Aleppo, September 4, 2024

His Eminence the Mufti of Aleppo Dr. Mahmoud Akam received the Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Dr. Michel Abs, in Dar Al-Fatwa in the city of Aleppo, at the head of a delegation that included the Director of the MECC Office in Aleppo Lamis Makhoul, and the MECC Coordinator of Church and Media Relations the Journalist Lea Adel Maamary.

During the meeting, the bonds of Christian-Islamic relations were emphasized as a cornerstone in consecrating the values of citizenship and love and preserving common moral values, which are the result of participation in life among the various components of society.

Both sides denounced what is happening in the region, especially in Gaza, which violates human rights and destroys people and stone.

Words Praising the MECC Role and Its Purposeful Programs

Aleppo, September 4, 2024

As part of his official follow up visit to the office of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) in Aleppo, the MECC Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs met with the Church Authorities at the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Aleppo, at the invitation of the Metropolitan of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Aleppo, Alexandretta and their Dependencies.

Attendees were alongside His Eminence Bishop Ephraim Maalouli, the Armenian Catholic Archbishop of Aleppo His Eminence Archbishop Boutros Marayati, the Chaldean Bishop of Aleppo His Eminence Bishop Antoine Audo, the Maronite Archbishop of Aleppo His Eminence Bishop Youssef Tobji, the Armenian Orthodox Bishop of Aleppo His Eminence Bishop Magar Ashkarian, the Head of the Armenian Protestant Community in Aleppo Reverend Dr. Harutyun Suleiman, Father Raymond Girgis, the Episcopal Vicar of the Latin Church in Syria, Father Bahjat Karakach, the Head of the Latin Monastery in Aleppo, Father Kommidas Dadaglian, Armenian Catholic Archdiocese, Father Gabriel Azar, the Director of MECC Office in Aleppo Lamis Makhoul, the MECC Coordinator of the Church and Media Relations Journalist Lea Adel Maamary.

Aleppo, September 3, 2024

Within the framework of his official visit to the Syrian Arab Republic, the Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Dr. Michel Abs visited the Governor of the City of Aleppo Mr. Hussein Diab, at the Governorate headquarters. Dr. Abs headed a delegation that included the Director of the MECC Office in Aleppo Lamis Makhoul, and the MECC Coordinator of Church and Media Relations the Journalist Lea Adel Maamary.

Firstly, the Governor Mr. Hussein Diab received Dr. Michel Abs with great warmth, expressing his happiness with this visit, which reflects the love of the Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs for the city of Aleppo and his follow-up of the MECC work and projects. He congratulated him on his re-election for a new term of four years.

In his turn, Dr. Michel Abs thanked Mr. the Governor for his lovely reception, and talked about the goals of his visit to the city of Aleppo and the program that will include.

Dr. Michel Abs, the General Secretary of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), visited the Council's Office in Damascus today, Monday, September 2, 2024. He was welcomed by Eng. Ghassan Shaheen, the Council’s Program Director in Syria, and the staff of the Council’s Office.

This visit to the Damascus Office is part of Dr. Abs’ tour in the Syrian Arab Republic to follow up on the activities of MECC and the implementation of its programs.

Eng. Ghassan Shaheen welcomed Dr. Michel Abs and congratulated him on his re-election as General Secretary for a second four-year term. He commended Dr. Abs' efforts in managing the Council over the past four years.

Dr. Abs then addressed the Damascus Office team, providing an overview of the goals and future strategies of the projects undertaken by MECC. Among these activities, the most significant project is the Church Agricultural Dimension Project, which involves rural housing complexes dealing with agriculture and crafts. The aim is to help the Church withstand Christian emigration, as providing housing and food reduces the likelihood of people considering emigration.

With the blessing of His Beatitude Patriarch John X, Greek Orthodox Patriarchate 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, the 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 MECC completed its rehabilitation work. 

The opening ceremony was attended by the MECC team, the Governor of Dara’a Loae Khareta, in addition to political and judicial figures, the members of the City Council, and a large gathering of residents.

The event began with a Prayer of Thanksgiving led by His Eminence Metropolitan Antonios Saad in the Lady of Annunciation Church, followed by a speech in which he thanked MECC for restoring the Church halls. Then, he made the inauguration and visited the halls with the attendees. As well as, His Eminence visited the office of MECC in Dara’a.

MECC Implements a New Session of the “Spiritual and Psychological Support” Program for Jordan and Palestine

Within the framework of the “Spiritual and Psychological Support” program implemented by the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), Theological and Ecumenical Department, in various countries of the Middle East, a new session of the program was dedicated for Jordan and Palestine, between 21 and 26 July 2024, at Theodor Schneller School - Amman.

The session, which was titled “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest” (Mark 6: 31), was held at a time when the region is witnessing a series of wars, conflicts, and crises that have burdened the people of the East and disrupted their usual activities. Thus, that they became in dire need of spiritual and psychological accompaniment to help them restore hope to their lives.

The family of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) bids farewell to the colleague Jean-Pierre Eid, MECC Events Coordinator, after a journey in the Ecumenical world and humanitarian work that lasted for 3 years of giving, dedication, and loyalty to the MECC mission. He was known for his kindness, love, and continuous support for all colleagues, partners, and friends.

In this context, the MECC General Secretariat team held a farewell gathering for Jean-Pierre, on Tuesday 20 August 2024, at the General Secretariat offices in Beirut. During the meeting, the MECC Secretary General Dr. Michel addressed Jean-Pierre with a speech in which he praised his continuous efforts, emphasizing his competence, experience and performance. Dr. Abs also thanked him for his efforts and diligence, and wished him success in his new journey.

 The Diakonia and Social Service Department at the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), Syria’s Office, continues raising awareness among pregnant and lactating women about the importance of breastfeeding and the correct way to care for infants.

This is being done through holding health and Psychosocial sessions for pregnant and lactating mothers in three governorates: Damascus and its countryside, Aleppo, and Dara’a.

These sessions shed light on all aspects related to breastfeeding, the difficulties mothers face with breastfeeding, and clarification of some misconceptions. They also addressed complementary feeding for infants, maternal nutrition, and dietary practices when the child is ill.

Middle East Socioeconomic Overview

Report: July 2024

With the notorious warmonger visiting Washington to address the US congress about the war in Gaza, the world watched as he spewed lie after lie, unashamedly denying the reports of genocide coming from occupied Palestine. As though the plethora of images, recordings, and UN-confirmed reports are nothing but a fabrication and that he and the entity he represents, are the victims. To make matters worse, he is taking advantage of an event which occurred in the Golan Heights to increase the intensity of the war. Things are definitely escalating towards a dangerous situation, a probable breaking point.

Together Towards Creating a Media Network Unifying the Voice of the Church

Together we join hands, communicate and build bridges! Together we work to consolidate human values ​​and spread love and fraternity throughout the earth! From this perspective, the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) seeks, through its media activities, to embody these slogans through service, work, and solidarity in order to raise the voice of the Church so that it remains a prophetic voice carrying the call of our Lord Jesus Christ “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid” (Matthew 14: 27).

Given the importance of the role of Christian media, especially in conveying the good word and good News, coordination is being made between various Christian media offices in the Middle East. It aims at enhancing communication among them and work together to create an Ecumenical media network towards unifying efforts and coordinating at various media levels.

In this context, and following the invitation of the Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Dr. Michel Abs, an Ecumenical media meeting was held on Tuesday 20 August 2024, in the presence of a group of specialists in the field of Church media from various Church Families and countries of the Middle East. They participated in person at the offices of the MECC General Secretariat in Beirut, and online via Zoom.

A Round Table Organized by the Middle East Council of Churches

Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs: people find themselves in a position where they disbelieve in their homeland and decide to leave this place, where there is economic oppression and social marginality

The Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) held a roundtable entitled “Youth Emigration, A Challenge to Human Dignity,” on Thursday 1 August 2024, at the MECC General Secretariat Offices in Beirut. This symposium is part of the series of monthly seminars launched by MECC, within the framework of the “Human Dignity Project” - “Dialogue and Social Cohesion-Social Capital Rehabilitation”, that MECC is working to implement consecutively. 

The round table included two sessions in which researchers and specialists ffirst sessionrom various fields and Middle Eastern countries spoke. The first session revolved around the title “Youth Emigration: Concepts, Causes and Consequences,” and was moderated by Dr. Chawki Attieh. The second session was entitled “Forms of Migration,” moderated by Dr. Laure Abi Khalil. 

The symposium began with an opening speech by Dr. Laure Abi Khalil. Attendees were specialists and interested people in the topic who participated at in the offices of the MECC General Secretariat or online via the “Zoom” platform. Noting that the symposium was broadcasted live on the MECC YouTube channel (first session - second session). 

Firstly, the Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Dr. Michel Abs delivered a speech entitled “Youth Emigration, Embarrassment Until  Departure!” in which he said, “Amidst circumstances of this kind, where it is very difficult to find - or establish - decent work, and where the available jobs, in terms of their content and income, put those who accept it in a state of Malthusian unemployment, people find themselves in a position where they disbelieve in their homeland and decide to leave this place, where there is economic oppression and social marginality. Noting that the disillusioned youth may abandon their values ​​and morals and may join the work that will lead them to criminal prosecution.” 

With the rise of unemployment and inflation rates, as well as the increase in the prices of basic needs, the percentage of families living below the poverty line and relying primarily on humanitarian aid has increased. Many young people find themselves unable to build a stable future under these harsh conditions.

In response to these challenges, the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) continues to support the most vulnerable people by organizing vocational training courses that help participants enter the job market. In addition, MECC provided them with vocational kits as well as skills through business start-up courses, enabling them to establish small businesses that can become sources of income, rather than spending months or even years searching for suitable job opportunities.

In this context, the MECC Diakonia and Social Service Department, Syria’s Office, conducted a vocational training course on growing oyster mushrooms and another course on distilling medicinal herbs and flowers. A total of 30 participants, aged between 25 and 55, benefited from these courses.

Receiving a Delegation from the Middle East Council of Churches:

“Every action that divides people contradicts religion, and religious affiliation does not give distinction in rights and duties and should be the criteria for competence and assuming national responsibility in serving the nation and its people”

The Vice-President of the Supreme Islamic Shiite Council His Eminence Sheikh Ali Al-Khatib, received the Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Dr. Michel Abs, at the head of an MECC delegation, on Tuesday 23 July 2024, at the headquarters of the Supreme Islamic Shiite Council in Beirut. The meeting was held in the presence of Dr. Mohammad Rizk, Director General of the Supreme Islamic Shiite Council and Special Secretary of the Council, and Dr. Ghazi Kanso, Advisor to His Eminence Sheikh Ali Al-Khatib, and Dean of the Faculty of Islamic Studies at the Islamic University in Lebanon.

During the meeting, the attendees discussed issues related to Islamic-Christian dialogue, national and religious affairs, and developments concerning the situation in Lebanon and the region. Attendees also stressed the importance of promoting Islamic-Christian dialogue and consolidating human values ​​, as they emphasized the necessity of working to spread the spirit of peace, fraternity and love among all components of society. The attendees also denounced the difficult security and social conditions taking place in the region, especially the ongoing war in Gaza.

“Youth Emigration, A Challenge to Human Dignity”

Thursday 1 August 2024 - 9 am to 2:30 pm Beirut time

As part of its monthly seminar series, the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) invites you to a round table entitled “Youth Emigration, A Challenge to Human Dignity,” on Thursday 1 August 2024, from 9 am to 2:30 pm Beirut time, at the MECC General Secretariat’s Offices in Beirut. You can participate in it via Zoom through the following link: https://shorturl.at/PYUb0, or live on the MECC YouTube Channel.

The round table begins with an opening and welcome speech by Dr. Laure Abi Khalil, and will be followed by a speech delivered by the Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Dr. Michel Abs.

It will also include several interventions into two sessions with the participation of speakers from various fields and specializations. The first session is entitled “Youth Emigration: Concepts, Causes and Consequences,” moderated by Dr. Chawki Attieh. The second session focuses on “Forms of Migration,” moderated by Dr. Laure Abi Khalil.

This round table, which ends with a discussion, is part of the series of monthly seminars launched by MECC, within the framework of the “Human Dignity Project” - “Dialogue and Social Cohesion-Social Capital Rehabilitation”, that MECC is working to implement consecutively.

The family of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) bids farewell to the colleague Mrs. Grace Boustany, the Director of Our Lady Dispensary, affiliated with MECC, in the Sabtieh region – Mount Lebanon, after a journey in the Ecumenical world and humanitarian work that lasted for 24 years of giving, dedication, and loyalty to the MECC mission. She was known for her service, love, and continuous support for all colleagues, partners, and friends.

The family of the MECC General Secretariat gathered around a farewell lunch to our colleague Grace, on Tuesday 23 July 2024. During the gathering, the MECC Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs offered to Grace an honorary trophy as a token of love and appreciation. He also addressed her with a speech in which he praised her competence, experience and performance, thanking her for her efforts and diligence, and wishing her success in her new journey. In addition, and with heartfelt words, colleagues wished Ms. Grace good luck in every step she takes.

The MECC Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs Participates in the Prayers

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, celebrated the Feast of Saint Elias, in Dhour El Choueir region - Lebanon, with a Church, popular and official attendance.

First, His Beatitude arrived at Dhour El Choueir Square, on the evening of Friday 19 July 2024, where an official and popular reception was held for him and speeches were delivered by the Deputy Speaker of the Parliament, His Excellency President Elias Bou Saab, and His Eminence Bishop Silouan Moussi, Greek Orthodox Metropolitan of Byblos, Batroun and Dependencies (Mount Lebanon).

His Beatitude Patriarch John X also delivered a speech in which he stressed the necessity of approaching everything with the logic of hope in the face of difficulties. His Beatitude expressed his pride in the people of Dhour El Choueir and Matn, as well as the importance of their feeling of belonging to Lebanon despite everything, His Beatitude also stressed the necessity of electing a President of the Republic as soon as possible.

Who Delivered a Speech Entitled “Together from the Sources”

Cairo, July 12, 2024

Dr. Michel Abs, the Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), participated in the General Assembly meeting of the Association of Theological Institutes in the Middle East A.T.I.M.E., held at St. Mark’s House – El Shourouk, Cairo.

The General Assembly meeting was presided over by the Rt. Reverend Archimandrite Jack Khalil, the Dean of the Saint John of Damascus Institute at the University of Balamand, Lebanon, and President of A.T.I.M.E., in the presence of Father Dr. Michael Kanbar, the Executive Secretary of A.T.I.M.E., and the presence of the MECC Honorary Secretary General Dr. Gergis Saleh, and the MECC Associate Secretaries General Reverend Dr. Refaat Fikry and Father Dr. Nicolas Bustros, as well as the Deans of the Colleges and Theological Institutes in the Middle East and their representatives.

Firstly, the President of A.T.I.M.E., the Rt. Reverend Archimandrite Dean Jack Khalil, welcomed the attendees, and spoke about the importance of the meeting and what it will include.

Then, Dr. Michel Abs, the Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), delivered a speech entitled “Together from the Sources,” in which he said:

The Association consists of colleges and theological institutes affiliated with the member churches of the Middle East Council of Churches, means that it is truly ecumenical in depth, in goals, approaches and methods…

Spiritual Lectures Strengthened the Work of the Second Annual Conference of A.T.M.E. - Cairo

Cairo, July 10, 2024

The second annual conference of the Association of Theological Institutes in the Middle East – A.T.I.M.E., held at St. Mark's Conference House in the Obour area - Cairo, continued its workshops entitled "We Witness Together."

The forty students began their third day with a Prayer according to the ritual of the Greek Orthodox Church.

Cairo - July 10, 2024

The Association of Theological Institutes in the Middle East – A.T.I.M.E. launched its second annual student conference at St. Mark's Conference House in the Obour area - Cairo.

The conference was organized and attended by The Rt. Reverend Archimandrite Jack Khalil, Dean of the Saint John of Damascus Institute at the University of Balamand, Lebanon, and President of A.T.I.M.E., the Executive Secretary of A.T.I.M.E. Father Dr. Michael Kanbar, Reverend Bishoy Helmi, the Associate Executive Secretary of A.T.I.M.E., and Reverend Dr. Samuel Rozfi, the Associate Executive Secretary of A.T.I.M.E.

Attendees and participants were also members of A.T.I.M.E.: Dr. Gergis Saleh, Honorary Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), Dr. Ishak Ibrahim Ajban Shenouda from the Institute of Coptic Studies, Dr. Michael Edward Abdo Mikhael from the Institute of Care and Education, and forty students from many countries.

His Beatitude Patriarch John X Presides Over the Holy Mass at the Mariamite Cathedral - Damascus

The MECC Secretary General Dr. Abs Participating in the Mass

In celebration of the Feast of the Feast of the Apostles Peter and Paul, Founders of the See of Antioch, 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, presided over the Holy Mass at the Mariamite Cathedral in Damascus, on Saturday 29 June 2024.

Participants were their Eminences Bishops: Elias Kfoury (Tyre and Sidon), Damaskinos Mansour (Brazil), Efrem Kyriakos (Tripoli and Koura), Ignatius Al-Hoshi (France), Antonios Al Souri Sour (Zahle and Baalbek), and Nicolas Baalbaki (Hama), Athanasios Fahed (Latakia), Yacoub Al-Khoury (Argentina), Efrem Maalouli (Aleppo and Alexandretta), Gregorios Khoury (Homs), Antonios Saad (Souaida), and bishops Romanos Al-Hanat, Mousa Al-Khoury, Dimitri Sharbak, Youhanna Batash, Mousa Al Khasi, and a group of clergymen.

As well as, participants were Archimandrite Dr. Jack Khalil, Dean of the Saint John of Damascus Institute at the University of Balamand in Lebanon and President of the Association of Theological Institutes in the Middle East (ATIME), heading a delegation including Deans from the University of Balamand, Professors and students from the Institute, and the Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Dr. Michel Abs.