Environmental Day in the Bekaa, Lebanon, and Afforestation of the Myron Grove in Anjar
Organized by the MECC Eco Justice Justice Unit
You can find a photo album below the text.
The Eco Justice Unit at the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) organized an environmental day in the Bekaa, Lebanon, on Saturday 25 November 2023, under the auspices of the Heads of Churches, with the participation of the General Director of the Ministry of Agriculture Mr. Louis Lahoud, and in the presence of the region’s officials and Parishes’ Servants from various Churches, with the contribution of Michel Daher Foundation.
Participants in this environmental activity were also school students from: “Saint Anne’s School - Rayak, Holy Family School - Ibrin, Holy Family School - Rayak, Educational Friendship House – Al Ferzel, Redeemer Sisters School - Ablah, Haratch School - Anjar, Armenian Evangelical School - Anjar, and Saint George Syriac Orthodox School – Al Midan.”
This environmental day came within the framework of the Season of Creation special program which was launched by MECC in the countries of the Middle East in cooperation with the Danmission Organization. The Season included Ecumenical Prayer celebrations, Cultural meetings, Environmental tours, and afforestation campaigns, with media and social media coverage, including Télé Lumière TV Station which covered audio visually the activities of this environmental day, in coordination and cooperation with the media of the Middle East Council of Churches.
In addition, this special environmental day coincides with the Feast of the Praiseworthy Saint Catherine, Holy Virgin Martyr, according to the Latin, Maronite, Syriac, and Byzantine Churches, so that in this Feast the earth is rooted in seedlings.
As for the second Feast that distinguished this day, it is the Feast of the martyr Myron, Bishop of Crete, according to the Armenian tradition, who reminds us of the Holy Chrism that is prepared from the olive oil. In addition, Crete is considered the olive capital of the world and includes the oldest olive tree.
Afterwards, the 135 students participated in a cultural tour in the Taanayel Environmental Reserve with the support and assistance of Arc en Ciel, through which the students learned about love and were emphasized about the importance and beauty of the environment.
It is also intriguing to note, Mrs. Marleine Daher distributed Water bottles to the students, with a funding from Michel Daher Foundation, so that they could be recycled and preserved.
Following the tour, the school students participated in an Ecumenical Prayer presided over by His Eminence Archbishop Shahe Panossian, the Primate of the Armenian Orthodox Church in Lebanon, at the Green Square – Anjar, with the participation of Archimandrite Ananya, Priests and Parishes’ Servants from various Churches, Father Dr. Antoine Al Ahmar, Director of the Theological and Ecumenical Department at the Middle East Council of Churches, Father Fadi Al Fahal, Youth Mentor of Our Lady of Ebleh Parish, Archdeacon Garen Yosolkanian, the MECC Eco Justice Unit, and in the presence of Mr. Louis Lahoud, Mrs. Marleine Daher, Schools’ Directors and Teachers, alongside officials from the region and the parties supporting and logistically organizing this environmental day, and the Environmental Committee of Anjar’ schools, Anjar’s Municipality - Hawsh Mousa.
At the end of the Prayer, the Primate of the Armenian Orthodox Church in Lebanon His Eminence Archbishop Shahe Panossian delivered a spiritual speech in which he welcomed the participants, the attendees from the Bekaa, and all those who were following this environmental activity, thanking them for their support of this initiative on this environmental day which happened on their land. He also stressed the role of education with the aim of developing and preserving the society at various levels. He called on everyone to support this environmental project, especially all the Chrism Garden projects, established by the Middle East Council of Churches, and which will be implemented in all the countries of the East.
Afterwards, everyone gathered around a traditional agape from Anjar amidst traditional songs that express Lebanon’s culture, civilization, and beautiful environment.
After that, the seedlings were blessed and the Myron Grove in Anjar was planted, where the students planted 300 trees provided by the Danmission Organization. They also participated in a planting training by the AFDC Foundation, which provided the necessary equipment and trained the students on the method of planting.
The General Director of the Ministry of Agriculture Mr. Louis Lahoud delivered a speech in which he thanked the Middle East Council of Churches, His Eminence Archbishop Shahe Panossian, Father Dr. Antoine Al Ahmar, Archdeacon Garen Yosolkanian, and all those who contributed to the success of this environmental day. He also called on youth to give agriculture an importance in their lives and to preserve the environment that we inherited from our fathers and grandfathers.
The participants also praised the importance of the initiative, “Chrism Grove,” as a unique initiative of the MECC Eco Justice Committee, out of the belief that chrism unites all Christians and at the same time helps afforestation and agricultural production, and constitutes a meeting point between all people.
It is noteworthy that this environmental day came days before the gathering of the world Leaders and Heads of Churches and other Religions, including His Holiness Pope Francis, at the COP28 Conference of the Parties on climate change organized by the United Nations in Dubai.
