"Respecting the Creation, Glorifying the Creator"

Under the theme "Respecting the Creation, Glorifying the Creator", His Beatitude Patriarch Anba Ibrahim Isaac, Coptic Catholic Patriarch of Alexandria, and Head of the Council of Catholic Patriarchs and Bishops in Egypt, presided the opening conference of the Association of Theological Institutes in the Middle East (ATIME), on Monday 24 July 2023, at the Seminary's headquarters in Maadi, Egypt. Noting that the conference will continue its sessions until Sunday 30 July 2023.

The opening session, which you can watch in the following video, was held with the participation of their Eminences Bishops from the Catholic Church in Egypt, along with Monsignor Marcel, Counselor of the Vatican Embassy in Egypt, His Eminence Bishop Michael, from the Coptic Orthodox Church, representing the World Council of Churches, Reverend Dr. Refaat Fikry, the MECC Associate Secretary General, representing the Middle East Council of Churches, Father Bishoy Rasmi, Dean of the Seminary College in Maadi, Archimandrite Dr. Jack Khalil, ATIME’s President, and Dean of the Saint John of Damascus Institute of Theology, and Father Dr. Michael Kanbar, ATIME’s Executive Secretary, Priest and Professor. Attendees in the session were also directors and members of Theological Colleges and Institutes from various countries of the Middle East.

A Safe Meeting Place for Studying and Reading Under the Auspices of the Armenian Protestant Church

As part of the “Restoration Fund for Rehabilitation of Faith-based Social Services & Religious Infrastructure Damaged During the Crisis in Syria”, implemented by the Middle East Council of Churches in cooperation with “Kerk in Actie” organization in the Netherlands, MECC and the Armenian Protestant Church focused on the situation of youth in Aleppo, Syria. They worked on restoring a dedicated youth center called the "Study Zone," which serves as a meeting place for young people and a space for reading and studying, in addition to establishing a sports club in “Telephone Hawaee” neighborhood in Aleppo.

At the Invitation of His Excellency Egypt's Ambassador to Lebanon Dr. Yasser Alawi

The MECC Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs Participates in the Reception Held in Beirut

On the occasion of the National Day of the Arab Republic of Egypt, and at the invitation of His Excellency Egypt's Ambassador to Lebanon Dr. Yasser Alawi, the Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches Dr. Michel Abs participated in the reception held at his Excellency’s residence in Dohat El Hoss in Beirut, in commemoration of the "23 July Revolution". It was held on Friday 21 July 2023, with the participation of official, political and cultural personalities and diplomats from Arab and Foreign Countries.

Tuesday 25 July 2023, from 9h30 till 11:00 pm Beirut Time

Watch the Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches Dr. Michel Abs in an episode within the program “The Church in Danger”, on Télé Lumière and Noursat. He will be interviewed by Mr. Toni Chedid, on Tuesday 25 July 2023, from 9:30 till 11:00 pm Beirut Time. The episode will be centered around the Middle East Council of Churches, its history, mission, goals, as well as the most important programs it implements, and its relations with the religions groups in the Middle East, and with the Churches in the world. You can also participate in the episode via live phone call.

In the new issue of the weekly newsletter Momentum issued by the Middle East Council of Churches, Communication and Public Relations Department, you can find the MECC statement in which it is mentioned that the Council is following with great concern, what is happening in Iraq with His Beatitude Patriarch Cardinal Mar Louis Raphaël Sako, Chaldean Patriarch in Iraq and the World, and one of the Honorary Presidents of the Middle East Council of Churches. The MECC, affirms its full solidarity with His Beatitude, and its deep respect for his honorable person and his achievements, and stresses the need to preserve the spirit of fraternity, friendship and respect among all the Iraqi components.

As for the weekly message of the MECC Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs, it is entitled “The Church and Its Response to Harming Its Endowments, The Land Regain in Jerusalem as Model”, in which he affirms the MECC support to His Beatitude Patriarch Theophilos III, and to the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem’s position after it succeeded in regaining its “full” rights over a plot of land it owns in the Abu Tour neighborhood of Jerusalem. Dr. Abs also expresses his joy and pride for this achievement, and stresses the importance of safeguarding and protecting the Christian presence in our region, and ensuring its continuity, which are among the basic principles on which the Middle East Council of Churches was founded.

A Round Table at the Invitation of the Middle East Council of Churches

Thursday 27 July 2023, at 9 am

As part of its monthly series of seminars, the Middle East Council of Churches has the honor to invite you to a round table it organizes under the title “Human Dignity and Palestinian Refugees”, on Thursday 27 July 2023, at the headquarters of the MECC General Secretariat in Beirut.

You can find the seminar’s program in the photo. You can participate in it via the following Zoom link: https://shorturl.at/rtGS2, or live on the MECC Facebook Page.

This round table 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”.

The Land Regain in Jerusalem as Model

According to the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem’s website, the Patriarchate has successfully recovered “strategic” lands in Jerusalem after more than a decade of tireless efforts. These lands are of religious, heritage, and archaeological value, containing Byzantine monuments and located next to the Orthodox Church in the Abu Tour area.

The Patriarchate has regained its “full” rights over a plot of land it owns in the Abu Tour neighborhood of Jerusalem by paying a significant sum. All restrictions hindering its full ownership of the property, resulting from old lease agreements and reservations from judicial rulings accumulated over time, have been removed. The Patriarchate had previously entered into partnerships to develop this property for financial reasons and is now succeeding in regaining its ownership.

With His Beatitude Patriarch Cardinal Mar Louis Raphaël Sako

And Calls for Resolving Issues with Love

With great concern, The Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) is following what is happening in Iraq with His Beatitude Patriarch Cardinal Mar Louis Raphaël Sako, Chaldean Patriarch in Iraq and the World, and one of the Honorary Presidents of the Middle East Council of Churches.

The MECC, affirms its full solidarity with His Beatitude, and its deep respect for his honorable person and his achievements, and stresses the need to preserve the spirit of fraternity, friendship and respect among all the Iraqi components. The spirit that Christianity preaches and calls for, and which is enshrined by all the Heads of Churches, Bishops, and Clergy, and was recently manifested in the historic visit of His Holiness Pope Francis to Iraq. The spirit that the Council, along with other international and local organizations, contributed to its embodiment at all levels.

Amidst the worsening living crises in Lebanon and the region, the Middle East Council of Churches continues to organize its support sessions for the most vulnerable people in order to empower them and develop their skills so they can restore their self-confidence and work to enhance their activity. Thus, they will be able to secure a source of livelihood for themselves and their families.

In this context, the Middle East Council of Churches, Diakonia Department Lebanon, implemented many soft skills and capacity-building sessions during the month of June, in which women and men participated. They didn’t want to give up to the difficult living conditions, but rather cling to hope despite all the challenges that surround them.

With “Bread for the World” Foundation

Capacity building, skills development, and improving the human capital are among the most important goals that the Middle East Council of Churches seeks to secure for its team work in order to enhance its level of performance, develop ways of coordination, and broaden the horizon of work.

From here, the Middle East Council of Churches, in cooperation with the international foundation “Bread for the World”, organized a training course for the General Secretariat team, moderated by Mrs. Ghinwa Mikdashi. It was held on Tuesday 18 July 2023, at the MECC headquarters in Beirut.

The war in Syria has forced thousands of young people to travel in search of a better life, leaving behind them elderly parents who require care and attention. This has increased the number of elderlies in need of someone to provide them with the necessary care and support. Hence, the Middle East Council of Churches and the Syriac Orthodox Patriarchate in Syria have undertaken the restoration of the Al-Rahmeh home for elderly as part of the “Restoration Fund for Rehabilitation of Faith-based Social Services & Religious Infrastructure Damaged During the Crisis in Syria” that is implemented by MECC in cooperation with “Kerk in Actie” (KIA) organization in the Netherlands.

A delegation from the “Danmission” organization visited the offices of the General Secretariat of the Middle East Council of Churches in Beirut, on Thursday 13 July 2023. It included Mrs. Kristen Auken, Regional Director for the Middle East, Mr. Antoine Abdel Massih, Program Manager, and Mr. Elie Bkassiny, Administrator and Financial Manager.

The delegation was received by the Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches Dr. Michel Abs, alongside an MECC team that included Father Dr. Antoine Al Ahmar, Director of the Theological and Ecumenical Department, Mrs. Manal Bechara Bou Habib, Financial Director, Ms. Laudy Khoury, Financial Coordinator, and Mrs. Roula Saliba, Senior Human Resources Officer.

Since the beginning of the war in Syria, the Middle East Council of Churches has been steadfast in supporting the Syrian community in all its factions through the implementation of several humanitarian programs in various Syrian provinces, under the slogan "Service with Dignity." Believing in the words of His Beatitude Late Patriarch Ignatius IV Hazim, "While some may be destined to kill and destroy, our destiny is to build and remain."

One of the programs implemented by MECC is the “Restoration and Rehabilitation of Faith-based Social Services & Religious Infrastructure Damaged During the Crisis in Syria” in cooperation with “Kerk in Actie” organization in the Netherlands. The program aims to restore what the war has destroyed and bring hope back to the people after years of suffering and displacement.

In the new issue of the weekly newsletter Momentum issued by the Middle East Council of Churches, Communication and Public Relations Department, MECC, its Presidents, Executive Committee, and General Secretariat, extends its congratulations to His Beatitude Patriarch Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, on the occasion of his elevation to the rank of Cardinal at the Catholic Church, as announced by His Holiness Pope Francis. As well as, MECC, Presidents, Executive Committee, and the General Secretariat, extends its congratulations to His Holiness Catholicos Aram I, Catholicos of the Armenian Church of Cilicia, on the occasion of his election and consecration as Catholicos of the Armenian Apostolic Church. As for the weekly message of the MECC Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs, it is entitled “The Broken Dialogue, the Lost Society, and Ecumenism”, in which he talked about the concept of dialogue stressing the importance of common life and the advanced and deep interaction between people.