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 weekly message of the MECC Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs, entitled “Violence against children and crime against childhood are scourges that are out of control”. It was the speech he delivered at the monthly webinar held by the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) under the title “Violence Against Children and Human Dignity”, on Thursday 26 October 2023.

The issue also presents details about this webinar which was broadcasted live on the MECC Facebook Page, included three interventions, moderated by Dr. Chawki Attieh, and began with a speech delivered by the MECC Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs. Participants were specialists, academicians, universities’ students and interested attendees in the topic at hand.

Children, along with the elderly and individuals with special needs, are among the most vulnerable groups. They are susceptible to various forms of discrimination and abuse.

As one of the most defenseless segments of society, children often face violence from those close to them as well as strangers. Our popular culture, while satisfactory in some aspects, provides numerous examples that highlight the vulnerability of children to those around them.

Phrases such as ‘The stick from heaven’ and ‘Where did you get the good behavior? From the hanger above’ (i.e. the stick ) are indicative of this issue. These sayings, often used by parents when entrusting their child to a teacher or tutor, imply that the educator has the liberty to use violence against the child who has worn out his parents’ patience.

Such expressions reflect a disturbing acceptance of violence against children, emphasizing the urgent need for societal change.

The Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Dr. Michel Abs was the guest of the journalist Lea Adel Maamary in an episode within the program “Moubadarat” (which means “Initiatives”) program on “Voice of Van” Radio, on Thursday 2 November 2023. Hence, you can watch the episode through the video.

During the episode, Dr. Michel Abs highlighted the statement issued by the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) concerning the painful events in Gaza, and talked about the MECC role in crises’ response and the initiatives it takes. As well as, he spoke about the concept of human justice stressing the necessity of preserving human dignity and rights.

Thursday 2 November 2023, at 4 p.m. Beirut time

Watch the Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Dr. Michel Abs in an episode within the program “Moubadarat” (which means “Initiatives”) program on “Voice of Van” Radio 94.7 – 95 FM. He will be interviewed by the journalist Lea Adel Maamary, on Thursday 2 November 2023, at 4 pm Beirut Time.

The Middle East Council of Churches, Communication and Public Relations Department, have now issued its online Ecumenical calendar for the month of November 2023. It includes the Ecclesiastical and Liturgical feasts of the various families of Churches in the Middle East. In addition to international days identified by the United Nations, and which are related to the MECC identity and its spiritual and human mission.

The New Monthly Webinar Organized by the Middle East Council of Churches

Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs: Let everyone who practices violence against a child, be it physical or verbal, know that he/ she is violating the will of the Creator and sowing in society a brick of hatred and resentment

The Middle East Council of Churches pursues its series of monthly seminars, and held a new webinar entitled “Violence Against Children and Human Dignity”, on Thursday 26 October 2023, with the participation of specialists, academicians, universities’ students and interested attendees in the topic at hand. Noting that this webinar comes within the framework of the “Human Dignity Project” - “Dialogue and Social Cohesion-Social Capital Rehabilitation”, which MECC is implementing consecutively.

The webinar, which was broadcasted live on the MECC Facebook Page, included three interventions, moderated by Dr. Chawki Attieh, who denounced in his opening speech all the scenes of violence in the world in light of the painful events that Gaza is witnessing, and spoke about the types of violence and their effects on children.

The webinar began with a speech by the Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches, Dr. Michel Abs, in which he condemned the phenomenon of violence against children…

Middle East Christians assert their rejection of violence as they relate frustration with lack of Western recognition of the reality of occupation and the collateral damage of bombing campaigns.

Jayson Casper

Since the outbreak of war after unprecedented terror attacks on [Israel] by Hamas, Middle Eastern churches, councils, and leaders have expressed their outrage over the killing of thousands of innocent civilians.

Many Arab Christian groups have issued public statements. Most emphasized the Christian call to be peacemakers. Several have been criticized for what some see as calls not specifically addressing the suffering of civilian Jews targeted for death by terrorists.

Originating from Palestine, Egypt, Jordan, and Lebanon—with most prompted by the tragic bombing of the Anglican hospital in Gaza—the public statements range in focus and intensity. Some assert the international community overlooks the context of occupation by the [Israeli] state; others remind the global church of the continued Christian presence in the land.

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 weekly message of the MECC Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs, entitled “Land of Martyrs and Saints”, in which he talked about the caravan of martyrs and saints that will not end; its record is open from eternity and forever. He also mentioned the consecration of the Saints Father Nicolas Khasha and his son, Father Habib Khasha, the Damascenes, in the Orthodox Church of Antioch, and the canonization of Patriarch Estephan Douaihy, in the Syriac Maronite Church. As well as, Dr. Abs talked about the martyrs of the war taking place in the Land of God, Palestine, and particularly Gaza.

Ever since the Master was whipped and carried his cross, bleeding on the road to Calvary, where he was nailed to the wood he carried, stabbed with a spear, lost His life while forgiving His murderers, and then resurrected, this land has been watered with blood.

Since Saint Stephen was stoned in the thirty-sixth year of the Master’s time by those who cannot bear a human being who differs from them in values and belief, he was the protomartyr of Christianity. From Saint Takla meeting her Lord at the hands of misguided killers, through the martyrs of Christianity who died in brutal methods beyond imagination, all the way to the martyrs of the massacres of the twentieth century, from Armenians, Syriacs and Anatolians, through the martyrs of Mount Lebanon during the Great Famine, in addition to the martyrs of Nakba in Palestine, all the way to the massacres of Armenians in Artsakh today, this land continues to be watered with blood.

From our land the embodied Master spread his faith and taught his values to people, giving them an example in proper human social behavior.

From our land sea caravans set out to cross the sea, and land caravans made their rough way, spreading the good news of salvation and the new man in the world.

“Violence Against Children and Human Dignity”

Thursday 26 October 2023 - 7 pm

The Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) is honored to invite you to participate in its new monthly webinar entitled “Violence Against Children and Human Dignity”, on Thursday 26 October 2023, at 7 pm.

You can participate in the webinar via the following Zoom link https://us06web.zoom.us/j/84569564004 and live on the MECC Facebook page.

The webinar, which includes three interventions, begins with an opening speech by its moderator Dr. Chawki Attieh, and will be followed by a speech that will be delivered by the Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches Dr. Michel Abs.

The first intervention is entitled “The Children of Gaza are the Target bank for the Occupying Army,” with Lawyer Khaled Kouzmar, General of the international movement of “Defense for Children International.”

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

On the occasion of declaring the Canonization of the Martyred Fathers and Priests Nicolas and his son Habib Khasha of Damascus, 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, held, with the participation of Their Eminences the Metropolitans, Members of the Holy Synod of Antioch, and Their Eminences the Bishops, a Prayer, on Saturday 21 October 2023, at Our Lady of Balamand Patriarchal Monastery in Lebanon.

This Prayer was held in the presence of Priests, Deacons, Monks and Nuns, and believers from various Dioceses of the Antiochian See. The Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Dr. Michel Abs also attended the Prayer.

Before the beginning of the Prayer, which was served by the Choir of the Saint John of Damascus Institute of Theology at the University of Balamand, the procession of the Clergy and participating people toured the western courtyard of the Monastery, with hymns played by the Orthodox National Scouts, and arrived to the Monastery’s Church, holding the icon of the two Martyred Priests.

Following the Events in Gaza and the Difficult Circumstances Taking Place in the Holy Land, Via Télé Lumière and Noursat

The Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Dr. Michel Abs was the guest in an episode of the program “Al Nour Maana” (the “Light is With Us”), broadcasted on Télé Lumière and Noursat TV Channel, on the morning of Friday 20 October 2023. Hence, you can watch the full interview in the video.

During the interview, Dr. Michel Abs highlighted the statement issued by the Middle East Council of Churches about the war of extermination against the Palestinian people in Gaza, and spoke about the MECC presence in the Holy Land and its relations with the international organizations and parties. Dr. Abs also talked about the circumstances taking place in Gaza and Palestine, as well as at the situations of the Christians in the Holy Land.