MECC Contributes in Its Restoration in Cooperation with “Kerk in Actie”

His Holiness Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II, Patriarch of Antioch and All the East and Supreme Head of the Universal Syriac Orthodox Church, inaugurated, in the presence of a delegation from the Middle East Council of Churches, the Monastery of St. Antonios in the Wilderness of Sadad. His Holiness also consecrated St. Antonios Church at the Monastery. The ceremony took place on Wednesday, September 27, 2023.

During the consecration, His Holiness was assisted by their Eminences Archbishops: Mor Timotheos Matta Al-Khoury, Archbishop of Homs, Hama, Tartous and Environs, Mor Theophilus George Saliba, Patriarchal Advisor, Mor Maurice Amsih, Archbishop of Jazeera and Euphrates, Mor Boutros Kassis, Archbishop of Aleppo and Environs, Mor Yacoub Babawi, Patriarchal Vicar for the Affairs of Monks and the Administration of Mor Aphrem Theological Seminary, Mor Joseph Bali, Patriarchal Assistant, Mor Christophoros Markose Abraham, Patriarchal Secretary for the Affairs of the Church in India, Mor Augeen Al Khoury Nemat, Patriarchal Secretary, Bishop Mor Iwannis Boulos Al-Souqi, and Armenian Orthodox Archbishop of Damascus Armash Nalbandian.

On the Intention of the Synod’s 16th Ordinary General Assembly of the Catholic Church

And celebrates the Feast of Saint Thecla

In preparation for the Synod’s 16th Ordinary General Assembly of the Catholic Church, which will be held between 4 and 29 October 2023 in the Vatican, His Holiness Pope Francis calls for an Ecumenical Prayer service, which he will preside over, on Saturday 30 September 2023, in St Peter’s Square in the Vatican, on the intention of this General Assembly’s work. His Beatitude the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, Bartholomew I, and the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, will participate in the Prayer, along with a group of Church Leaders and believers from various Church Families.

In this context, the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) joins His Holiness Pope Francis in Praying on the intention of the Synod, as the Council’s General Secretariat team held a Prayer service, on Thursday 28 September 2023, at the MECC headquarters in Beirut.

“Ecumenical Perspectives on Climate Change”

Organized by MECC and ATIME

Father Dr. Michael Kanbar, the Executive Secretary of the Association of Theological Institutes in the Middle East (ATIME), was the guest of the journalist Roula Zeidan, in an episode of the morning show “Al Nour Maana” (the Light is with Us), on Télé Lumière and Noursat, on Thursday 21 September 2023, which you can watch it in the video.

During the episode, Father Dr. Kanbar highlighted the Symposium which is being organized by the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) in cooperation with the Association of Theological Institutes in the Middle East (ATIME), under the title “Ecumenical Perspectives on Climate Change”. It will be held on Wednesday 4 October 2023, at 5:30 pm Beirut time, in the Pope John Paul II Amphitheater at the Holy Spirit University – Kaslik (USEK), Lebanon, and on Thursday 5 October 2023, starting 9 am Beirut time until 5:30 pm Beirut time, at the François Bassil Amphitheater in the Saint Joseph University (USJ) – Beirut.

“Renaissance of Reform for the Sake of Human, from the Prophets (PBUT) to Imam Hussein (PBUH)”

At the invitation of President of the Jaafari Cultural Foundation for Research, Islamic Studies and Interfaith Dialogue Sheikh Mohamed Hussein Al-Hajj, the Eighth Annual Conference of Imam Hussein, Peace Be Upon Him, was held under the title “Renaissance of Reform for the Sake of Human, from the Prophets (PBUT) to Imam Hussein (PBUH) - Human Values ​​Bring Us Together,” on Tuesday 19 September 2023. The conference stresses, according to its statement, that “there is no choice but cooperation and dialogue in order to build a state of citizenship and defend human dignity... Religious and humanitarian values ​​unite us regardless our differences in political or partisan opinions and positions.”

Attendees were the Representative of Sheikh Al-Aql of the Unitarian Druze Sect Sheikh Dr. Sami Abi Al-Muna, the Representative of His Eminence Bishop Issam Darwish, Archimandrite Nicolas Saghbini, the Coordinator of the Safety Network for Civil Peace Lawyer Omar Zein, the representative of the Middle East Council of Churches Professor Laure Abi Khalil, Coordinator of the MECC Social Capital Rehabilitation Project, alongside intellectual, scientific and political personalities.

In the new issue of the weekly newsletter Momentum issued by the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), Communication and Public Relations Department, you can find the message of the MECC Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs which is entitled this week “Takla, the first among the female martyrs”, for the occasion of the Feast of Saint Takla celebrated on 24 September. In his message, Dr. Abs talked about the life of Saint Takla and her adherence to her faith in the Lord Jesus Christ despite all the challenges she faced.

With the same pride and glory of the Incarnate Master standing before her executioners, Takla, the first among the female martyrs, stood in front of the governor who asked her about her identity and why the beasts retreated before her meekness and faith. Her response was a testament to her belief in the Master of the way, the truth, and life, who had saved her.

Enchanted by Paul’s words, Takla, who was preparing for marriage, quickly grasped his message. She chose to follow him, leaving behind wealth, luxury, and safety. Takla chose the difficult path and had the honor of being the first female martyr in Christianity, a faith for which millions have suffered. Our ancestors have passed this faith down to us, carried with their blood and tears.

When Takla made the difficult decision to forsake marriage for life with the Incarnate Master, she knew that a period of pain was imminent. Physical and moral pain assailed her from all sides until she was brought to the fire. Yet, neither beatings, nor starvation, nor death threats could dissuade her from her choice, the choice of love.

The fire, fueled by the vindictiveness of pagan hatred, did not harm her. She emerged from her “first martyrdom” unscathed and healthy, leaving her haters to be consumed by the fire of their own anger.

Global Ecumenical Prayer with the World Council of Churches

The Middle East Council of Churches Participating in the Prayer

A global Ecumenical Prayer hosted by the World Council of Churches (WCC) on 18 September focused on the World Week for Peace in the Holy Land, and the meaning of finding a spiritual home in the Holy Land, with the participation of concerned and Church parties, alongside the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) which was represented by the Director of the MECC Theological and Ecumenical Department Father Dr. Antoine Al Ahmar who gave the final blessing.

After the Prayer, the World Council of Churches published on its website the following press release:

People gathered online and in-person to pray, advocate, and stand in solidarity with people in the Holy Land.

The World Week for Peace in the Holy Land is being observed this year from 16-23 September under the theme “No place to lay my head,” a theme that reflects the challenge for Palestinian families as well as other people facing difficulties to a uniting home.

WCC general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay opened the Prayer with a greeting, noting that the theme is “deeply rooted in the suffering of the Palestinian people.”

About 7 months have passed sincd the earthquake that struck the North of the Antiochian Levant, and this disaster is still a large-scale emergency in Syria calling for immediate support at many levels, especially that the earthquake occurred at a time when Syrians are facing difficult living conditions and worsening economic crises.

Hence, the Middle East Council of Churches continues its humanitarian and relief work in various Syrian regions. In Latakia, MECC, in cooperation with its partners, took it upon itself to support the families affected by the earthquake through various programs that may alleviate the impact of this disaster.

“School Dropout and Human Dignity”

Thursday 28 September 2023 - 7 PM Beirut Time

The Middle East Council of Churches has the honor to invite you to participate in its monthly webinar, entitled “School Dropout and Human Dignity”, on Thursday 28 September 2023, at 7 pm Beirut Time.

You can participate in the webinar via the following Zoom link https://shorturl.at/bnqG6, and live on the MECC Facebook Page.

The webinar, which includes four interventions, will start with an opening speech by its moderator Dr. Laure Abi Khalil, which will be followed with a speech by the Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches Dr. Michel Abs.

In a New Training with "Tearfund" Organization

With every new opportunity, the Middle East Council of Churches seeks to develop the capabilities of its team aiming at its empowerment and improving its skills at various Ecumenical, humanitarian and administrative levels... in order to develop the organizational performance to adapt in a rapidly changing world and thus achieve the desired goals.

Within this framework, the General Secretariat of the Middle East Council of Churches organized a training in which its team participated, with the international organization “Tearfund” on “Sexual Exploitation and Abuse.” This training was held on Tuesday 19 September 2023, at the offices of the MECC General Secretariat in Beirut.

During the training, the participants were accompanied by a specialized trainer from “Tearfund”, Ms. Elise Al Alam, and learned the difference between sexual exploitation and abuse, as well as the types of each of these two problems that workers in various sectors, especially humanitarian sector, may be facing.

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 message of the MECC Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs which is entitled this week “O Holy Cross!”. It is for the occasion of the Feast of the Exaltation of the Life-Giving Cross celebrated by the Church on September 14th, marking the end of the Forty Days’ Journey. This journey begins with the Feast of Transfiguration and culminates in this celebration, affirming God’s love for mankind. It signifies the extent of His love, to the point of incarnation and crucifixion, serving as an atonement for our sins.

In the issue, MECC invites you to participate in an Ecumenical Prayer it will organize on the occasion of the “Season of Creation” with the participation of Reverend Dr. Paul Haidostian, President of the Union of the Armenian Evangelical Churches in the Near East, President of Haigazian University in Lebanon, and MECC President for the Evangelical Family. The Prayer Service will be held on Wednesday 4 October 2023, at 5 pm Beirut time, in the Pope John Paul II Amphitheater at the Holy Spirit University – Kaslik (USEK), Lebanon…

The Church celebrates the Feast of the Exaltation of the Life-Giving Cross on September 14th, marking the end of the Forty Days’ Journey. This journey begins with the Feast of Transfiguration and culminates in this celebration, affirming God’s love for mankind. It signifies the extent of His love, to the point of incarnation and crucifixion, serving as an atonement for our sins.

O Life-Giving Cross,

You were carried by the Incarnate Lord on His shoulders. He walked with you determinedly on the path to Calvary, taking upon Himself the task of saving humanity from its sins. Crowned with thorns, He was clothed in a garment of ridicule and humiliation,

Upon you, the Redeemer was nailed and lifted high. He was mocked, stabbed, and anointed with myrrh,

You bear witness to the Redeemer’s immense love for humanity and His tolerance,

Through you, the Redeemer uttered His words, glorified by generations to this day, from the first, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34), to the seventh, “Father, into Your hands I commit my spirit” (Luke 23:46). We shall continue to glorify Him until the end of time,

Upon you, the Son of Man was lifted high so that all may know that He is the one against whom false testimonies were made. He is the one who was sold for thirty pieces of silver and for whose garment they cast lots,