A Special Episode of the Program "Phenomena" on Télé Lumière and Noursat - Wednesday, December 11, 2024 at 10:30 pm

Watch with us an episode of “Zawaher” ("Phenomena") program on Télé Lumière and its satellite Channel Noursat entitled: "The Jubilee Journey of the Middle East Council of Churches…", with the Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Professor Michel E. Abs, and with the Coordinator of the Church and Media Relations and Director of the Platform of the Word at the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) the Journalist Lea Adel Maamary, on Wednesday, December 11, 2024 at 10:30 pm, and the replay on Tuesday, December 17, 2024 at 2:30 pm, Beirut and Eastern Mediterranean time. With the greetings of the editor and presenter of the program "Phenomena" Charbel Zouein *Follow the episode LIVE via the live website on the Internet:

https://noursat.tv/tv/noursat/live

The Nativity Manger 2024 at Our Lady of Amchit Church

Embodiment of the Church of the Nativity and the Bethlehem Manger

The Nativity Manger: it consists of arranged, irregular and unpolished rocks that retain their natural shape to indicate the solid foundation of the Christian faith built on the virtues of simplicity, humility and love.

The Church Above the Manger: an architectural embodiment of the true Church of the Nativity built above the Manger of the Nativity, the rock of our faith.

A sign of rootedness in this East from which the Light emanated.

On the top of the Church you can find a dome bearing 5 bells whose ringing reminds us of returning to God.

At its top you can also find a four-dimensional cross, a sign of our salvation.

We are deprived of visiting the Land on which Christ lived, as this model translates the longing for this encounter.

The Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Professor Michel Abs, participated in a Christmas episode with the Parish Priest of Our Lady of Amchit Father Charbel Al Khoury. They were interviewed by the Journalist Lea Maamary. The interview centered around Christmas topics, as well as about human and social, existential issues.

Moreover, Bethlehem - the Church of the Nativity, which was embodied by Father Charbel Al Khoury in his Parish, was highlighted. It carries many messages confirming that the Light of Christ alone illuminates the darkness of the earth.

A news bulletin on Mariam TV, prepared and presented by the Journalist Lea Adel Maamary, the Director of “The Platform of the Word” at the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), and the Coordinator of the Church and Media Relations at MECC.

The bulletin includes a report about the climate justice activities at the Youth Pre Assembly and the Fourth General Assembly of the International “ACT Alliance” in Indonesia, with the participation of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC).

Professor Dr. Michel Abs

Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC)

Once again, I find myself compelled to address the same issue: the rotating genocide taking place in the Antiochian Levant.

Since the end of the Industrial Revolution, and the subsequent First World War—which led to the industrialized West dividing up the legacy of the “Sick Man”, this ill-fated region has seen the arrival of various missions, the most cunning and dangerous of which was the King-Crane Commission. In parallel, treaties carved up this area, fragmenting it further—most famously Sykes-Picot—so that our peoples have known neither stability nor peace, even though we are the Land of Peace, where the Lord of Peace was incarnated, the Light from Light.

Colonizers sat around conference tables—better described as conspiracy tables—drawing lines lengthwise and crosswise, which later became political borders for a nation shattered into scattered remnants of peoples. As if conspiracy were not enough, they went on to create an artificial entity and tasked it with exterminating the native inhabitants of the land, just as they had done on the continents they had colonized. Thus began wars of extermination and tragedies in a place they call the Cradle of Civilizations.

If we must give this region a modern name, we could call it the “Zone of Roaming Murder.”

The elements of the tragedy became clearer after the Second World War, when Palestine was partitioned, and a racist state was established there. This created hostility between a segment of our peoples who share that state’s religion and the rest of the population with whom they had lived for more than two thousand years…

His Eminence Metropolitan Antonios Al Soury, Greek Orthodox Metropolitan of Zahle, Baalbek and their Dependencies, and Member of the Executive Committee of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) delivers a word via video on the occasion of the launching of “The Platform of the Word” at the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) in partnership with Télé Lumière and Noursat TV Channel. He was interviewed by the Journalist Lea Adel Maamary, Director of the Platform, and Coordinator of the Church and Media Relations at the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC).

Middle East Socio-Economic Overview

Report: November 2024

After a series of intensive diplomatic talks, a ceasefire agreement was reached putting an end to the military conflict in Southern Lebanon. As soon as planes stopped dropping bombs on Lebanese soil, a massive chunk of the displaced started returning back to their homes. Although calm is reestablishing itself within Lebanon, the situation remains to be deplorable in Gaza as violence continues to claim lives. It is as though the occupier’s policies and intentions towards what remains of Palestine are continuing unabated.

In Light of the Circumstances Taking Place in the North of the Syrian Arab Republic, Especially in the City of Aleppo

The Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Professor Dr. Michel Abs was a guest within the “Good Evening” program on the “ME Sat” Egyptian TV Channel to talk about the statement issued by MECC in light of the circumstances taking place in the North of the Syrian Arab Republic, especially in the city of Aleppo.

The churches in the city of Aleppo have confirmed their steadfastness and resilience, continuing to hold prayers and masses as usual and as required.

They also denied the rumors about any demands received from the factions controlling Aleppo, including imposing conditions on dioceses and churches.

This denial of these rumors comes to refute what is being circulated on social media, which causes confusion and instability among civilians.

We urge all media outlets, including social networks, to exercise accuracy and caution in receiving and publishing news, given the sensitivity of the current phase.

Les milieux ecclésiastiques de la ville d'Alep ont confirmé leur constance et leur résilience, en continuant à célébrer les prières et les messes comme d'habitude et comme il se doit.

Ils ont également démenti les rumeurs concernant d'éventuelles demandes qui leur auraient été adressées par les factions contrôlant Alep, y compris l'imposition de conditions aux diocèses et aux églises.

Ce démenti de ces rumeurs vient réfuter ce qui est véhiculé par les réseaux sociaux et qui suscite la confusion et l'instabilité parmi les civils.

Nous appelons tous les médias, y compris les réseaux sociaux, à faire preuve de précision et de prudence dans la réception et la diffusion des informations, compte tenu de la sensibilité de la phase actuelle.

Concerning the Events Occurring in the North of the Syrian Arab Republic

The Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) is observing with deep concern the events unfolding in the north of the Syrian Arab Republic, especially in the Aleppo region, as if the Middle East is destined never to find the path to peace or stability, which hinders its progress and development.

The MECC is concerned about the people—their dignity, their security, their safety, the continuity of their normal lives, the provision of their basic needs, and ensuring that they are not exposed to anything that may negatively affect their lives and the future of their generations.

We ask the Lord to grant the people the strength to have patience and to hold on to their land, their homes, and their institutions, to remain in their communities and try to continue their daily lives as much as possible. We also hope that public and private institutions will be allowed to continue their work with whatever capabilities are available to them, out of kindness for the people who watch local developments with concern…

Concernant les événements en cours dans le nord de la République arabe syrienne

Le Conseil des Églises du Moyen-Orient (MECC/CEMO) observe avec une profonde inquiétude les événements qui se déroulent dans le nord de la République arabe syrienne, en particulier dans la région d'Alep, comme si le Moyen-Orient était condamné à ne jamais trouver le chemin vers la paix ou la stabilité, ce qui entrave son progrès et son développement.

Le MECC est concerné par les personnes, leur dignité, leur sécurité, leur bien-être, la continuité de leur vie normale, la satisfaction de leurs besoins essentiels, et s'assure qu'elles ne soient pas exposées à ce qui pourrait avoir un impact négatif sur leur vie et l'avenir de leurs générations.

Nous demandons au Seigneur de donner aux habitants la force de faire preuve de patience, de s'attacher à leur terre, leurs maisons et leurs institutions, de rester dans leurs communautés et de tenter de poursuivre leur vie quotidienne autant que possible. Nous espérons également qu'il sera permis aux institutions publiques et privées de poursuivre leurs activités avec les moyens dont elles disposent, par considération pour les personnes qui regardent avec inquiétude les transformations locales…

Lessons from the Lebanon War

Professor Dr. Michel Abs

Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC)

Lebanon experienced, for a considerable period, a bitter ordeal that led to thousands of casualties, the displacement of a quarter of the Lebanese population, the destruction of more than fifty thousand homes, and an unknown number of businesses. Additionally, some southern villages were erased from the national map, albeit temporarily.

In the midst of this crisis, the Lebanese once again proved that they are a people who love life and deserve it. Their solidarity and social and national unity are stronger than all the violent storms that have battered the nation.

The quarter of the Lebanese population who were displaced—overwhelmingly from a particular religious community — found warm hearts embracing them in the areas to which they fled.

The reception the displaced received, and the care and attention bestowed upon them by the host communities, were exemplary and exceeded all expectations. This was evident during the displaced people's stay in their places of refuge, as expressed by the returnees upon their return to their neighborhoods and villages.

Indeed, we can say more than that. This displacement and embrace, and the approximately two-month stay in host areas, fostered friendships through good treatment. This is also what the displaced expressed upon their return, laying the foundation for tomorrow's Lebanon, where its people interact with one another within the crucible of the nation.

During this displacement, the true image of the Lebanese people, their values, and the eternal bond that ties them to one another became clearly evident — a bond that dates back thousands of years and which no force on earth can break.

Video – A Christmas Reflection by the Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Professor Dr. Michel Abs

Video - Hymn from the Maronite Rite

The Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) have now issued its online Ecumenical calendar for the month of December 2024. 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.