On the occasion of the Fiftieth Year of the Founding of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), Reverend Refaat Fikry, the MECC Associate Secretary General, devoted an episode of his program “Kadaya Sakhina” (“Hot Issues”) broadcasted on Al Keraza Egyptian TV Channel, under the tittle “The Churches of Egypt and Fifty Years of the Middle East Council of Churches,” to highlight the celebration held for the occasion in the Arab Republic of Egypt.

The meeting was held under the hospitality of the Coptic Orthodox Church and under the patronage, blessings, and presence of His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark, Heads and Representatives of the Member Churches, the MECC Secretary General Professor Michel Abs, the Honorary and Associate Secretaries General, Fathers Priests and Pastors, Nun Sisters, personalities and invitees. It took place on Saturday 14 September 2024, at the Papal Headquarters in the St. Mark’s Cathedral in Abbasiya.

How Do the Diakonia Department’s Volunteers in Syria Describe Their Experiences in Humanitarian Work?

On the occasion of the Fiftieth Year of the Founding of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), this video presents some interventions from volunteers in the MECC Diakonia and Social Service Department in Syria, during which they presented their experiences and expertise in humanitarian work, expressing the joy of giving and emphasizing the MECC slogan in serving with dignity.

Developing Youth Skills Towards Healthy Societies

They are the backbone of societies and an essential part for building a brighter future. They are also a source of vitality, health and well-being... They are the youth, carrying many energies and creativity with which they may benefit their communities and societies. However, young people today, in light of all the development that the world is witnessing amidst a wave of conflicts, are exposed to many challenges and difficulties that may limit their usual activity. Therefore, it has become necessary to care for them, educate them, develop their abilities, and protect them from all the pressures that surround them.

Hence, and in the context of supporting the youth, a new program was launched entitled “Youth Leadership Building”, which is a joint project organized by the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) in partnership with Kerk in Actie (KIA) organization, Bible Society, Youth for Christ (YFC), and Ithraa Center in Lebanon. The program aims to develop youth skills, motivate them to serve, and train them on the foundations of leadership. It also contributes to the formation of youth networks capable of making positive change in their communities.

Together for A Better Future!

Following the implementation of the first phase of the Youth Leadership Building (YLB) Project in Lebanon, a coordination meeting was held between the partners who launched the project, which are the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), the Youth for Christ (YFC), the Bible Society, the Ithraa Center, and the Kerk in Actie (KIA) organization, on Thursday 11 September 2024, at the Bible Society headquarters in Beirut.

The meeting included the Director of the MECC Theological and Ecumenical Department Father Dr. Antoine Al Ahmar, the Project Coordinator in the Department Ms. Maria Bzdigian, the Representative of Kerk in Actie (KIA) organization Mr. Dick Loendersloot, the Secretary General of the Bible Society Dr. Mike Bassous, the Psychosocial Support Coordinator at the Bible Society Mrs. Rita Zakhour, the National Director in Lebanon for Youth for Christ (YFC) Mr. Maher El Hajj, the Executive Assistant at YFC Mrs. Rouba Yammine, and the Founder and Director of the Ithraa Center in Lebanon Dr. Chady Rahme.

On the occasion of the reception of the incorrupt body of the Servant of God Cardinal Patriarch Krikor-Bedros XV Aghajanian, the Armenian Catholic Patriarchate of Cilicia, held a national and official celebration on Thursday, September 12, 2024, in the Martyrs’ Square in Downtown Beirut, with the blessings and presence of His Beatitude Patriarch Raphaël Bedros XXI Minassian, Catholicos Patriarch of the Armenian Catholic Church of Cilicia, and President of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) for the Catholic Family.

The celebration was attended by Lebanon's Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati, His Beatitude Patriarch Cardinal Mar Bechara Boutros Al-Rai, Maronite Patriarch of Antioch and all the East, His Beatitude Patriarch Mor Ignatius Youssef III Younan, Syriac Catholic Patriarch of Antioch, and Honorary President of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), His Beatitude Patriarch Joseph Al-Absi, Greek Melkite Catholic Patriarch of Antioch and all the East, and Honorary President of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), 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 (MECC), Reverend Dr. Paul Haidostian, President of the UAECNE, President of Haigazian University in Lebanon and President of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) for the Evangelical Family, Their Eminences Bishops, Heads of Sects, and clergy, as well as official, political, religious, cultural and social figures, and believers from various Churches and sects.

As well as, the Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Dr. Michel Abs participated at the head of a delegation that included the Member of the MECC Executive Committee Lawyer Mr. Ibrahim Traboulsi, the MECC Associate Secretary General Mrs. Seta Hadeshian, the Director of the MECC Theological and Ecumenical Father Dr. Antoine Al Ahmar, and the MECC Media and Communication Officer Elia Nasrallah.

The Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), represented by Father Dr. Antoine Al Ahmar, the Director of the Theological and Ecumenical Department, participated in the General Assembly of the “Danmission” organization held in the Danish city of Nyborg, between 31 August and 1 September 2024.

The first meeting was with the “Danmission” Board, in the presence of the new Secretary General of the organization Mrs. Julie Koch, and the participation of representatives of the organizations invited to the General Assembly, including Reverend Dr. Andrea Zaki, President of the Evangelical Churches in Egypt and the Coptic Evangelical Organization for Social Services, and Dr. Nayla Tabbara, Director of Adyan Foundation.

The General Assembly included a special session entitled “Tour of the World,” during which each of “Danmission’s” partners gave a presentation about the organizations and regions they represent, accompanied by the regional Directors of these regions. During this session, the part dedicated to the Middle East region was moderated by Mrs. Kristen Auken, the Director of the region in “Danmission”, where she highlighted the circumstances that the Middle East is passing through.

In his turn, Father Dr. Antoine Al Ahmar spoke about the history of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), its structure, goals, and the activities it implements, in addition to the experience of cooperation with “Danmission” and the aspirations for future joint work. He also talked about the situation of the Church in the region and the challenges it faces, especially in responding to the crises taking place in the Middle East.

After a two-year journey in the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), our colleague Sub-Deacon Chady Chata, the Social Media Officer, leaves the Council, carrying in his heart a lot of hope and moving to a new Ecumenical phase, where he will continue his Ecumenical studies at the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas – Angelicum, in Rome.

The family of the MECC General Secretariat felicitates Chady on the occasion of embarking on this path full of love, joy and humanity, as it bids farewell to a colleague who was known for his service, dedication, and zeal for the Council’s mission, as well as his kindness and support for all colleagues, partners and friends.

In this context, the MECC General Secretariat team held a farewell gathering for Chady, on Tuesday 10 September 2024, at the General Secretariat Offices in Beirut, where the Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches Dr. Michel thanked him for his efforts and dedication, praising his hard work and continuous diligence, and stressing his competence and the progress he has achieved in the Council and the Ecumenical world. He also wished him success in his new step.

Following the Dangerous Security Incidents in Lebanon

As a result of the escalation of new security events in Lebanon—which have turned into comprehensive aggression against various Lebanese regions, resulting in the martyrdom of thousands of citizens and the displacement of hundreds of thousands from southern Lebanon and the Bekaa to other regions due to concerns for their lives—the Middle East Council of Churches held an emergency meeting of the Extended General Secretariat. The meeting was chaired by the Secretary-General, Dr. Michel Abs, and attended by the Associate Secretaries-general and the directors of departments and sections. The aim was to study the emergency situation in Lebanon and the Levant, monitor urgent humanitarian needs, and take measures that ensure the continuation of work in the event of an escalation of security and severity of living conditions.

The participants discussed urgent humanitarian issues and ways to support families at various levels, praising the national human solidarity witnessed by Lebanese society since the beginning of the attacks.

The Middle East Council of Churches strongly condemns the killing of innocent people, children, women, the elderly, and other civilians, and deplores the attacks carried out by aggressor forces on densely populated areas that have led to the death of some 500 people in one day and the displacement of hundreds of thousands of citizens from their areas. These crimes indicate the forces of aggression's disregard for the principles of international law, the rules of the Geneva Conventions, and all conventions governing armed conflicts.

“Human Dignity in the Age of Artificial Intelligence”

Due to the current circumstances, the webinar that the Middle East Council of Churches was going to hold, on Thursday 26 September 2024, under the title “Human Dignity in the Age of Artificial Intelligence”, will be postponed indefinitely.

During his stay at the Holy Monastery of Pendeli - Inter-Orthodox Center, the Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches, Dr. Michel Abs, attended Vespers, presided over by His Eminence Metropolitan Ioannis of Thermopylae, Director of the Center, in the monastery church.

It is worth mentioning that His Eminence gave lectures at the John of Damascus Institute of Theology in the Antiochian See and still holds beautiful impressions of this period.

The Inter-Orthodox Center of the Church of Greece (www.intero.gr) is a conference, seminar and spiritual retreat center located in an easily accessible area and provides various services for various spiritual activities for those who visit it.

As part of his visit to the residence of His Beatitude the Archbishop of Athens and All Greece, the Secretary-General of the Middle East Council of Churches, Dr. Michel Abs, met with the team of the Archbishop's Aparchi TV Station. He gave a lengthy interview in which he spoke about the ecumenical movement, the Council—its identity, programs, and aspirations—as well as the Council's relationship with the churches and the role of church councils in uniting churches at both regional and international levels.

In this context, the Secretary-General refuted many preconceptions about the churches and the ecumenical movement, unequivocally explaining their positive role and respect for the specificity, independence, identity, history, and heritage of the member churches.

The recording is currently being edited and will be published at a later date.

The Secretary-General of the Middle East Council of Churches, Dr. Michel Abs, paid a visit to His Beatitude Archbishop Ieronymos II of Athens and All Greece at his headquarters in Athens. He met with him in the presence of Father Emmanuel, Secretary to His Beatitude.

At the outset, the Secretary-General conveyed the greetings of His Beatitude Patriarch John X, Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, to the Archbishop. His Beatitude reciprocated the greetings.

After that, the Secretary-General gave a detailed presentation on the Middle East Council of Churches, its structure, and activities to further acquaint His Beatitude with the Council. His Beatitude offered comments and praise.

“I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people” (Ephesians 1 :18).

 With great joy, the General Secretariat team of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) received the announcement of the unanimous re-election of Dr. Michel Abs as Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches for a second term of four years, during an extraordinary meeting held by the MECC Executive Committee, headed by its Presidents, on Frida 30 August 2024, at Our Lady of Balamand Patriarchal Monastery for the Greek Orthodox and the Saint John of Damascus Institute of Theology, in Lebanon.

Dr. Michel Abs is one of the pillars of the Council and a constant supporter for its Ecumenical mission and humanitarian work for decades. He carries within him many talents, as he has worked to invest them over the past four years in the Ecumenical work, the service of the Christian presence, as well as promoting the Ecumenical culture. He carries now new talents that he plans to invest in the next phase at various Ecumenical, Theological, humanitarian, cultural and media levels…

The Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches Dr. Michel Abs, is the faithful servant who inspires many believers and activists, carrying the MECC in his heart in order to convey its message to the whole world so that it can be a shining beacon and a crying voice in the wilderness.

“Human Dignity in the Age of Artificial Intelligence”

Thursday 26 September 2024 - 7 pm Beirut Time

The Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) invites you to participate in its monthly webinar, entitled “Human Dignity in the Age of Artificial Intelligence”, on Thursday 26 September 2024, at 7 pm Beirut time.

You can participate in the webinar via the following Zoom link https://rb.gy/6vem5i, and live on the MECC Facebook Page.

The webinar, which includes two interventions, will start with an opening speech by its moderator Dr. Chawki Attieh, which will be followed with a speech by the Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Prof. Dr. Michel Abs.

During these dire circumstances that the region is passing through as a result of conflicts and crises that burden its people, job opportunities are becoming increasingly limited, especially when it comes to Syrian refugees. As heads of households are either unable to secure a livelihood or are depending on low-paying jobs that disallow them from making ends meet, refugee families are increasingly being subjected to high levels of poverty. To make matters worse, humanitarian aid is continuously declining forcing them to adopt negative coping strategies to survive.

For this reason, the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), Diakonia and Social Service Department, Lebanon’s office, launched a program to empower Syrian refugee women and enhance their capabilities, through implementing soft skills sessions that would teach them new skills enabling them to better support their families. Hence, by developing skills that allow them to make decorative and useful handcrafts, they can sell these products to earn some money. The interesting matter is that these products can be put together using materials that are either easy to find or that are recyclables.

Father Dr. Antoine Al Ahmar, Director of the Theological and Ecumenical Department at the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), was the guest of the Journalist Zouhour Abou Mansour, in an episode of her program “Hawana Hawak,” broadcasted on Charity Radio TV, to talk about the “Season of Creation.”

During the interview, which you can watch in the video, Father Dr. Antoine hughlighted the meanings of this Season, its goals, and the theme it carries this year, which is “To hope and act with Creation.” He also discussed about the environmental activities implemented by the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), in addition to the Council’s future aspirations.

This video report, prepared by the Egyptian COC channel, presents an overview about the celebration of the Fiftieth Year of the Founding of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), which was held in the Arab Republic of Egypt, hosted by the Coptic Orthodox Church, and in the presence of His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark, and Heads and Representatives of the Member Churches, on Saturday 14 September 2024, at the Papal Residence in St. Mark’s Cathedral in Abbasiya.

The video also includes excerpts from the speech delivered by His Holiness Pope Tawadros II at the celebration, in addition to interviews with His Beatitude Patriarch Anba Ibrahim Isaac, the Coptic Catholic Patriarch, and the President of the Council of Catholic Patriarchs and Bishops in Egypt, His Eminence Bishop Anba Thomas, Coptic Orthodox Bishop of Al-Qusiya and Mir, Assiut, the Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Dr. Michel Abs, and the Honorary Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Dr. Gergis Ibrahim Saleh.

Its Journey and Path in Its Fiftieth Year

His Holiness Pope Tawadros II,
Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark, Patron of the Celebration,

His Beatitude Patriarch Ibrahim Isaac,
Patriarch of the Coptic Catholic Church,

Honorable Rev. Dr. Andre Zaki,
President of the Evangelical Community in Egypt,

Your Holinesses, Eminences, Beatitudes, Pastors, and Respected Fathers,
Ladies and gentlemen,

At the outset, I must thank His Holiness, who blessed and sponsored this initiative and achievement. This is not the first time that His Holiness has shown His unlimited support for joint Christian action—that is, ecumenical action—and for the Middle East Council of Churches in particular.

I also pray and ask for mercy for the righteous martyrs of the Church. The chapter of martyrdom remains wide open, where believers offer their souls as a testimony to the message of the Incarnate, whose kingdom has no end. I say to everyone: Happy Norouz and may the blessings of the Coptic year 1741 for the martyrs be upon us all. 

During half a century full of struggle and witness, the Middle East Council of Churches has formed a diverse identity that reflects the diversity of its components and the elements of the region in which it originated.

The MECC was able to define itself, which influenced Christians in the Middle East. It has been working for half a century, through delicate and dangerous stages, and has succeeded in redefining its identity, its role, and its position at every step and every stage.

On the occasion of the Arab Republic of Egypt’s celebration for the Fiftieth Year of the Founding of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), His Eminence Bishop Anba Ermia, General Bishop, President of the Coptic Orthodox Cultural Center, received the MECC Secretary General Professor Michel Abs, accompanied by the MECC Coordinator of Church and Media Relations, the Journalist Lea Adel Maamary, on Saturday 14 September 2024.

Attendees were Reverend Dr. Refaat Fikry, the MECC Associate Secretary General Dr. Gergis Saleh, the MECC Honorary Secretary General, Mr. Bassem Saad, the General Director of the MeSat TV Channel, and Mr. Michael Bahij, the General Coordinator of Church Relations for the Channel in the Middle East.

As part of his tour program in the Arab Republic of Egypt, the Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Professor Michel Abs, participated in the Worship Prayer Service held by Reverend Refaat Fikry, the MECC Associate Secretary General for the Evangelical Family, on Sunday 15 September 2024, in the Evangelical Church - Rawd El Faraj - Shubra – Egypt, in the presence of the MECC Coordinator of Church and Media Relations Journalist Lea Adel Maamary, Mrs. Rania Morris, John Refaat and believers.

Following the Prayer Service, which included a Sermon addressed by Reverend Refaat Fikry, and a speech delivered by the Secretary General Professor Michel Abs, the MECC Secretary General met with the Parishioners, where he listened to their concerns and challenges and gave them his advices and guidance, based on the words of Jesus Christ, “Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid” (Matthew 14:27).