At the Conference “Keeping Memory Alive 2 - The Syriac Genocide Attempt”

On the occasion of the Fiftieth Year of the Founding of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), in commemoration of the yearly anniversary of the Sayfo Genocide, with the blessings of His Holiness Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II, Patriarch of Antioch and All the East and Supreme Head of the Universal Syriac Orthodox Church, and Honorary President of the Middle East Council of Churches, and under the auspices and presence of His Eminence Archbishop Mor Krysostomos Mikhael Chamoun, Archbishop of Mount Lebanon and Tripoli for the Syrian Orthodox Church, and His Eminence Archbishop ‎Mor Theophilus George Saliba‎, Former Syriac Orthodox Archbishop of Mount Lebanon and Tripoli, and the Patriarchal Advisor, MECC held a conference entitled “Keeping Memory Alive 2 - The Syriac Genocide Attempt,” delivered by the MECC Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs. It took place on Wednesday 12 June 2024, in the Saint Jacob of Serug Church at the Syriac Orthodox Archdiocese, Sabtiyeh – Lebanon. 

In this context, the video presents a word (in Arabic) addressed by His Eminence Archbishop ‎Mor Theophilus George Saliba, the Former Archbishop of Mount Lebanon and Tripoli, and Patriarchal Advisor, for the occasion.

“Keeping Memory Alive 2 - The Syriac Genocide Attempt”

On the occasion of the yearly commemoration of the Sayfo genocide, and as part of the activities of the Fiftieth Year of the Founding of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), with the blessings of His Holiness Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II, Patriarch of Antioch and All the East and Supreme Head of the Universal Syriac Orthodox Church, and Honorary President of the Middle East Council of Churches, and under the auspices and presence of His Eminence Archbishop Mor Krysostomos Mikhael Chamoun, Archbishop of Mount Lebanon and Tripoli for the Syrian Orthodox Church, and His Eminence Archbishop ‎Mor Theophilus George Saliba‎, Former Syriac Orthodox Archbishop of Mount Lebanon and Tripoli, and the Patriarchal Advisor, MECC organized a conference entitled “Keeping Memory Alive 2 - The Syriac Genocide Attempt,” delivered by the MECC Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs.

Hence the report video sheds light on this conference which took place on Wednesday 12 June 2024, in the Saint Jacob of Serug Church at the Syriac Orthodox Archdiocese, Sabtiyeh – Lebanon.

More details about the conference

Full video of the conference

Mr. Joseph Daher Increases Wine Production in His Factory with A Contribution from MECC

With the deterioration of economic and social conditions in Lebanon, the Akkar region was not immune from the crises that cast their shadow over the country. Therefore, the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), Diakonia and Social Service Department, Lebanon Office, seeks to support the people of Akkar, as well as other Lebanese regions, by implementing a business development program for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in order to help their owners face the daily challenges and ensure a long-term sustainability for their projects.

In the video, Mr. Joseph Daher, owner of a winery in the Andaket-Akkar region, describes the phases he went through in order to establish his project, and how, through the support of MECC, he was able to increase his production.

Father Seraphim Awad Revives His Agricultural Project with the Support of MECC

In a step towards enhancing the livelihoods of the people at the Lebanese Akkar region who, like all other Lebanese, suffer from the difficult living conditions, the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), Diakonia and Social Service Department, Lebanon Office, launched a business development program through supporting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and help them secure their long-term sustainability.

In the video, Father Seraphim Awad, the Priest of Sheikh Lar Parish in Akkar, a farmer, agricultural technician and owner of an agricultural project in Akkar, talks about the circumstances he went through in addition to the contribution of the MECC program in developing his project.

A Symposium Organized By the the Greek Melkite Catholic Patriarchate of Antioch and All the East

24-26 June 2024, at the “Liqaa” Center, Rabweh - Lebanon

With the blessings and organization of His Beatitude Patriarch Youssef Al-Absi, Greek Melkite Catholic Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, and Honorary President of the Middle East Council of Churches, the Greek Melkite Catholic Patriarchate invites you to a symposium entitled “The Melkite Greek Catholic Church: Union with Rome and New Horizons,” between 24 and 26 June 2024, at the “Liqaa” Center, Rabweh - Lebanon.

This training course presents two main issues. The first is the problem of competencies, the development of human capital, and sustainable training. The second is the role of the Church in providing relief to people, accompanying them in their suffering, and helping them overcome their tragedies.

These two issues are inseparable from the logic of efficiency and the optimization of available resources. The core of the approach lies in preventing the waste of energies and resources and applying the logic of business administration and managerial economics in humanitarian work. This was not available in the past when social work was left to non-specialists despite their good intentions.

In the era of modernity, and in a postmodern society, science and technology are developing at such a rapid pace that humankind may not be able to keep up if he does not receive proper training. This development may place him outside the context of history or on its margins.

The observer in the world of human resources management and organizational leadership finds that there is a periodic, sustainable creation of new techniques and methods of work in various fields. These range from marketing methods to financial management, to dealing with organizational culture, to development management and its derivatives. The training course today falls into this category.

Full Video of the Conference Delivered by MECC Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs About the Sayfo Massacres

12 June 2024 - Saint Jacob of Serug Church at the Syriac Orthodox Archdiocese, Sabtiyeh – Lebanon

On the occasion of the fiftieth year of the founding of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), in commemoration of the yearly anniversary of the Sayfo Genocide, with the blessings of His Holiness Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II, Patriarch of Antioch and All the East and Supreme Head of the Universal Syriac Orthodox Church, and Honorary President of the Middle East Council of Churches, and under the auspices and presence of His Eminence Archbishop Mor Krysostomos Mikhael Chamoun, Archbishop of Mount Lebanon and Tripoli for the Syrian Orthodox Church, MECC held a conference entitled “Keeping Memory Alive 2 - The Syriac Genocide Attempt,” delivered by the MECC Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs. It took place on Wednesday 12 June 2024, in the Saint Jacob of Serug Church at the Syriac Orthodox Archdiocese, Sabtiyeh – Lebanon.

Under the Auspices and Presence of His Eminence Archbishop Mor Krysostomos Mikhael Chamoun

On the occasion of the Commemoration of the Sayfo Genocide

And as part of the Activities of the Fiftieth Year of Its Founding

MECC Organizes a Conference

“Keeping Memory Alive 2 - The Syriac Genocide Attempt,” Delivered by the Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs

On the occasion of the yearly commemoration of the Sayfo genocide, and as part of the activities of the Fiftieth Year of the Founding of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), with the blessings of His Holiness Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II, Patriarch of Antioch and All the East and Supreme Head of the Universal Syriac Orthodox Church, and Honorary President of the Middle East Council of Churches, and under the auspices and presence of His Eminence Archbishop Mor Krysostomos Mikhael Chamoun, Archbishop of Mount Lebanon and Tripoli for the Syrian Orthodox Church, MECC organized a conference entitled “Keeping Memory Alive 2 - The Syriac Genocide Attempt,” delivered by the MECC Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs. It took place on Wednesday 12 June 2024, in the Saint Jacob of Serug Church at the Syriac Orthodox Archdiocese, Sabtiyeh – Lebanon.

Attendees in this conference which you can watch by clicking here, were His Eminence Archbishop ‎Mor Theophilus George Saliba‎, Former Syriac Orthodox Archbishop of Mount Lebanon and Tripoli, and the Patriarchal Advisor, Father Paren Vartanian, representing the Catholicosate of the Armenian Apostolic Church, Holy See of Cilicia, Priests of the Archdiocese, social figures, guests, and participants from the region.

On Charity Radio TV

The Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Dr. Michel Abs was the guest of the journalist Zouhour Abou Mansour, in an episode within the program “Hawana Hawak”, broadcasted on Charity Radio TV, on Wednesday 12 June 2024.

During the episode which you can watch it in the video, Dr. Michel Abs spoke about the inauguration of the new office of the Middle East Council of Churches in Amman with the blessing of His Eminence Archbishop Christoforos Atallah, the Greek Orthodox Archbishop of Jordan, and President of the Council of Heads of Churches in Jordan, and the support of the Archdiocese.

An Ecumenical Training Organized by the Middle East Council of Churches and TearFund

Building Bridges Standing Together!

The Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), Diakonia and Social Service Department, in partnership with the TearFund organization, held a training entitled “Disaster Risk Management and Churches Response”, between 6 and 9 June 2024, in Bethania, Harissa - Lebanon. Participants were an ecumenical group of clergy and lay people from various Church Families in Lebanon and Middle Eastern countries.

The training included morning Prayers and many Theological, humanitarian and programmatic sessions accompanied by specialists from various fields. It aimed to empower participants working in the Church field, and develop their capabilities in order to support them in responding in times of crises. It also aimed at providing the attendees with skills that will enable them in turn to train members of their congregations, so they can all help the Church heal the wounds of the most affected people in times of disasters, on various humanitarian, social, health and psychological levels.

Following the inauguration of the new Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) office in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan with the blessing of His Eminence Archbishop Christoforos Atallah, the Greek Orthodox Archbishop of Jordan, and President of the Council of Heads of Churches in Jordan, the new Director of the office Father Ignatius Khalifeh visited Lebanon to follow up on the necessary administrative issues with the MECC Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs.

Therefore, a coordination meeting was held on Monday 10 June 2024, at the MECC headquarters in Beirut, in the presence of the MECC Associate Secretary General Reverend Rifaat Fikry, the MECC Associate Secretary General Mrs. Seta Hadeshian, and the MECC General Secretariat’s team.

The Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) organized a new workshop for its team about team building and communication, on Tuesday 11 June 2024, in the Wata Al Joz region - Lebanon, aiming at empowering its employees and developing their skills at various administrative, professional, cultural and intellectual levels. 

The training was attended by the Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches Dr. Michel Abs, with the participation of the MECC Associate Secretary General for the Evangelical Family Reverend Rifaat Fikry, the MECC Associate Secretary General for the Catholic Family, the Director of Jordan’s office Father Ignatius Khalifeh, the Director of Syria’s Office Mr. Ghassan Chahine, and the MECC team. 

Standing together in an ongoing ecumenical journey!

The Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) family participated in an interactive and educational workshop on team building and communication, on Tuesday 11 June 2024, in the Wata al-Joz region, Lebanon.

Hence, you can find in the video a highlight about this day full of fraternity and love! And you may also click here for more details.

Their Prayers at the Saint Elie Chouaya Monastery in Mount Lebanon and Meets With His Eminence Bishop Costantine Kayyal, the Head of the Monastery

A week after the inauguration of the new Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) office in Jordan with the blessing of His Eminence Archbishop Christoforos Atallah, the Greek Orthodox Archbishop of Jordan, and President of the Council of Heads of Churches in Jordan, the Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches Dr. Michel Abs and the new Director of the office in Jordan Father Ignatius Khalifeh, who visited Lebanon, continue their cooperation and coordination in order to enhance the work of the office in the Jordanian society.

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

On the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Armenian National Sanatorium of Azounieh - Lebanon, a recital performed by the Fayha National Choir, was held on Sunday 9 June 2024, at the First Armenian Evangelical Church in Beirut. Noting that the Choir includes 75 singers, of whom only three are Armenian, and is directed by the Maestro Barkev Taslakian.

The celebration was attended by His Holiness Catholicos Aram I, Catholicos of the Armenian Church, Holy See of Cilicia, and Honorary President of the Middle East Council of Churches, represented by His Eminence Archbishop Shahe Panossian, Primate of the Armenian Orthodox Church in Lebanon, Reverend Dr. Paul Haidostian, President of the Union of the Armenian Evangelical Churches in the Near East (UAECNE), President of Haigazian University in Lebanon, and President of the Middle East Council of Churches for the Evangelical Family, Pastors and Priests, the Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Dr. Michel Abs, and guests from different fields.

With the Middle East Council of Churches and Danmission

Within the framework of the “Environmental Days” that the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) had previously launched, the Theological and Ecumenical Department, EcoJustice Unit, with the support of the “Danmission” organization, organized an environmental activity in the Bekaa region in Lebanon. It was held with the aim of promoting the environmental culture and working to take care of God’s creation that He has entrusted us with.

Participants were a group of youth from the Syriac Orthodox Church, Bet Tarbitho (Center of Religious Education) in Mount Lebanon, the Armenian Orthodox Army of Hope, and Our Lady of Jamhour Jesuit School, where they gathered since the early morning in the Bekaa to finish planting orchards.

Middle East Socioeconomic Overview Report: May 2024

International outrage has only ramped up over the malicious actions being perpetrated in Gaza. Even the traditional allies of the occupant have found it hard to defend the killing of displaced people, who consist of women and children, in designated safe camps. Moreover, the ICJ has issued arrest warrants targeting the occupant’s officials blaming them for war crimes. However, with the backing of the United States, bringing these individuals to justice will remain an impossibility. For the time being, millions of people around the world continue to increase pressure on the occupation entity using any way possible. Supported by the free media, they are succeeding in rallying others against this menace.

The Middle East Council of Churches Participates in the Service and Congratulates His Eminence

His Beatitude Patriarch Cardinal Mar Bechara Boutros Al-Rai, Maronite Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, presided over the Divine Mass and the Episcopal Ordination of Father Michel Al Jalakh as Titular Archbishop of Nisibis for the Maronites. Father Al Jalakh is the Secretary of the Dicastery of the Eastern Churches in the Vatican, Advisor to the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity in the Holy See, and Honorary Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC). The service was held on Saturday 8 June 2024, at the Patriarchal Edifice in Bkerke - Lebanon.