His Beatitude Patriarch John X During an MECC Delegation Visit:
In our Orthodox Church We Have Faith and a Very Serious Endeavor in Building Bridges Between Christians in the Middle East
Dr. Michel Abs: Crises Are Threatening the Antiochian Eastern Region, so the Role of the Church and MECC Is Essential
Press Release
In a follow-up to the results of the MECC 12th general Assembly, the MECC Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs headed a delegation from the Council in a visit to His Beatitude Patriarch John X, Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and all the East, and MECC President for the Orthodox Family. The visit was on Monday, June 20, 2022 at the Patriarchal Headquarters in Balamand, North Lebanon, in the presence of the Abbot of Our Lady of Balamand Monastery, Archimandrite Romanos El Hannat.
This visit was made aiming at congratulating His Beatitude after his re-election as MECC President for the Orthodox Family, and informing him of the Council’s planned projects and activities to be implemented as part of the General Assembly’s decisions. The delegation also invited the Orthodox Church to participate in the days of the “Season of Creation” project 2022.
The participating delegation included the Associate Secretaries General Father Nicolas Bustros and Mr. Adel Syryani, President of the Association of Theological Institutes in the Middle East (ATIME) Archimandrite Jack Khalil, ATIME’s Executive Secretary Father Michel Kanbar, Coordinator of the Ecojustice Unit Rev. Rima Nasrallah, Procurement Officer Dina Hanania, Media Officer Elia Nasrallah, Coordinator of the Rehabilitation of Social Capital project Professor Laure Abi Khalil, advisors and assistants of the Rehabilitation of Social Capital project Professor Khalil Khairallah, Professor Lubna Tarabey and Professor Chawki Attieh.
From his end, His Beatitude Patriarch John X welcomed the Secretary General Dr. Abs and the delegation, and stressed on the importance of working together and cooperation in order to show the beautiful, sweet and attractive image of Jesus Christ to all the people. His Beatitude and said, "We always strive to implement our mission safely. We pray that the Lord grants us strength and we open our hearts so that the Lord dwells in us...”
He continued, "amidst wars and conflicts, people seek a refuge of salvation away from violence, displacement and poverty... We are carrying with the strength of the Lord to be a cause of consolation, smile and joy for these people amid the circumstances we are passing through."
His Beatitude also praised the importance of the MECC work and added: "In our Orthodox Church and with Patriarch Ignatius Hazim, may God have mercy upon his soul, Archbishop Georges Khodr, may God grant him long life, Secretary General Gaby Habib and others... We have faith and a very serious endeavor in building bridges between the Christian brothers and sisters in the Middle East... We believe in this cause and journey, the Lord Jesus prayed to the Heavenly Father and said, ‘they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you’.”
Hence, His Beatitude said, “We cling to hope, as the Lord said ‘Walk while you have the light, before darkness overtakes you… Do not be afraid’. So we look to our Lord and not to the back.”
As well as, His Beatitude Patriarch John X tackled the challenges that the Church is facing, and stressed on the role of the family in education and upbringing, especially in boosting the immunity of our Eastern environment to face the repercussions of the living conditions, negative influences and whims that keep us away from the faith preached by Christ our God in the East.
In this context, the MECC Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs delivered a speech in which he congratulated His Beatitude, thanking him for his continuous support and constant motivation. He said, "The worst crises are what threatens the Antiochian Eastern region, with all its components, focusing on Christians in an attempt to uproot them, psychologically, before deracinating them."
He added, "The role of the Church here is essential, as well as the MECC role. The pastoral tours that you did, Your Beatitude, and the sermons you give to the believers, the entire community hears them, and are a direct response to this sick atmosphere that some international parties are trying to spread in coordination with some local parties.”
During the meeting, the Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs offered His Beatitude Patriarch John X the book of "Christianity" published by MECC and the book of "The Glory of Byzantium and Early Christianity". His Beatitude also presented to the Secretary General an Orthodox icon of the Mother of God. In his turn, Father Michel Kanbar offered His Beatitude 4 of his books, including a book on His Beatitude Late Patriarch Elias Al Howayek.
At the end of the meeting, Archimandrite Romanos El Hannat and Archimandrite Jack Khalil accompanied by Dr. Abs and the delegation in an introductory tour in the Our Lady of Balamand Monastery, St. John of Damascus – Institute of Theology and the University of Balamand.
Communication and Public Relations Department
