Wednesday 13 March 2024 - 6 pm, on Télé Lumière and Noursat TV Channel

Watch with us the live streaming of the opening of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity from the Church of the Great Martyr Saint George and Anba Ebram, Egypt, at 6:30 pm on Télé Lumière and Noursat TV Channel. The opening Prayer will be headed by His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of Mark, and in the presence of the Heads of Churches.

The Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches Dr. Michel Abs will deliver a speech during the opening Prayer.

Cairo, 3-12-2024

The Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Dr. Michel Abs left Lebanon heading to the Arab Republic of Egypt, to participate in the opening of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. Dr. Michel Abs will also have tours and visits to the Heads of Churches, lectures, and fruitful meetings with the aim of enhancing the activities of the Fiftieth Jubilee of the Founding of the Middle East Council of Churches.

He was received at Cairo International Airport by the MECC Associate Secretary General Reverend Dr. Refaat Fikry, amid great love and hospitality.

The Middle East Council of Churches Congratulates Him

The Media Office of the Patriarchal Edifice - Bkerke distributed the news issued by the Secretariat of the Maronite Patriarchate regarding the promotion of Father Michel Jalkh the Antonine, Secretary of the Dicastery for the Eastern Churches in the Vatican and Honorary Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), to the Episcopal Rank, as it stated:

“His Holiness Pope Francis elevated the Antonine Monk Father Michel Jalakh, Secretary of the Dicastery for the Eastern Churches in the Vatican, appointed since February 2023, to the Episcopal Rank with the title of “Titular Archbishop of Nisibis dei Maroniti.” His Episcopal Ordination will be celebrated in Bkerke on Saturday 8 June 2024. ".

On this occasion, the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) extends its warmest congratulations to Father Jalakh, Honorary Secretary General, wishing him good health and continued success, raising Prayers to God to bless his testimony and his service in the field of the Lord.

I found no better description of the state of addiction than some sections of the poem “Al-Maslool” (The Tuberculous) by the Lebanese poet Al-Akhtal Al-Saghir. In this poem, the poet considers that the current state of the tuberculous is the result of his addiction to the love of a woman of “passion”, describing him as being “killed by the passion of a girl of passion”. And his advice is, “If you pass by her alike, then change your way.”

Al-Akhtal begins his poem saying, “A year has passed, and if you venture out to that road in the countryside, and turn your face right, you see a face that makes you tremble when remembered.”

He continues, describing the condition of addiction: “The man of yesterday has become a lean creature with a stripped body, his words are confused, his breath unsteady.”

On the occasion of the “World Day of Prayer,” which women around the world celebrate as an annual Ecumenical day on the first of March, the Women’s Committee of the Armenian Evangelical Church “Nor Marash” in Bourj Hammoud - Lebanon, organized a Prayer Service on the morning of Friday 1 March 2024. Participants were women from various Armenian Evangelical, Catholic and Orthodox Churches, in the presence of the Church’s Pastor Reverend Raffi Messerlian, the Coordinator of Church Relations at the Union of the Armenian Evangelical Churches in the Near East (UAECNE) Reverend Nishan Bakalian, and the Associate Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Mrs. Seta Hadeshian.

Under the theme that was adopted for the year 2024, “I Beg You... Bear With One Another in Love,” based on the Letter of Paul the Apostle to the Ephesians 4:1- 7. The Prayer Service included a special program prepared by the “World Day of Prayer” Committee in Palestine, the country that was chosen this year for the Day of Prayer. Noting that some women wore Palestinian traditional cloths, as well as some objects symbolizing the Palestinian tradition were placed on a table.

The program included a presentation about Palestine, the most prominent historical stations it passed through and the traditions that characterize it, in addition to Prayers and Reflections that brought a lot of hope on the intentions of Palestine, Lebanon, Armenia and the world. Participants also listened to the stories of three Palestinian women, highlighting their courage, perseverance, and dedication to not giving up in the face of life’s challenges and their determination to return to their homeland.

Under the theme adopted for the “World Day of Prayer” 2024, “I Beg You... Bear With One Another in Love,” based on the Letter of Paul the Apostle to the Ephesians 4: 1-7, and in celebration of this World Ecumenical Day, the Women’s Committee of the Armenian Evangelical Church “Nor Marash” in Bourj Hammoud - Lebanon, organized a Prayer Service on the morning of Friday 1 March 2024. Hence, the video highlights this Prayer and what it included.

A delegation from the ACT Church of Sweden visited the offices of the Middle East Council of Churches, on Monday 4 March 2024. It included the Programme Manager of the Middle East Unit of the ACT Church of Sweden Mrs. Anna Levin, and the Regional Representative in the Middle East of ACT Church of Sweden based in Amman, Jordan, Mrs. Jessica Lindberg Dik.

The delegation met with the Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs, the Associate Secretary General Mrs. Seta Hadeshian, the Director of the Theological and Ecumenical Department Father Dr. Antoine Al Ahmar, the Director of the Lebanon’s Office at the Diakonia and Social Service Department Ms. Nina Hallak, the Director of the Financial Department Ms. Laudy Al Khoury, and the Executive Assistant to the Secretary General Mrs. Caroline Haddad.

A New Afforestation Campaign in the Lebanese Bekaa Valley

Within the series of the “Environmental Days” that the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) had previously launched, the MECC Theological and Ecumenical Department continues to implement various environmental, educational and agricultural activities in many countries of the Middle East, in order to promote environmental culture and work for the creation care. Noting that this program is being executed with the support of “Danmission” organization, and the participation of young people from youth, Apostolic and scout movements and groups.

In this context, the Middle East Council of Churches organized an environmental day in the Lebanese Bekaa Valley, specifically in the villages of Terbol and Ablah, on Saturday 2 March 2024. It was implemented in cooperation with Youth For Christ and Manara Youth Center students, and in collaboration with the Order of Saint Basil the Great, the Congregation of the Maronite Sisters of the Holy Family, the Association for Forests, Development and Conservation (AFDC), the Think Environmental Initiative, and the Engineer Georges Hanna. Participants were young people from the Manara Youth Center, the National Education Scouts, the Environmental Youth of Our Lady of Ablah, and the Saint Takla School in Terbol.

In Terbol, the environmental day was attended by the President of Michel Daher Foundation Mrs. Marleine Daher, and the Head of the Ecumenical Committee for Youth in Egypt Mr. Medhat Fayez Obaid, where the Head of the Coordinator of the MECC environmental programs Archdeacon Garen Yosolkanian, welcomed them and the participants. He also taught the youth how to plant the “Gharse” tree. As well as, the attendees named the garden of Saint Takla School “The Garden of the Fruits of Hope,” in preparation for the “Season of Creation” 2024, which carries the theme "To hope and act with Creation".

A Prayer Service in the Grace Chapel at the Near East School of Theology (NEST) - Beirut

Under the theme adopted for the “World Day of Prayer” 2024, “I Beg You... Bear With One Another in Love,” based on the Letter of Paul the Apostle to the Ephesians 4: 1-7, and in celebration of this World Ecumenical Day, the “Day of Prayer” Committee in Lebanon held a Prayer Service in the Grace Chapel at the Near East School of Theology in Beirut, on the evening of Friday 1 March 2024.

Reverend Dr. Paul Haidostian, President of the Union of the Armenian Evangelical Churches in the Near East, President of Haigazian University in Lebanon, and President of the Middle East Council of Churches for the Evangelical Family, participated in the Prayer. As well as, participants were the “World Day of Prayer” Committee in Lebanon, women from various Church Families in Beirut, and Pastors.

With a lot of hope, the participants united in Prayer through a special program prepared by the “World Day of Prayer” Committee in Palestine, the country that was chosen this year for the Day of Prayer. The program included a presentation on the history of Palestine, and the most prominent customs and traditions that characterize it, in addition to Prayers and Reflections on the intention of justice and peace in Palestine, the Middle East and the world. Moreover, stories of three Palestinian women were also read, highlighting their faith, courage, and efforts to work in order to face all the challenges that surround them.

On the occasion of the “World Day of Prayer,” which women around the world celebrate as an annual Ecumenical day on the first of March, the “Day of Prayer” Committee in Lebanon held a Prayer Service in the Grace Chapel of the Near East School of Theology (NEST) in Beirut, on the evening of Friday 1 March 2024, under the theme, “I Beg You... Bear With One Another in Love,” based on the Letter of Paul the Apostle to the Ephesians 4: 1-7. Thus, the video highlights this Prayer and the program of celebration of the “World Day of Prayer”.

“I Beg You... Bear With One Another in Love” (Ephesians 4:1-7)

What Does this Day Symbolize?

From different countries of the world and the Middle East, they come together with one heart and humble spirit in a unity of Prayer that gathers them in the Church from which they derive heavenly hope in Jesus Christ and in which they feel secure on the contrary of the outside community. They are women from different cultures and traditions who decided to celebrate the “World Day of Prayer” together on the first of March of every year. It is an Ecumenical day that emphasizes fraternal relations which build bridges between them, and stresses their support for each other amidst all the troubles of life.

But how did the day of Prayer begin? And what does it symbolize?

On the first of March every year, women around the world celebrate the “World Day of Prayer” as an international Ecumenical Day. How did it start?

The video presents an answer and highlights the goals of this day and the theme that was adopted this year.

The Monthly Webinar Organized by the Middle East Council of Churches

Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs: Immunization must be achieved through constant awareness and education because treatment after a fall means losing half the battle - a battle for the future

The Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) held a new webinar entitled “Human dignity of the Addicted Youth”, on Thursday 29 February 2024, with the participation of specialists, academicians, universities’ students and interested attendees in the topic at hand. Noting that this webinar comes as part of the monthly seminar which MECC is organizing 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. Lubna Tarabey, who denounced in her opening speech the phenomenon of drug addiction, mentioning its causes and repercussions, stressing the role of states in reducing it and the importance of preserving human dignity.

The webinar began with a speech delivered by the Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches Dr. Michel Abs, in which he said, “We know that the forms of addiction are diverse, as are the types of drugs, human failures, environmental compositions, and the follow-up and immunization that can be obtained during or after treatment. If drug abuse constitutes a major social scourge that indicates a structural, socio-economic, political, and psychological imbalance, its promotion and the failure to eliminate it indicate one of two things: either the complicity of those in charge of this matter in the government, or the state’s weakness, which is unable to protect the youth of its society. Either way, it is a sad and major disappointment for the concerned observer.”

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 a news about the visit of the MECC Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs to His Beatitude Greek Orthodox Archbishop of New Justiniana and All Cyprus Georgios, on Wednesday 28 February 2024, at the Patriarchate headquarters in Nicosia. The meeting was attended by the Member of the MECC Executive Committee Father Younes Nikolaou, and the Director of His Beatitude’s Office Mr. Michael Spiro, Alternative Member of the MECC Executive Committee.

As for the weekly message of the Secretary General Dr. Abs, it is entitled this week “Modern society in its socio-economic challenges and contradictions”, in which he talked about the contradictions that we witness on a daily basis in the modern world that pose a challenge to any person in terms of the values he was raised with.

Egypt is preparing to launch the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity under the theme “You shall love the Lord your God... and your neighbour as yourself” (Luke 10:27). Hence, the video presents a highlight of the Prayers that will be held in Egypt in celebration of this week.

The official investigation into the remains of the Servant of God, Cardinal Krikor Pedros XV Agagianian, was concluded. The seals were placed on the wooden coffin, which contains a crystal box containing the relics of the Servant of God, that were placed with great piety in the Shrine of Saint Gregory the Illuminator.

Thus, this video highlights the official ending of the investigation.

There is no doubt that the contradictions that we witness on a daily basis in the modern world pose a challenge to any person in terms of the values he was raised with, which he was proud of, and which determined the course of his life.

The transformations that began with the Industrial Revolution and the emergence of the modern colonial era are still ravaging humanity with great momentum, and the changes that dominate our lives on a daily basis are too fast and powerful for humans to understand or be able to adapt to.

Man in modernity today destroys what he built yesterday, citing the necessity of change, not caring about what this does to his values, his psychological stability, his harmony with his surroundings, and his future. Man in modernity no longer lives under any control, to the point that it appears as if he has lost his reference and the parameters of his life.

Riding on the machine and its derivatives, he is sweeping the globe in search of natural resources or new markets. On his way, he is destroying whatever societies and civilizations he can find, and displacing or annihilating peoples.

At the same time, we read writings and principles produced by modern people that stimulate the conscience, distributing values left and right to the peoples of the world, to the point that you almost ask yourself: Is it the same person who did this and that?

His Beatitude Greek Orthodox Archbishop of New Justiniana and All Cyprus Georgios

The Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Dr. Michel Abs visited His Beatitude Greek Orthodox Archbishop of New Justiniana and All Cyprus Georgios, on Wednesday 28 February 2024, at the Patriarchate headquarters in Nicosia. The meeting was attended by the Member of the MECC Executive Committee Father Younes Nikolaou, and the Director of His Beatitude’s Office Mr. Michael Spiro, Alternative Member of the MECC Executive Committee.

During the meeting, the Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs briefed His Beatitude Archbishop Georgios, on the program of activities that the MECC is implementing in the Fiftieth Year of its Founding. The attendees also discussed the type of activity that the MECC will implement in Cyprus during this Year which is also the Commemoration of the division and occupation of Cyprus. His Beatitude blessed the suggestion which a specialized committee will develop the program of the activity that had been agreed upon.

In addition, the attendees discussed the circumstances that the Middle East is passing through, talking about the plight of the Christians of the region, their role and the challenges they are facing at various levels, especially in the issue of their presence and rootedness in their land.

With great hope, 270 students from Theological Institutes in Lebanon participated in a gathering organized by the Association of Theological Institutes in the Middle East (ATIME), under the title “The Deposit of Faith, So That We May Know What We Have Received and How to Transfer It.” It was held on Tuesday 20 February 2024 at La Sagesse University – Beirut.

The video sheds light on this gathering full of love and fraternity, as its participants stressed the importance of the Ecumenical dialogue and building bridges between them, in preparation for future Leaders and Managers in the Church and the Ecumenical movement.

Standing Together for a Decent Life and a Better Future

Lebanon’s dire economic crisis has impacted the poorest areas in Lebanon such as the Akkar District where the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) has recently launched an Early Recovery and Livelihood Business Development project. Because of the absence of adequate government policies to develop rural areas in the country, people residing in the area have limited livelihood options which have forced them into elevated levels of poverty and food insecurity.

For this reason, the Middle East Council of Churches, supported by Kerk in Actie, decided to intervene in this particular area by supporting Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) in an effort to drive economic growth and create more job opportunities. Through Business Development, which is a strategic priority of MECC’s Diakonia and Social Service Department, the Council aims to provide various kinds of support which can encompass training, capacity building, mentoring, and access to resources, enabling the Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) to improve their business practices, operational efficiency, and product/service quality.