Dr. Bernard Sabella

The former Director of the Department of Service to Palestinian Refugees (DSPR) at the Middle East Council of Churches.

(Special thanks to His Beatitude Patriarch Michel Sabbah, who read the original text and suggested edits)

Ancient Roots: The Council of Nicaea, 325 AD

The First Ecumenical Council was held in Nicaea in 325 AD. Among its most important decisions was the establishment of the Nicene Creed and the condemnation of the Arian heresy—Arius being a priest from Alexandria who questioned the divinity of Christ. Another significant decision of the Council was to unify the date of Easter. The Council determined that Easter would fall on the first Sunday after the first full moon following the spring equinox, which occurs after March 21. This means that Easter can be celebrated as early as March 22 or as late as April 25.

Professor Michel Abs

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

Tell me, O Joseph of Arimathea, what happened on that eternal night, the night when time stood still, when the Incarnate was crucified, when He gave up His life and was buried, so that He might rise on the third day.

Tell me, how much fervent Christian faith did you hold in the depths of your soul to dare ask for the body of Jesus from those complicit in His crucifixion?
What divine boldness moved you? What unshakable faith drove you to risk everything?
What courage, backed by deep faith, made you unconcerned with the dangers surrounding you?
What faith did you carry in your soul? What conviction lived in your mind? What great love filled your heart?

O righteous believer, who risked everything your status and your name simply to preserve the dignity of that divine Body, the Temple of the Incarnation.
You, who refused to see the Lord buried like a criminal and instead honored Him as befits God.

O humble one, respected among your people, who feared no one,
Tell me how you lowered the sacred body from the Cross,
Tell me how you pried out the thick nails from the Savior’s flesh, those nails driven by hardened hearts…

"Poetic Whispers, From the Olive Grove to the Grave"

Poetry and Recitation by Father Dr. Rawad Al Chkour

Following Up on Work Updates with Great Hope

The General Secretariat of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) continues its weekly meetings, with colleagues uniting in work, Prayer, and reflection in an Ecumenical and fraternal spirit, praying for peace and justice in the region and the world. Today, the team is living the Holy Week with humility and hope in preparation for the joy of the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.

In this context, the MECC Secretary General Professor Michel Abs, held the latest weekly meeting on Tuesday, April 15, 2025, at the Council’s headquarters in Beirut, with the presence of the General Secretariat team from various departments and the online participation of colleagues from Syria, Palestine, Egypt, and Canada.

At the beginning of the meeting, Professor Michel Abs, delivered, on behalf of the MECC family, a word of consolation, sympathy, and support to the colleague 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 MECC, who lost her life partner. He prayed that the Lord, through His Resurrection, would grant her strength and determination in this new chapter of her life.

With the increasing of daily pressures, not all families have the required knowledge to parent their children on topics related to health. This is especially the case among disadvantaged refugees who have very little knowledge about such topics, especially when it comes to young girls. For this reason, the Diakonia and Social Service Department, Lebanon’s Office, at the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) launched a health awareness session for 8 young girls to cover topics related to puberty. 

This session was designed to educate and support young girls as they navigate the physical and emotional changes of adolescence. In a safe and respectful environment, and accompanied by a health specialist, participants learned about body development, menstrual hygiene, and emotional well-being, helping them better understand and manage this important stage of life. The session encouraged open dialogue, promoted self-care, and empowered girls with the knowledge and confidence to make healthy choices.

A Journey of Repentance and Prayer from the Darkness of Sin to the Joy of the Resurrection

Media of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC)

Here comes the Great Week or the Passion Week, and our East is still wounded and suffering, waiting for a resurrection that will save it from its sorrows. The people of the region are preparing for the Feast of Feasts and the Season of Seasons, eagerly awaiting the joy of the Resurrection with hearts full of faith and hope. They have nothing but this hope in the Lord Jesus, from Whom they draw all their strength and determination amidst the challenges that surround them.

However, no challenges are invincible before the power of Prayers, through which the faithful walk in a journey of Lent and reflection, culminating in one of the Holiest Christian Seasons: The Great Week. How Great this week is, carrying in its Liturgy Prayers and traditions that guide the faithful from the sea of sins to the harbor of salvation, from the darkness of days to the joy of the Resurrection.

The celebrations of the "Great and Holy Week" or "Passion Week" embody the most significant salvific events through which the Lord of all creation redeemed us by His death and Resurrection. It is a week that strengthens the faithful and urges them to examine themselves, deepen their repentance, and enhance their faith in preparation for Christ’s Resurrection.

What Are the Preparations of the Syrian Orthodox Religious Education Center in Qamishli for the Feast of Feasts?

Exclusive: Media of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC)

“Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer” (Romans 12: 12). With the words of Saint Paul to the Romans, youth today walk in an era shadowed by crises and conflicts. Amidst all the challenges surrounding them, they have chosen to hold fast to their upright faith, continuing their Prayers with great hope and believing that Jesus Christ, the Captain of the ship, will not abandon them.

The youth have found in the Church a safe haven and a warm embrace that eases their daily pressures. They are the heartbeat and movement of the Church, both its present and future, as their constant activity within it makes them an inseparable part of it.

Today, they are preparing together for the Feast of Feasts and the Season of Seasons in a journey of Lent and Prayer, each according to their Ecclesiastical Traditions, towards the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. This year, their joy is even greater, especially since all the Churches are celebrating Easter on the same date. So, what are their preparations and what are their aspirations?

The Media of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) reached out to the brothers and sisters in Qamishli, this vibrant city that brings together different Christian Families, and asked them about their activities during this Blessed time.

Saint Assia the Wise Clinic Center in Aleppo, which belongs to the Armenian Catholic, Syriac, and Maronite Communities, was inaugurated, on Friday 11 April 2025, in the presence of His Eminence Archbishop Boutros Marayati, His Eminence Archbishop Antoine Shahda, and His Eminence Archbishop Joseph Tobji.

The center was renovated with the generous support and funding from the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), and the ceremony was attended by the Council's representative Lamis Makhloul, as well as the management and members of the charity organizations of the concerned Communities, doctors, and staff at the center.

The ceremony was opened by His Eminence Archbishop Antoine Shahda with a short Prayer, followed by a speech delivered by Dr. Rizkallah Malo, who reviewed the steps that led to this achievement. His Eminence Archbishop Boutros Marayati congratulated all the doctors, workers, and donors, especially the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), before cutting a cake to celebrate the occasion.

The ceremony concluded with a speech delivered by His Eminence Archbishop Joseph Tobji, and commemorative photos were taken for this significant event in the history of joint work between the Communities to serve the society.

On the commemoration of the kidnapping of Archbishops Youhanna Ibrahim and Paul Yazigi, amidst the great transformations that Syria and the region are living,

The Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) asks the international conscience about the fate of the two Archbishops.

Hasn't the time come to reveal the circumstances of their kidnapping?

We ask God for their swift release, and for peace and security to prevail in Syria and the world.