Lebanon. It will be broadcasted live on Télé Lumière - Noursat TV Channel, and the social media platforms. 

Lebanon, the homeland of life, love and dialogue, where religions come together... It is today, bleeding and suffering due to the wars and conflicts that tore apart the dreams of its children. However, despite all the severe tragedies it is exposed to, Lebanon remains a country of resurrection, full of hope, fraternity, and determination to continue life with great faith, especially that “light shine out of darkness” (2 Corinthians 4: 6). Let us unite together in Prayer on the intention of Lebanon so it rises from its ashes and life returns to all its people who have been deeply hurt. 

In a phone call with the Journalist Lea Adel Maamary on the "Initiatives" program on Radio Voice of Van, Bishop Elias Kfoury explained the tragic situation in the Southern Lebanon, calling for an end to the war and suffering, and praising the support of the Middle East Council of Churches in the humanitarian and relief aspects.

A New Training on Disaster Risk Management and Churches Response

In light of a difficult time during which Lebanon is suffering as a result of air strikes targeting its towns, accompanying activists, as well as Church and health workers, has become necessary in order to support them. This is in addition to providing them with basic skills which are essential for responding to the repercussions of the ongoing war in the country. Hence, the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), Diakonia and Social Service Department, implemented new training course entitled “Disaster Risk Management and Churches Response,” which was held in the border town of Marjayoun, with specialists from various fields.

The session, in which participants were an Ecumenical group of clergy, lay people, and activists in the border regions, included many sessions centered around the essential role played by Churches, especially since they are lifelines for communities in turmoil and the first side that seeks to embrace the affected, needy, and displaced people. The training also empowered the Church on how to be more efficient in their response and be more organized in times of crisis for best outcome. Moreover, it shed lights on ways to support citizens in the border areas and other regions affected by the conflicts and raids they are exposed to, as well as how to accompany the displaced people, whose number is increasing significantly, in search of places that may be considered safe.

With Support of MECC and Kerk in Actie in the Netherlands

With the blessings of 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, His Eminence Metropolitan Antonios Saad, Metropolitan of the Archdiocese of Bosra, Hauran, and Jabal Al-Arab, inaugurated the halls of the Lady of Annunciation Church in the city of Dara’a, after the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) completed its rehabilitation work, in cooperation with Kerk In Actie in the Netherlands, within the program “Restoration Fund for Rehabilitation of Faith-based Social Services & Religious Infrastructure Damaged During the Crisis in Syria”.

The Middle East Council of Churches Participates in Its Preperation 

On the occasion of the centenary of the International Missionary Council (IMC), many studies were conducted on the situations of Christians in the world, and a new series of books was published, including a book entitled “Christian Mission in the Middle East, Ecumenical Perspectives.” This book comes at a time when the region, which is the cradle of Christianity, is witnessing several social, economic, demographic, geopolitical and environmental transformations, that have led the Church to take on new forms in its Christian mission. 

Hence, the book explains the response of Christians in the Middle East to all the changes surrounding them and how they are jointly exploring new paths in mission and how they are relating to other faiths, especially Islam. In this context, the book emphasizes the extent to which Christian communities in the region strive to persevere, cling to the land, and bear witness to Christ. 

And Concludes the “Season of Creation” For This Year in the Middle East

The Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) have now issued its online Ecumenical calendar for the month of October 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. 

As well as, the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) concludes during October 2024, the “Season of Creation” in the region, with this year’s theme “To hope and act with Creation” and its symbol “The firstfruits of hope” based on the Epistle to the Romans 8: 19-25. Noting that the Season extends internationally and annually from 1 September, the Feast of Creation, until 4 October, the Feast of Saint Francis of Assisi, the Patron Saint of Ecology. 

First, we must make it clear that displacement based on violence is a violation of laws and the Bill of Human Rights. It is, in fact, a process of humiliation, a daily violation, and a massive crushing of human dignity. It involves removing individuals from the circle of their daily lives, from their schools and institutions, and throwing them into the streets, which constitutes the height of humiliation and societal disintegration. People live together in a community that provides safety, stability, and tranquility. Casting them into the unknown prevents them from realizing what their future holds.

Historically, we experienced such events in the eighties, and today they are being repeated through displacement, relief, refuge, and similar situations. The main issue we neglected in the past, but must pay attention to today in this dilemma of displacement, is the dismantling of the psychological strength of individuals by throwing them into the unknown, halting production, and destroying their livelihoods, leaving them prey to poverty, unemployment, and destitution. We are placing a large segment of the population into a crucible of economic and social destruction resulting from displacement, war, and aggression.

There are people who do not want us to be alive or to exist in the first place. They aim to exterminate us and use various methods to do so. This is what is happening in Lebanon and the Levant, or what we call the Antiochian Levant.

Moreover, the Middle East Council of Churches was the first to describe the Gaza war on the eighteenth of October 2023 as "genocide" because it is a war of extermination and ethnic cleansing. Despite objections from some to this description, they gradually agreed to the term and adopted it.

This video presents the full celebration held on the occasion of the Fiftieth Year of the Founding of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), on Saturday 14 September 2024, at the New Papal Headquarters in Anba Royce, under the patronage, blessings, and presence of His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark, and in the presence of His Beatitude Patriarch Bishop Anba Ibrahim Ishak, Coptic Catholic Patriarch, and President of the Council of Catholic Patriarchs and Bishops in Egypt, Reverend Dr. Andrea Zaki, President of the Evangelical Community in Egypt, and President of the Coptic Evangelical Organization for Social Services, His Grace Anba Antonios, Metropolitan of Jerusalem and the Near East for the Coptic Orthodox Church, and President of the Middle East Council of Churches for the Oriental Orthodox Family, representatives of various Churches,  Professor Michel Abs, Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), Reverend Yachouh Ayoub, the Secretary General of the Egyptian Council of Churches, Honorary and Associate Secretaries, Fathers Priests and Pastors, Nun Sisters, personalities and invitees. 

On the Occasion of the 20th Anniversary of His Accession to the Patriarchal See

On the Occasion of the 20th Anniversary of the accession of His Holiness Pope and Patriarch Theodoros II, Greek Orthodox Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa, to the Patriarchal See, the family of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), in the name of its Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs, extends heartfelt congratulations to His Holiness, wishing him continued health, well-being, goodness, blessing, and holiness.

The Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) also wishes His Holiness Pope and Patriarch Theodoros II continued success in his paternal and patriarchal care, lifting prayers to God to support him in his pastoral mission and service in the Lord's field for the good of the Church and its faithful people. May his years be many.

The Greek Orthodox Parish Priest of Ibl Al Saqi in Lebanon

The Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Dr. Michel Abs, was a guest on the Egyptian ME Sat TV Channel, to talk about the health condition of Father Gregorios Salloum, the Greek Orthodox Parish Priest of Ibl Al Saqi in Lebanon, after he was injured as a result of a raid that targeted his town. Dr. Abs also highlighted the deteriorating humanitarian circumstances in Lebanon and the relief work of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC).

The Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Dr. Michel Abs, was a guest on an episode of the “Zawya Tanya” (“Another Angle”) program broadcasted on SAT 7 TV Channel, to talk about the statement of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) following the dangerous security incidents that Lebanon is facing, in addition to the MECC relief response to support the affected and displaced people, as well as supporting them on various moral, material, health and psychological levels.

During the interview, which you can watch in the video, Dr. Abs also highlighted the difficult humanitarian conditions that Lebanon is passing through, in addition to the urgent needs in the country.

to Support the Displaced People in Lebanon

The Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Dr. Michel Abs, was a guest on the news bulletin broadcasted on the Egyptian ME Sat TV Channel, to talk about the importance of the humanitarian initiative launched by the Pastoral Office for Persons with Disabilities in the Maronite Patriarchate in Bkerke, Lebanon, which it established a crisis cell to support the displaced people in Lebanon.

Hence, you can watch the full interview in the video.

He calls for Ongoing Work to Preserve the Environment:

“The gift of being created in the image of God also carries the responsibility of caring for all creation”

“In the beginning, when God created the heavens and the earth, the earth was a formless wasteland, and darkness covered the abyss, while a mighty wind swept over the waters.” (Genesis 1: 1-2). This is how God created Earth and everything on it, and gathered all of them in one environment, thus creating Man in His image, and after His likeness, making him guardian of the Earth "Let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, and the cattle, and over all the wild animals and all the creatures that crawl on the ground." (Genesis 1:26).

On the occasion of the “Season of Creation” 2024 which carries this year the theme “To hope and act with Creation”, His Eminence Metropolitan Anba Thomas, Bishop of Al-Qusiyah and Primate of the Coptic Orthodox Church, founder of the Anafora Center in Egypt, presented a spiritual reflection full of hope, faith and an emphasis on the need to continue working to preserve the Earth and everything on it, based on the responsibility that God has entrusted human to it.

This reflection came within the international Ecumenical celebration that was held online on the first of September 2024, at the invitation of His Holiness Pope Francis, His Beatitude the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I, His Beatitude Archbishop Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury and Head of the Anglican Church, as well as many Heads of Churches and Ecumenical Leaders from around the world, in addition to the World Council of Churches (WCC), the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), and concerned organizations and institutions.

In the “Season of Creation”:

“The environment is the most significant gift the Creator has bestowed upon us. Let us protect it out of respect for the One who gave it to us”

It is true that the world is struggling as a result of conflicts, wars and crises that have cast their shadows all over the earth, especially in the wounded Middle East, but clinging to hope remains a source of strength and determination amidst all the challenges that surround human. Hence, the “Season of Creation” comes to constitute a Season of Prayer and hope to praise the Lord, the God of justice and peace. The Season calls us to continue praying and working together in order to preserve creation and protect our common home.

On the occasion of this environmental and Ecumenical Season, which extends between 1 September and 4 October of each year, the Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Dr. Michel Abs, delivered a word to the people of the Middle East and the world, entitled “Crisis Creation and the Forgiving Creator,” in which he talked about the importance of the environmental issue. He stressed the necessity of the environmental advocacy and concerted efforts to protect creation, and condemned all actions that threaten it. Dr. Abs also shed light on the environmental and Theological activity being implemented by the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), in addition to its work for the “Season of Creation.”

Dr. Abs began his word by highlighting the environmental reality and said “There is a frantic race in the world between those who strive to protect the environment, willing to sacrifice everything for its sake, and those who, driven by selfishness and armed with ignorance, persist in its destruction to secure interests that prioritize profit above all else.”

Friday 4 October 2024 - 4 pm Beirut Time

Amidst a world mired in wars and conflicts, the “Season of Creation” 2024 ends on 4 October, with the Feast of Saint Francis of Assisi, the Patron Saint of ecology, as is customary annually, after it had started on 1 September, with the Feast of Creation.

On this occasion, the Ecumenical Youth Committee in the “Season of Creation” is organizing an international online celebration to Pray and praise God the Creator and thank Him for all His abundant Gifts and graces. It will be held on Friday 4 October 2024, at 4 pm Beirut time, and you may join it by clicking here, through the “Season of Creation” YouTube channel.

Let us participate together in this celebration and unite in Prayer on the intention of creation and our common home, hoping to achieve peace, truth and justice in the Middle East and the world.