Talks About the Forestation Campaigns Implemented by the Council in an Interview with “Danmission” Organization

On the occasion of the “Season of Creation,” “Danmission” organization, a partner of the Middle East Council of Churches, made an interview with Deacon Garen Yosolkanian, a member of the MECC Eco Justice Committee, and expert in the environmental issues, in which he talked about the forestation campaigns that MECC implements as part of its environmental activities. He also highlighted its importance, especially in environmental awareness, as well as the forestation campaign organized by MECC in Mhardeh, Syria, with a group of youth.

Highlights the Importance of the “Season of Creation” in an interview with “Danmission” Organization

As part of the “Season of Creation” 2023 activities, “Danmission” organization, a partner of the Middle East Council of Churches, made a video interview with Father Dr. Antoine Al Ahmar, Director of the MECC Theological and Ecumenical Department, during which he highlighted the meanings and goals of the “Season of Creation.” He also talked about the importance of celebrating this season in the Middle East and the MECC mission in this context, especially in environmental awareness.

An Environmental Theology Lecture Delivered in Arabic by Archimandrite Euthymios Faqas

A Priest at Saint Elie Chouaya Patriarchal Monastery - Lebanon

With the beginning of the “Season of Creation” 2023, Archimandrite Euthymios Faqas, a Priest at the Greek Orthodox Saint Elie Chouaya Patriarchal Monastery – Lebanon, delivered a spiritual lecture about Environmental Theology with an Orthodox view, under the title “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come” (2 Corinthians 5: 17), which you can find its full text in Arabic. The lecture was part of a Spiritual Retreat organized by the General Secretariat of the Middle East Council of Churches on Friday 1 September 2023, which also marks the beginning of the Ecclesial Year. It was hosted by His Eminence Bishop Costantine Kayyal, the Head of the Saint Elie Chouaya Patriarchal Monastery, at the Monastery.

A Spiritual Retreat Hosted by Bishop Constantine Kayyal

Head of the Greek Orthodox Saint Elie Chouaya Patriarchal Monastery in Lebanon

Together We Glorify God the Creator!

The “Season of Creation” 2023 started around the world on 1 September, bringing a lot of hope to the world and the Middle East. It is a Christian environmental season during which the Ecumenical family around the world unites in Prayer and working together to protect our common home. The season ends, as every year, on 4 October. Noting that the theme of the Season for this year is “Let Justice and Peace Flow” and its symbol is “A Mighty River”.

In celebration of God’s creation, the General Secretariat of the Middle East Council of Churches organized a Spiritual Retreat on Friday 1 September 2023, which also marks the beginning of the Ecclesial Year. It was hosted by His Eminence Bishop Costantine Kayyal, the Head of the Greek Orthodox Saint Elie Chouaya Patriarchal Monastery - Lebanon, at the Monastery.

Participants in the Retreat were, alongside the Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches Dr. Michel Abs, the Associate Secretaries General of the Council, Father Nicolas Bustros and Mrs. Seta Hadeshian, as well as the MECC General Secretariat’s team from various departments in Beirut, and online with the colleagues from the Council’s offices in the countries of the region.

A Spiritual Retreat at Saint Elie Chouaya Patriarchal Monastery in Lebanon

How Great are your Deeds, O Lord, All of them are Wisely Done (Psalm 103)

With the beginning of this year's "Season of Creation" around the world, the family of the General Secretariat of the Middle East Council of Churches gathered in a Spiritual Retreat, on Friday 1 September 2023, at the Greek Orthodox Saint Elie Chouaya Patriarchal Monastery in Lebanon. Hence, you can find some highlights about the Retreat in the video.

The Retreat included the participation in the Season of Creation Ecumenical Prayer Service, and a tour in the Monastery. This is in addition to a dialogue with His Eminence Bishop Costantine Kayyal, Head of the Saint Elie Chouaya Patriarchal Monastery, and a Spiritual lecture with Archimandrite Efthimios Fakis. As well as another lecture with Archdeacon Garen Yosulkanian.

Together We Unite in Prayer and Supplication to God the Creator

The Middle East and the world celebrate a yearly Environmental Christian and Ecumenical season, which is the "Season of Creation". A season during which we unite in Prayer and work together to protect God’s creation and our common home. The season extends between 1 September, the day of Prayer for creation, and 4 October, the Feast of Saint Francis of Assisi, the Patron Saint of the environment.

In celebration of this season, you can find the text of the 2023 “Season of Creation” Prayer.

How Did This Season Started?

The Middle East region will be celebrating an annual, international, environmental, Christian and Ecumenical season entitled “Season of Creation”…

During this season, the Ecumenical Christian family unites around one common goal. The season calls us all to Pray and work together for the care and preservation of God's Creation. The season extends from 1 September, the beginning of the “Season of Creation” and the Prayer days for the Creation, to 4 October, the end of the “Season of Creation” and the Feast of Saint Francis of Assisi, author of the Canticle of Creatures, and Patron Saint of environmental activists in the Catholic Church.

“Let Justice and Peace Flow”

Under the title “Let Justice and Peace Flow” and the symbol of “A Mighty River” from the Biblical text of Amos 5: 24, the Christian family in the Middle East and the world unites to celebrate the “Season of Creation.” A Christian and environmental Season that starts on the 1st of September and ends on the 4th of October yearly, as it invites us to pray and work together to protect our common home.

“Let Justice and Peace Flow”

In light of a world searching for safety and peace amidst conflicts, injustice and hate speech..., the Ecumenical family around the world clings to hope and prepares to celebrate the "Season of Creation". An annual Season that kicks off this year in the world and the Middle East through a webinar organized by the Laudato’Si movement, which was held on Monday 5 June 2023, coinciding with the World Environment Day.

Attendees were leaders from various Churches and Ecumenical movements and a group of Christians interested in this Christian and environmental issue. The webinar ended with a final blessing addressed by Father Dr. Antoine Al Ahmar, Director of the Theological and Ecumenical Department at the Middle East Council of Churches, as you can find in the video, from the “Dog River” in Lebanon.

Monday 5 June 2023 - 4 pm Beirut time

The world and the Middle East will be soon celebrating an annual Christian and environmental which is the "Season of Creation". This season, which extends between September 1 and October 4 of each year, was launched by the Middle East Council of Churches for the first time in the Middle East in 2021. As for this year, the season bears the title “Let Justice and Peace Flow” based on the biblical text about the “Mighty River” (Amos 5: 24).

In preparation for the celebrating this annual season, let us participate together, by clicking here, in the international launching ceremony of the "Season of Creation" for this year, during a webinar that will be held, with the organization of the Laudato'Si movement, on Monday 5 June 2023, at 4:00 pm Beirut time. Noting that June 5 is also the World Environment Day.

Youth Bringing Life Back to the Heart of Nature

MECC Implements a Forestation Campaign in Al Wassieh, Jordan

Since the Middle East Council of Churches launched the “Forestation Days” project as part of the “Season of Creation” program, the Council has been keen to enhance environmental knowledge and green culture, especially among youth in the region. Hence, MECC aims at highlighting the youth’s role towards God’s creation and motivating them to work for the preservation of the environment and the common home in which we all live.

Thus, the Middle East Council of Churches pursues its environmental activities through a new forestation campaign implemented in Jordan, specifically in the Latin Patriarchate High School in Al Wassieh, on Saturday 25 March 2023. It was organized in coordination with His Eminence Bishop Jamal Khader, Latin Patriarchal Vicar for Jordan, and in partnership with the humanitarian international organization “Danmission”.

MECC Implements an Afforestation Campaign in Kfar Falous, Lebanon

Together for a Safer Home!

With the aim of enhancing environmental awareness and working to protect nature and God's creation, the Middle East Council of Churches continues its green activities with the Ecumenical youth in various countries of the Middle East. Thus, MECC implemented a new forestation campaign, in cooperation with the international humanitarian organization "Danmission", in Kfar Falous region in Lebanon, under the slogan "Plant a tree that will protect ten trees", on Saturday 18 March 2023, with the blessings of His Eminence Archbishop Elie Haddad of the Greek Catholic Melkite Diocese of Sidon and Deir El-Qamar.

A Forestation Campaign in Mahrada, Syria, with MECC

Together for a Green Environment!

Amidst all the dangers that threaten the environment and human life today, it is necessary to enhance environmental awareness and increase green activities with the aim to build a better future and a more sustainable environment. Hence, and as part of the "Season of Creation" program, the Middle East Council of Churches works with the youth in various countries of the Middle East in order to achieve the desired goals through environmental awareness and activities.

Within its ecological mission, the Middle East Council of Churches organized, with the support of the humanitarian international organization “Danmission”, a forestation campaign in the Mahrada region in Syria, as part of the “Forestation Days” project, on Saturday 11 March 2023. Participants were 50 young women and men from the Church accompanied by Father Elias Najjar and Reverend Maan Bachour.

Reverend Dr. Rima Nasrallah Shed Lights, with “Danmission”, on How MECC Is Building Bridges Between Youth

In the World Interfaith Harmony Week which extends between 1 and 7 February yearly, Reverend Dr. Rima Nasrallah, Coordinator of the Ecojustice Unit at the Middle East Council of Churches, highlights how MECC is building bridges and bridging distances, especially between youth, through the "Season of Creation" campaign. It was via a video published on the social media platforms of the “Danmission” organization, which is one of the MECC partners.

Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs: the “Season of Creation” has become an essential part of the Middle Eastern culture, and an Ecumenical Occasion Bringing Churches Together

The Secretary General of the international organization Danmission Kristian Sloth Petersen visited the General Secretariat’s offices of the Middle East Council of Churches in Beirut, on Thursday 8 December 2022, at the head of a delegation from the organization including the Regional MENA Director Kirsten Auken, and the Programme Director Martin Rosenkilde Pedersen. During the visit, a new cooperation agreement between Danmission and MECC was signed for the next 2 years, especially in implementing the international "Season of Creation" project, which was launched for the first time in the Middle East two years ago. The MECC Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs and a team from the General Secretariat welcomed the delegation.

Wednesday 19 and Saturday 22 October 2022

Let us participate together and via SAT7 in the rerun of the Ecumenical Prayer Service on the occasion of the “Season of Creation” closing, on Wednesday 19 October 2022 at 10 pm Beirut time, and Saturday 22 October 2022 at 5 pm Beirut time.

Noting that the Prayer was organized by the Middle East Council of Churches, and was held under the patronage and presidency of His Beatitude Patriarch Cardinal Mar Bechara Boutros Al-Rai, Maronite Patriarch of Antioch and all the East; at the Church of the Patriarchal Edifice in Bkerke, Lebanon, on the eve of the Feast of Saint Francis of Assisi, on Monday 3 October 2022.

The “Season of Creation” media coverage is still ongoing in the Middle East. Charity Radio TV broadcasted a special episode centered on this international season, within “Hawana Hawak” program. It was prepared and presented by Zouhour Abou Mansour.

The guest of the episode was the Director of the Theological and Ecumenical Department of the Middle East Council of Churches Father Dr. Antoine Al Ahmar, who tackled the objectives of the season, its importance and all related details. Fr. Al Ahmar shed light also on the MECC work in launching the season in the region, as well as the events and celebrations which it organizes for the occasion.

A Special Statement from H.B. Patriarch Minassian and Interviews with Some Participants

The Eastern Ecumenical Family celebrated the “Season of Creation” 2022 closing. The Maronite Church hosted an Ecumenical Prayer service organized by the Middle East Council of Churches, under the patronage and presidency of His Beatitude Patriarch Cardinal Mar Bechara Boutros Al-Rai, Maronite Patriarch of Antioch and all the East. The celebration was held at the Church of the Patriarchal Edifice in Bkerke, Lebanon, on the eve of the Feast of Saint Francis of Assisi, on Monday 3 October 2022.

The video presents a brief overview of the celebration in addition to a special statement from His Beatitude Patriarch Raphaël Bedros XXI Minassian, Patriarch of the Armenian Catholic Church of Cilicia, and MECC President for the Catholic Family. As well as interviews with many participants in the Prayer.

As part of the “Season of Creation” 2022 activities, SAT7 channel presented a special episode entitled "Listen to the Voice of Creation", prepared by the Communication and Public Relations Department of the Middle East Council of Churches and presented by Sirene Semerdjian. It was broadcasted on Monday 3 October 2022, and included many environmental and Theological segments, with guests from the world and the region, and from various fields.

The episode began with a special video from the member of the “Season of Creation” committee at the World Council of Churches Mrs. Joy Kennedy. The video focused on the “Season of Creation” launching in the Churches worldwide, in addition to the environmental challenges and ongoing preparations for the COP27 climate change summit.

Video - Message of the MECC Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs at the "Season of Creation" 2022 Closing

The Middle East Council of Churches concluded the “Season of Creation” 2022 with an Ecumenical Prayer service under the patronage and presidency of His Beatitude Patriarch Cardinal Mar Bechara Boutros Al-Rai, Maronite Patriarch of Antioch and all the East, at the Church of the Patriarchal Edifice in Bkerke, Lebanon, on the eve of the Feast of Saint Francis of Assisi, on Monday 3 October 2022. During the service, the MECC Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs delivered a message entitled “Season of Creation, Church and Environment”, which you can listen to it and watch it in the following video.