MECC
Under the title "The Face of Mary", and on the occasion of the Feast of the Annunciation
The Middle East Council of Churches and the Christian Muslim Episcopal Committee for Dialogue,
which stems from the Council of Catholic Patriarchs and Bishops in Lebanon,
are organizing a symposium on Tuesday, March 25, at 4:00 PM
at Our Lady of the Annunciation Cathedral – Museum – Beirut
March 6 - National Day of Tolerance and Coexistence in Iraq
What Are Its Roots and History?
From Mesopotamia that embraced in its heart the spirit of unity and fraternity and wove in its veins a painting of faith and hope, the National Day of Tolerance and Coexistence was launched, which Iraq adopted in its national calendar on March 6 of each year. The day was announced after the fraternal meeting that brought together His Holiness Pope Francis and His Eminence Al-Sayyid Ali Al-Sistani in Najaf during His Holiness' historic visit to Iraq despite his difficult health situation at the time. A visit that extended between March 5 and 8, 2021.
If we go back in history to the year 2021, we must recall this official visit that urged the parties and sects to announce this day. All the stations of his historic visit to Iraq included a series of positions that emphasized fraternity, love and tolerance in their content.
Video - From Misery to Healing
An Episode with His Eminence Bishop Mar Matthias Charles Mrad and the Journalist Lea Adel Maamary
From the Platform of the Word at MECC
"From Misery to Healing", a program from the Platform of the Word at the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) that discusses the meanings and dimensions of Lent, as well as Prayers and celebrations with various Church Families.
The guest of this episode is His Eminence Bishop Mar Matthias Charles Mrad, the Patriarchal Vicar of the Syriac Catholic Archdiocese of Beirut and the Head of the Episcopal Committee for Christian-Muslim Dialogue in Lebanon.
He was interviewed by the Media Officer, the Coordinator of the Church and Media Relations and the Director of the Platform of the Word at the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), the Journalist Lea Adel Maamary.
Video - A News Bulletin Presented by the Media Officer and the Coordinator of the Church and Media Relations at the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) the Journalist Lea Adel Maamary
On Mariam TV, Affiliated with Télé Lumière-Noursat
The Bulletin Covers Church, Social and Cultural News
The Lebanon Forum of the International ACT Alliance Holds Its Annual Meeting
Hosted by the Syriac Orthodox Archdiocese of Beirut
His Eminence Archbishop Mor Clemis Daniel Kourieh: "Let us work to enhance cooperation and solidarity to serve the little brothers and sisters of Jesus Christ with honesty and dignity"
The MECC Secretary General Professor Michel Abs: "It is necessary to serve people with dignity and protect their rights"
With the blessing and presence of His Eminence Archbishop Mor Clemis Daniel Kourieh, Syriac Orthodox Archbishop of Beirut and Delegate of the Executive Committee of the Middle East Council of Churches to the Diakonia and Social Service Department, and in coordination with MECC, the Lebanon Forum of the International ACT Alliance held its annual meeting on Monday, March 3 and Tuesday, March 4, 2025, hosted by the Syriac Orthodox Archdiocese of Beirut.
In the presence of the Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Professor Michel Abs, participants were representatives of the members of ACT Alliance in Lebanon from various Church Families, associations, local, regional and international organizations.
After the opening Prayer, the Secretary General Professor Michel Abs welcomed the attendees, thanking His Eminence Archbishop Mor Clemis Daniel Kourieh for his hospitality. He also introduced His Eminence to the participants, emphasizing his long Ecumenical career in the Middle East Council of Churches where he held many responsibilities, as well as in the Ecumenical world which he realizes its importance today in networking and cooperation. Professor Abs also mentioned the necessity of serving with dignity and preserving human rights.
Video - Initiatives in the Time of Lent
An Exclusive Interview with Serge Karnabi, a Member of the Board of Directors of Caritas On Behalf of the Syriac Catholic Church and Vice President of the Charitable Society of the Syriac Catholic Church in Lebanon
Video - John Maron: The First Patriarch
The Maronite Church Celebrates, on the 2nd of March, the Feast of Saint John Maron, the First Maronite Patriarch of the See of Antioch
"The Word Unites Us"
Video - An Interview with Father Nehme Saliba About The Platform of the Word
Father Nehme Saliba Meets with the MECC Secretary General Professor Michel Abs
He Praises “The Platform of the Word” And Its Important Media Goals
Father Nehme Saliba, Priest of the Greek Orthodox Parish of Hazmieh - lebanon, a Researcher in Christian-Muslim relations, and a Spiritual Companion for married couples, visited the Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Professor Michel Abs, in the presence of the Journalist Lea Adel Maamary, the Media Officer, the Coordinator of the Church and Media Relations, and the Director of the “Platform of the Word” at the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), on Tuesday, March 4, 2025, at the MECC headquarters in Beirut.
The attendees discussed the importance of dialogue and building bridges between the various components of society, as well as the need to strengthen the Ecumenical spirit. They also talked about the role of the media in conveying the good word and instilling the values of love, fraternity, and peace.
Modern Humanity Between the Culture of Fasting and the Culture of Consumption
Professor Michel Abs
The Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches
During this period, fasting seasons begin in Lebanon and the Arab world, and it happens that fasting is being observed by people of all faiths in this region, a land rich in diverse religious, ethnic, intellectual, and political affiliations.
Fasting, which is a cornerstone of religious practice, involves believers imposing voluntary deprivation on themselves. They exercise self-restraint and abstain from many foods and pleasures as an act of faith aimed at refining the self and curbing impulses by restraining the desire for indulgences, or, at least, regulating them in a way that elevates human behavior toward a higher moral plane.
Beyond tempering one’s urges, fasting seeks to enhance a person’s capacity for reflection, on life and its purpose, on the blessings and generosity of the Creator, and on those less fortunate who live in daily hardship due to their financial situation.
Opposite this “school of deprivation” stands another approach: a “school of excess” that encourages overindulgence in pleasures to the point of saturation. Its results have thus far proven detrimental, whether in terms of uplifting the human spirit, maintaining healthy economic mindsets, honoring human values, or preserving the environment.
This “school of excess” urges people to spend more, acquire more, and consume more, sometimes purchasing multiple items to meet a single need, driven by competition among manufacturers. Often, people buy things they don’t actually need simply because of marketing promotions or tempting discounts, leading to cluttered homes, burdens on family budgets, and the rapid depletion of credit card limits…
