From 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 (MECC) for the Evangelical Family

Receives the Secretary General Professor Dr. Michel Abs and an MECC Delegation

A Christmas Visit and Hopes for a Better Future

The Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Professor Dr. Michel Abs headed a delegation from the Council on a Christmas visit to the Pastor of the Coptic Orthodox Church in Lebanon and Syria Father Andraos Al Anthouny, on Tuesday, January 7, 2025, at the headquarters of the Coptic Orthodox Patriarchate in Beirut, in the presence of the Lawyer of the Coptic Orthodox Church in Lebanon Mr. Abdallah Moussallem.

The Secretary General was accompanied by the Director of the Theological and Ecumenical Department at the Council Fr. Dr. Antoine Al Ahmar, the Coordinator of the Social Capital Rehabilitation Project Dr. Laure Abi Khalil, the Media Officer, the Director of the Platform of the Word and the Coordinator of the Church and Media Relations at the Council the Journalist Lea Adel Maamary, Media and Communication Officer at the Communication and Public Relations Department Elia Nasrallah, and Social Media Officer Johnny Antoun.

The attendees exchanged Christmas and New Year greetings, wishing everyone a blessed and glorious season, raising their Prayers for peace in the Middle East and hoping that the people of the region will live in better conditions and with a brighter future.

A Meeting that Stresses the Importance of the Role of Ecumenical Media in Conveying the Good News

On the occasion of Christmas and New Year, the Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Professor Dr. Michel Abs, visited 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 (MECC) for the Evangelical Family, and his wife Mrs. Maral Haidostian, in the presence of Reverend Jirair Ghazarian, Pastor of the First Armenian Evangelical Church in Beirut. The visit took place on Tuesday, January 7, 2025, at the campus of Haigazian University - Beirut.

Professor Dr. Abs was accompanied by an MECC delegation which included the Associate Secretary General Mrs. Seta Hadeshian, the Director of the Theological and Ecumenical Department Fr. Antoine Ahmar, the Executive Assistant to the Secretary General Mrs. Caroline Haddad, the Coordinator of the Social Capital Rehabilitation Project Dr. Laure Abi Khalil, the Media Officer, the Director of the Platform of the Word and the Coordinator of the Church and Media Relations at the Council the Journalist Lea Adel Maamary, Media and Communication Officer at the Communication and Public Relations Department Elia Nasrallah, Social Media Officer Johnny Antoun, and Archive Officer Charbel Bastoury.

His Eminence Archbishop Youssef Soueif: We are called in this East to live unity more than ever before, so we must experience it pastorally, socially and humanly

The Secretary General Professor Dr. Michel Abs: The Week of Prayer for Unity is a step on the path of a thousand miles towards social cohesion and civil peace

In a historical step, and with the blessings and presence of His Eminence Archbishop Youssef Soueif, Archbishop of the Maronite Diocese of Tripoli and President of the Episcopal Committee for Ecumenical Work at the Assemblée des Patriarches et Evêques Catholiques du Liban (APECL), the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) held a press conference to launch the “Week of Prayer for Christian Unity” 2025 under the title “Do you believe this?” (John 11: 26). It coincides this year with the 1700th Anniversary of the First Christian Ecumenical Council in Nicaea.

The conference, which was held on Tuesday, January 7, 2025, in “The Platform of the Word” at the MECC headquarters - Beirut, was attended by Father Tanios Khalil, Dean of the Faculty of Theology at La Sagesse University in Lebanon, and Rapporteur of the Episcopal Committee for Ecumenical Work at the Assemblée des Patriarches et Evêques Catholiques du Liban (APECL), the Journalist George Maalouli, Director of Mariam TV, and colleagues in the MECC General Secretariat.

After His Eminence Archbishop Youssef Soueif blessed the MECC offices and the Platform of the Word by the Holy Water, the conference began with a speech delivered by the Media Officer at MECC, the Director of the Platform of the Word, and the Coordinator of the Church and Media Relations at MECC, the Journalist Lea Adel Maamary, in which she said, “The Churches have advanced concerning the issue of unity regardless of doctrinal differences, based on the fact that when we talk about Theological dialogue, it will be met with a dialogue of love, and this embrace can only be achieved through doctrinal dialogue and love: love of God and love of others.”

On the occasion of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2025, and as part of his first and historical visit to the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) in the Ras Beirut area, His Eminence Archbishop Youssef Soueif, Archbishop of the Maronite Diocese of Tripoli and President of the Episcopal Committee for Ecumenical Work at the Assemblée des Patriarches et Evêques Catholiques du Liban (APECL), was the guest of a media interview at the Platform of the Word at the MECC. His Eminence was interviewed by the Journalist Lea Maamary, the Media Officer, the Director of the Platform of the Word, and the Coordinator of the Church and Media Relations at the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC).

The episode focused on the Unity Week for the year 2025 and its main slogan “Do you believe this?” (John 11: 26), as well as the importance of living love, repentance and self-denial.

What Are the Details?

In a gesture of love and appreciation, the Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Professor Dr. Michel Abs, offered the Medal of the Fiftieth Year of the MECC Founding to His Eminence Archbishop Youssef Soueif, Archbishop of the Maronite Diocese of Tripoli and President of the Episcopal Committee for Ecumenical Work at the Assemblée des Patriarches et Evêques Catholiques du Liban (APECL), and Father Tanios Khalil, Dean of the Faculty of Theology at La Sagesse University in Lebanon, and Rapporteur of the Episcopal Committee for Ecumenical Work, as a token of respect and thanks for their continuous support.

This presentation took place during the press conference held for the launch of the "Week of Prayer for Christian Unity" 2025 entitled “Do you believe this?” (John 11: 26), at the invitation of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), on Tuesday, January 7, 2025, at "The Platform of the Word" in MECC - Beirut.

A Meeting with the MECC Team Emphasizes the Importance of Strengthening the Ecumenical Spirit

In a historic station and within the journey of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), His Eminence Archbishop Youssef Soueif, Archbishop of the Maronite Diocese of Tripoli and President of the Episcopal Committee for Ecumenical Work at the Assemblée des Patriarches et Evêques Catholiques du Liban (APECL), visited the MECC headquarters in Beirut for the first time, on Tuesday, January 7, 2025. He was accompanied by Father Tanios Khalil, Dean of the Faculty of Theology at La Sagesse University in Lebanon, and Rapporteur of the Episcopal Committee for Ecumenical Work.

They were received by the Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Professor Dr. Michel Abs, and colleagues in the MECC General Secretariat.

Upon his arrival, His Eminence blessed the offices of the General Secretariat and “The Platform of the Word” at MECC by sprinkling the Holy Water, offering his Prayers on the intention of the MECC work and the peace in Lebanon and the region.

Together We Pray and Work to Preserve Our Common Home!

Due to the war that broke out in the fall season and disrupted life in the region, especially in Lebanon, the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) was unable to celebrate the Season of Creation during the traditional period from September 1 to October 4. Once the situation calmed down, the Program Coordinator Archdeacon Garen Yosolkanian, began organizing many celebrations and activities, during the Christmas period, starting from Egypt.

On December 27, 2024, which is the Sunday of the Righteous Saint, the Spouse of the Virgin Mary in the Byzantine Rite and the Sunday of the Genesis in the Coptic Rite, the first celebration of the Season of Creation 2024 in Egypt was held at the Church of the Virgin Mary and Mother Teresa for the Coptic Catholics in Ezbet El Nakhl. The celebration included an awareness campaign on the importance of the environment and a presentation of the changes that occurred in the areas of Ezbet El Nakhl, which lost its palm tree grove and consequently lost traces of the date tree, due to the lack of a pure approach to creation and local nature.

On December 29, 2024, a Liturgical celebration and a Prayer Service for the Season of Creation were held at the Evangelical Church of El Zahour, according to the Arabic text issued by the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC). It is worth noting that the Church is new, located in a city which is still under construction in El Zahour area. The celebration was led by Reverend Eid Salah, Reverend Jeremiah and the Church elders, in the presence of a crowd of believers from the area, including many young people and children, along with guests from Lebanon and the Head of the Ecumenical Youth Committee in Egypt.

A report that sheds light on the launching history of the “Week of Prayer for Christian Unity” and the theme that was chosen for this year.

Week of Prayer 2025 Booklet in Arabic

Week of Prayer 2025 Booklet in English

On the Occasion of the Commemoration of His Patron Saint, Saint Joseph, the Spouse of the Virgin Mary

On the occasion of the Commemoration Saint Joseph, the Spouse of the Virgin Mary, the Patron Saint of His Beatitude Patriarch His Beatitude Patriarch Youssef Al-Absi, Patriarch of Antioch and All the East for the Greek Melkite Catholics, and Honorary President of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), the Secretary General Professor Dr. Michel Abs, extends, in the name of the MECC family, his warmest congratulations to His Beatitude, wishing him continued health and success in his Pastoral mission.

The Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) also raises its Prayers to God to accompany His Beatitude Patriarch Youssef Al-Absi, provide him with His graces and grant him determination and strength in his faithful service to the Church of Christ and his many givings in the field of the Lord.

On the occasion of Christmas in the Armenian Orthodox Church, the Media Officer at the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), the Director of the Platform of the Word and the Coordinator of the Church and Media Relations at MECC, Lea Maamary, visited the Director of Radio Voice of Van Mr. Viken Avakian, congratulating him on Christmas and the New Year, and thanking him for the media space that the Radio provided to her in order to spread the message of love, convergence and humanity. She also noted the cooperation between MECC and the media, including Radio Voice of Van.

In his turn, Mr. Viken Awakian thanked the Journalist Lea Maamary, for her efforts and the success of the “Initiatives” program that people await weekly, looking forward to further media cooperation with the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) for the good of the Church and the society.

The Media Officer at the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), the Director of the Platform of the Word, and the Coordinator of the Church and Media Relations at MECC, the Journalist Lea Adel Maamary, was chosen among the fifty best people in the world for the year 2024 in recognition of her pioneering and distinguished role in the humanitarian, social, cultural, and media sectors.

A Special Episode for the New Year on Mariam TV, Prepared and Presented by the Journalist Lea Adel Maamary

"New Dawn", a special episode for the New Year on Mariam TV, prepared and presented by the Media Officer at the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), the Director of “The Platform of the Word” and the Coordinator of the Church and Media Relations at MECC the Journalist Lea Adel Maamary.

The episode includes interviews with the Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECc) Professor Dr. Michel Abs, and with international Ecumenical Leaders, in addition to interventions by colleagues in the MECC General Secretariat, as well as special interviews made by the MECC media team.

At the Invitation of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) and the Episcopal Committee for Ecumencial Work at the Assemblée des Patriarches et Evêques Catholiques du Liban (APECL)

You can click on the following link to participate online via zoom: https://shorturl.at/Ivaoz.

The program "Dawn from the East" produced by "The Platform of the Word" at the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), on Télé Lumière and Noursat TV Channel!

Watch with us the second episode, on Friday, January 3, 2025, at 1:00 pm Beirut time.

“Dawn from the East”, a program that addresses the youth, their concerns and aspirations, especially in light of the difficult circumstances that our countries are passing through. It also highlights their various activities and humanitarian initiatives during Christmas.

You can find (in Arabic) the program of the Celebrations of the “Week of Prayer for Christian Unity” 2025 in Lebanon.

Week of Prayer 2025 Booklet in Arabic

Week of Prayer 2025 Booklet in English

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), was the guest of the Journalist Lea Adel Maamary, the Media Officer at the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), the Director of "The Platform of the Word", and the Coordinator of the Church and Media Relations at MECC, in a special episode within her program "Initiatives" on Radio Voice of Van.

the Journalist Lea Maamary - Amchit

Coinciding with Christmas and the New Year, Father Charbel Al Khoury, the Priest of the Parish of Our Lady - Amchit, honored the Media Officer at the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), the Director of the Platform of the Word and the Coordinator of the Church and Media Relations at the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), the Journalist Lea Maamary, with a special honor shield in appreciation of her unlimited humanitarian and media contributions.

The honoring of the Journalist Lea Maamary came during the Christmas celebration held at the Parish of Our Lady - Amchit.

The program "Dawn from the East" produced by "The Platform of the Word" at the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), will be broadcasted on Télé Lumière and Noursat TV Channel!

Stay tuned for the first episode, on Monday, December 30, 2024, at 1:00 pm Beirut time.

“Dawn from the East”, a program that addresses the youth, their concerns and aspirations, especially in light of the difficult circumstances that our countries are passing through. It also highlights their various activities and humanitarian initiatives during Christmas.