The MECC Secretary General Professor Dr. Michel Abs Participates In It

Balamand - Lebanon, January 19, 2025

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 Divine Liturgy at the Patriarchal Monastery Our Lady of Balamand, with the participation of Archimandrite George Yaacoub, the Abbot of the monastery, Archimandrite Yaacoub Khalil, Dean of the Saint John of Damascus Institute, and President of the Association of Theological Institutes in the Middle East A.T.I.M.E., and many Priests and Deacons. The Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), Professor Dr. Michel Abs, the Balamand family, and a crowd of faithful were also present.

In his Sermon, His Beatitude focused on the meanings of the Apostle that was read from (Colossians 3: 4-11). He focused on the process of becoming new human persons and wished for stability, security, and peace in Lebanon, Syria, and the region.

After the Liturgy, His Beatitude met with the faithful in the monastery’s hall and hada paternal discussion with them about the general situation.

We unite together in Prayer proclaiming “Merciful God, forgive us for the times we have failed to live a common life as Christians. Draw us more deeply to one faith in you so that we may witness to the world” (from the Prayer Service of the Week of Unity 2025).

Opening Ecumenical Prayer Service in celebration of the “Week of Prayer for Christian Unity”, at St. Ignatius of Antioch Church in the Syriac Catholic Patriarchate in Beirut.

The launching of the “Week of Prayer for Christian Unity” 2025 in the Middle East, under the title “Do you believe this?” (John 11: 26). An Ecumenical Prayer Service is being held live from the Church of St. Ignatius the Antioch in the Syriac Catholic Patriarchate in Beirut, hosted by His Beatitude Patriarch Mor Ignatius Youssef III Younan, Syriac Catholic Patriarch of Antioch, and Honorary President of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), with the participation of the Heads of the Churches, and the presence of the MECC Secretary General Professor Dr. Michel Abs.

"The Patriarchate is your home!"

A Meeting that Stresses the Importance of Building Bridges Between the Churches

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 (MECC) for the Catholic Family, received the Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Professor Dr. Michel Abs, at the head of a delegation that included colleagues from the MECC General Secretariat. The visit was held on Wednesday, January 15, 2025, at the Patriarchate in Geitawi - Beirut, in the presence of His Eminence Bishop Krikor Badishah, Auxiliary Bishop of the Armenian Catholic Archdiocese of Beirut.

During the meeting, the Secretary General Professor Dr. Abs wished His Beatitude Patriarch Minassian blessed Feasts and a happy new year. He also congratulated him on the Ecumenical and Ecclesiastical event that he held on the occasion of receiving the body of the Servant of God Cardinal Patriarch Krikor-Bedros XV Aghajanian from Rome to Beirut, praising its great organization and emphasizing the spiritual meanings it carries.

For his part, His Beatitude welcomed the Secretary General and the accompanying delegation, wishing the Middle East Council of Churches continued success in its Ecumenical mission and humanitarian tasks, praising all the projects, initiatives and programs being implemented by the Council’s departments. He also expressed his happiness with this visit and mentioning that the Patriarchate is a home for everyone.

Marking the Fiftieth Year of the Founding of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), the President of the Heart of Giving Association Mrs. Raifa Al-Daouk, visited the Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Professor Michel Abs, at the MECC headquarters in Ras Beirut, in the presence of the Media Officer, Director of the Platform of the Word, and Coordinator of the Church and Media Relations at MECC Lea Adel Maamary.

The visit included many discussions about various humanitarian and social initiatives and issues being implemented by the associations, especially the Heart of Giving Association.

For her part, Mrs. Raifa Al-Daouk praised the work of the Council and the achievements made on all levels.

At the end of the meeting, colleagues in the MECC Media Department, Elia Nasrallah and Johnny Anton, conducted a media interview with Raifa Al-Daouk, during which she talked about urgent humanitarian and social issues.

Receives the Secretary General Professor Dr. Michel Abs and an MECC Delegation

A Christmas Visit and Hopes for a Better Future

The Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Professor Dr. Michel Abs headed a delegation from the Council on a Christmas visit to the Pastor of the Coptic Orthodox Church in Lebanon and Syria Father Andraos Al Anthouny, on Tuesday, January 7, 2025, at the headquarters of the Coptic Orthodox Patriarchate in Beirut, in the presence of the Lawyer of the Coptic Orthodox Church in Lebanon Mr. Abdallah Moussallem.

The Secretary General was accompanied by the Director of the Theological and Ecumenical Department at the Council Fr. Dr. Antoine Al Ahmar, the Coordinator of the Social Capital Rehabilitation Project Dr. Laure Abi Khalil, the Media Officer, the Director of the Platform of the Word and the Coordinator of the Church and Media Relations at the Council the Journalist Lea Adel Maamary, Media and Communication Officer at the Communication and Public Relations Department Elia Nasrallah, and Social Media Officer Johnny Antoun.

The attendees exchanged Christmas and New Year greetings, wishing everyone a blessed and glorious season, raising their Prayers for peace in the Middle East and hoping that the people of the region will live in better conditions and with a brighter future.

A Meeting that Stresses the Importance of the Role of Ecumenical Media in Conveying the Good News

On the occasion of Christmas and New Year, the Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Professor Dr. Michel Abs, visited 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, and his wife Mrs. Maral Haidostian, in the presence of Reverend Jirair Ghazarian, Pastor of the First Armenian Evangelical Church in Beirut. The visit took place on Tuesday, January 7, 2025, at the campus of Haigazian University - Beirut.

Professor Dr. Abs was accompanied by an MECC delegation which included the Associate Secretary General Mrs. Seta Hadeshian, the Director of the Theological and Ecumenical Department Fr. Antoine Ahmar, the Executive Assistant to the Secretary General Mrs. Caroline Haddad, the Coordinator of the Social Capital Rehabilitation Project Dr. Laure Abi Khalil, the Media Officer, the Director of the Platform of the Word and the Coordinator of the Church and Media Relations at the Council the Journalist Lea Adel Maamary, Media and Communication Officer at the Communication and Public Relations Department Elia Nasrallah, Social Media Officer Johnny Antoun, and Archive Officer Charbel Bastoury.

His Eminence Archbishop Youssef Soueif: We are called in this East to live unity more than ever before, so we must experience it pastorally, socially and humanly

The Secretary General Professor Dr. Michel Abs: The Week of Prayer for Unity is a step on the path of a thousand miles towards social cohesion and civil peace

In a historical step, and with the blessings and presence of His Eminence Archbishop Youssef Soueif, Archbishop of the Maronite Diocese of Tripoli and President of the Episcopal Committee for Ecumenical Work at the Assemblée des Patriarches et Evêques Catholiques du Liban (APECL), the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) held a press conference to launch the “Week of Prayer for Christian Unity” 2025 under the title “Do you believe this?” (John 11: 26). It coincides this year with the 1700th Anniversary of the First Christian Ecumenical Council in Nicaea.

The conference, which was held on Tuesday, January 7, 2025, in “The Platform of the Word” at the MECC headquarters - Beirut, was attended by Father Tanios Khalil, Dean of the Faculty of Theology at La Sagesse University in Lebanon, and Rapporteur of the Episcopal Committee for Ecumenical Work at the Assemblée des Patriarches et Evêques Catholiques du Liban (APECL), the Journalist George Maalouli, Director of Mariam TV, and colleagues in the MECC General Secretariat.

After His Eminence Archbishop Youssef Soueif blessed the MECC offices and the Platform of the Word by the Holy Water, the conference began with a speech delivered by the Media Officer at MECC, the Director of the Platform of the Word, and the Coordinator of the Church and Media Relations at MECC, the Journalist Lea Adel Maamary, in which she said, “The Churches have advanced concerning the issue of unity regardless of doctrinal differences, based on the fact that when we talk about Theological dialogue, it will be met with a dialogue of love, and this embrace can only be achieved through doctrinal dialogue and love: love of God and love of others.”

What Are the Details?

In a gesture of love and appreciation, the Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Professor Dr. Michel Abs, offered the Medal of the Fiftieth Year of the MECC Founding to His Eminence Archbishop Youssef Soueif, Archbishop of the Maronite Diocese of Tripoli and President of the Episcopal Committee for Ecumenical Work at the Assemblée des Patriarches et Evêques Catholiques du Liban (APECL), and Father Tanios Khalil, Dean of the Faculty of Theology at La Sagesse University in Lebanon, and Rapporteur of the Episcopal Committee for Ecumenical Work, as a token of respect and thanks for their continuous support.

This presentation took place during the press conference held for the launch of the "Week of Prayer for Christian Unity" 2025 entitled “Do you believe this?” (John 11: 26), at the invitation of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), on Tuesday, January 7, 2025, at "The Platform of the Word" in MECC - Beirut.

A Meeting with the MECC Team Emphasizes the Importance of Strengthening the Ecumenical Spirit

In a historic station and within the journey of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), His Eminence Archbishop Youssef Soueif, Archbishop of the Maronite Diocese of Tripoli and President of the Episcopal Committee for Ecumenical Work at the Assemblée des Patriarches et Evêques Catholiques du Liban (APECL), visited the MECC headquarters in Beirut for the first time, on Tuesday, January 7, 2025. He was accompanied by Father Tanios Khalil, Dean of the Faculty of Theology at La Sagesse University in Lebanon, and Rapporteur of the Episcopal Committee for Ecumenical Work.

They were received by the Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Professor Dr. Michel Abs, and colleagues in the MECC General Secretariat.

Upon his arrival, His Eminence blessed the offices of the General Secretariat and “The Platform of the Word” at MECC by sprinkling the Holy Water, offering his Prayers on the intention of the MECC work and the peace in Lebanon and the region.

Together We Pray and Work to Preserve Our Common Home!

Due to the war that broke out in the fall season and disrupted life in the region, especially in Lebanon, the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) was unable to celebrate the Season of Creation during the traditional period from September 1 to October 4. Once the situation calmed down, the Program Coordinator Archdeacon Garen Yosolkanian, began organizing many celebrations and activities, during the Christmas period, starting from Egypt.

On December 27, 2024, which is the Sunday of the Righteous Saint, the Spouse of the Virgin Mary in the Byzantine Rite and the Sunday of the Genesis in the Coptic Rite, the first celebration of the Season of Creation 2024 in Egypt was held at the Church of the Virgin Mary and Mother Teresa for the Coptic Catholics in Ezbet El Nakhl. The celebration included an awareness campaign on the importance of the environment and a presentation of the changes that occurred in the areas of Ezbet El Nakhl, which lost its palm tree grove and consequently lost traces of the date tree, due to the lack of a pure approach to creation and local nature.

On December 29, 2024, a Liturgical celebration and a Prayer Service for the Season of Creation were held at the Evangelical Church of El Zahour, according to the Arabic text issued by the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC). It is worth noting that the Church is new, located in a city which is still under construction in El Zahour area. The celebration was led by Reverend Eid Salah, Reverend Jeremiah and the Church elders, in the presence of a crowd of believers from the area, including many young people and children, along with guests from Lebanon and the Head of the Ecumenical Youth Committee in Egypt.

The program "Dawn from the East" produced by "The Platform of the Word" at the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), on Télé Lumière and Noursat TV Channel!

Watch with us the second episode, on Friday, January 3, 2025, at 1:00 pm Beirut time.

“Dawn from the East”, a program that addresses the youth, their concerns and aspirations, especially in light of the difficult circumstances that our countries are passing through. It also highlights their various activities and humanitarian initiatives during Christmas.

Launching of the Documentary "Presence and Witness" On the Occasion of the Fiftieth Year of the MECC Founding

In preparation for the Glorious Christmas, the team of the General Secretariat of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), headed by the Secretary General Professor Dr. Michel Abs, met in a Christmas gathering full hope, on Wednesday, December 18, 2024, at the offices of the MECC General Secretariat in Beirut, with the online participation of colleagues in the MECC Office in Syria.

The gathering began with a time for Prayer that included hymns, meditations and Christmas readings, which were culminated with a reading from the Gospel of John 1: 1-18, followed by a spiritual word delivered by the Director of the MECC Theological and Ecumenical Department Father Dr. Antoine Al Ahmar.

In his turn, the Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Professor Dr. Michel Abs addressed the team with a heartfelt word, wishing them continued health, success and prosperity for the good of the Church and society. He also stressed the need to hold on to hope and faith, preparing to welcome Jesus Christ, the God of Justice and the King of Peace.

In light of the difficult living circumstances that Lebanon is passing through as a result of the security, economic, social and health crises that have cast their shadows on the country, men have become one of the most social groups that face daily pressures and challenges that hinder their usual activities. Hence, the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), Diakonia and Social Service Department, Lebanon’s Office, implemented eight empowerment sessions for a group of men in order to support them and alleviate the despair surrounding them.

The sessions come at a time when many men have lost their source of livelihood. Therefore, they aimed to develop the participants’ capabilities and train them in new manual skills teaching them how by using a rope they can create products that can be used in day-to-day applications.

Entitled “Disaster Risk Management and Churches Response”

The Middle East Council of Churches held a training session in the Governorate of Akkar, entitled “Disaster Risk Management and Churches Response,” with support from Tearfund.

The session took place in the hall of Our Lady of Salvation Melkite Greek Catholic Church in the town of Sheikh Mohammad – Akkar, and was attended by more than fifty participants from various Churches and professional backgrounds.

The meeting began with a Prayer prepared by Father Spiridon Tannous, titled “The Church of Antioch’s Response to the Famine in Jerusalem.” After this, the participating youth introduced themselves and became acquainted.

Subsequently, Father Spiridon divided the youth into groups and organized training workshops, which generated significant interest among the attendees.

Later, Father Basilios Ghafari and the Journalist Lea Maamary gave lectures on different types of disasters, their impact on individuals and society, and the importance of local churches taking action to respond to crises by forming and effectively organizing emergency committees.

Ecumenical Youth Empowerment in a New Leadership Training: Together for a Better World!

In continuation of the Ecumenical Youth Camp “Youth Leadership Building" in Lebanon, the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) implemented a new training within this program, stemming from its belief in the importance of empowering youth and developing their capabilities. It was held on Saturday, December 7, 2024, at Moore Conference Center & Guesthouse in Mansourieh - Lebanon. Noting that the program was organized in partnership with Kerk in Actie (KIA) organization, Bible Society, Youth for Christ (YFC), and Ithraa Center in Lebanon.

Attendees were 36 youth and 11 leaders from different Church Families, who participated in the previous Ecumenical camp. The course comes at a time when young people face many challenges that may often hinder their usual activities. Therefore, this meeting aimed to develop the skills of the participants, motivate them to serve, and train them on the foundations of leadership, thus contributing to the formation of youth networks capable of making positive change in societies.

The course included various games that brought the participants closer together, as well as dynamic sessions that focused on leadership skills, as well as how to deal with crises and ways to work together to build a brighter future in peace.

His Eminence Bishop Michel Kassarji: It is necessary to enhance cooperation, solidarity and God-reliance

With the blessing and presence of His Eminence Bishop Michel Kassarji, Head of the Chaldean Community in Lebanon, the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), Diakonia and Social Service Department – Lebanon’s Office, in partnership with TearFund organization, held a new training course within the program "Disaster Risk Management and Churches Response", on Saturday, December 7, 2024, hosted by the Chaldean Archdiocese of Beirut, Hazmieh - Lebanon.

The training was held in the presence of Monsignor Raphael Traboulsi, the General Vicar of the Chaldean Diocese of Beirut, and Father Khoren, Priest of the Armenian Orthodox Cathedral Church in Zkak el-Blat, Beirut, and the participation of an Ecumenical group including 120 participants of clergy, consecrated men and women, lay people, scouts and workers in the Church field from the Chaldean Diocese of Beirut, the Syriac Orthodox Archdiocese of Beirut, and the Armenian Orthodox Archdiocese of Lebanon.

The training aimed to empower the participants and develop their capacities on the topic at hand in order to support them and provide them with the basic skills that will help them train workers in their Parishes. Thus, it will enable them to help the Church in supporting the neediest and most affected people by the crises and difficult living conditions, on various humanitarian, social, health and psychological levels.

A Webinar Organized by the WCC

MECC Highlights the Church’s Response in the Region to the Environmental Crises

In a world burdened by environmental disasters that have cast their shadows on the planet, the World Council of Churches (WCC) held an international webinar entitled “Churches in the Mediterranean: Addressing Desertification Through Responsible Banking,” in order to raise awareness about the various environmental issues that threaten human life.

The webinar, which was held on Monday, December 9, 2024, featured speakers from Member Churches in the region, experts from the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) represented by Deacon Garen Yosolkanian, the Coordinator of the MECC Eco-Justice Unit, the Conference of European Churches (CEC), and All Africa Conference of Churches (AACC), as well as Dr. Mercedes Caron, Scientific Researcher at the European Forest Institute.

Attendees were also specialists and concerned participants from various countries around the world. The sessions focused on the issue of desertification in the Mediterranean region, its causes and repercussions, in addition to ways to confront it and reduce its negative effects. In this context, the speakers presented various facts and data about this worsening issue due to the ongoing increase of CO2 emissions, and how Churches respond to this problem.

In Light of the Circumstances Taking Place in the North of the Syrian Arab Republic, Especially in the City of Aleppo

The Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Professor Dr. Michel Abs was a guest within the “Good Evening” program on the “ME Sat” Egyptian TV Channel to talk about the statement issued by MECC in light of the circumstances taking place in the North of the Syrian Arab Republic, especially in the city of Aleppo.

Through its Service and Relief Department, Diakonia, the Middle East Council of Churches continues its efforts to strengthen social and economic stability within local communities. The goal is to provide individuals with the necessary support to improve their living standards in response to current economic challenges.

Operating through its office in Syria, the Diakonia Department has supported many small projects in the Latakia and Tartus governorates via the Livelihood Support Program. This initiative aims to empower project owners and equip them with essential tools for success and sustainability.

A total of 72 projects were supported, spanning various fields. These included a greenhouse, a motorcycle repair workshop, an event decoration center, a mosaic art workshop, a car wash, a candle-making workshop, a local restaurant, and dairy and cheese production. Additionally, there were other small projects addressing local community needs and providing a source of income for their owners.