The MECC Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs Participates in A Ramadan Iftar

His Eminence Sheikh Dr. Sami Abi Al-Muna: The truth exists and hope is placed on people of reason and wisdom and on advocates of peace in every place and time

You can find some photos at the end of the text.

At the invitation of the Sheikhdom of the Mind and the Sectarian Council in Lebanon and in the presence of His Eminence Sheikh Al-Aql of the Unitarian Druze Community Sheikh Dr. Sami Abi Al-Muna, an official and spiritual Ramadan Iftar was held on Wednesday 10 April 2024, at the Headquarters of the Unitarian Druze Sect in Beirut. It was held with the participation of political, official and social figures, Deputies, Ministers, Spiritual Leaders from various Sects, Judges, Cheikhs, Fathers, the Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Dr. Michel Abs, and guests.

Participants were also the Mufti of the Lebanese Republic His Eminence Sheikh Abdul-Latif Derian, Vice President of the Supreme Shiite Islamic Council His Eminence Mufti Hassan Abdullah, and the President of the Supreme Islamic Council His Eminence Sheikh Ali Mahmoud Kaddour. As well as, participants were His Beatitude Patriarch Cardinal Mar Bechara Boutros Al-Rai, Maronite Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, represented by His Eminence Archbishop Paul Abdel Sater, His Beatitude Patriarch John X, Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, and President of the Middle East Council of Churches for the Orthodox Family, represented by His Eminence Metropolitan Elias Kfoury, His Beatitude Patriarch Raphaël Bedros XXI Minassian, Catholicos of the Armenian Catholic Church of Cilicia, and President of the Middle East Council of Churches for the Catholic Family, represented by His Eminence Monsignor Nareg Nemo, His Beatitude Patriarch Youssef Al-Absi, Greek Melkite Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, and Honorary President of the Middle East Council of Churches, represented by His Eminence Archbishop Elie Bechara El Haddad, His Holiness Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II, Patriarch of Antioch and All the East and Supreme Head of the Universal Syriac Orthodox Church, and Honorary President of the Middle East Council of Churches, represented by His Eminence Archbishop Mor Clemis Daniel Kourieh, His Holiness Catholicos Aram I, Catholicos of the Armenian Church, Holy See of Cilicia, and Honorary President of the Middle East Council of Churches, represented by Father Sarkis Abrahamian, His Eminence Bishop Michel Kassarji, Head of the Chaldean Community in Lebanon, represented by His Eminence Monsignor Rafael Traboulsi, Father Andraos Al Anthouny, Head of the Coptic Orthodox Church in Lebanon and Syria, Reverend Dr. Joseph Kassab, President of the Supreme Council of Evangelical Community in Syria and Lebanon, General Secretary of the National Evangelical Synod of Syria and Lebanon, and Member of the Executive Committee of the Middle East Council of Churches, and the Apostolic Nuncio to Lebanon His Excellency Monsignor Paolo Borgia.

During the Iftar, His Eminence Sheikh Al-Aql of the Unitarian Druze Community Sheikh Dr. Sami Abi Al-Muna delivered a speech in which he expressed national and regional positions in light of the events and developments taking place in Lebanon and the Middle East. He also welcomed the participants: “Spiritual and Official Leaders, National Leaders and Social Elites, gathered between Easter and Fitr, despite our different Sects and the diversity of our demonstrations, brothers in patriotism and humanity, brothers in moral, cultural and historical values and in social and practical relations, and brothers in faith, according to the Almighty’s saying: ‘the believers are but brothers'".

He added, "It is true, brothers, that the scene is tragic, and the color of life is almost becoming the color of blood and destruction, and the leaders of the brutal enemy are making more madness and crime, as if the language of mind is absent, and time is coming to an end, and the world is disappearing. But the truth is different from that. The truth exists and hope is placed on people of reason and wisdom and on advocates of peace in every place and time. Although the responsibility falls primarily on the major decision-making countries, each of our countries is concerned with protecting its people, dealing with its situation, and protecting its entity, and every nation is worthy of forging its unity and preserving its culture and existence, and it is not permissible for any of us to abandon his responsibility, no matter how great or small his position is, all of you are shepherds and each of you is responsible for his flock As the Messenger (PBUH) said.”

This Iftar constituted a national, spiritual and social meeting that emphasized the importance of living together in fraternity, love and peace, and the necessity of meeting, solidarity and cooperation together to overcome all the difficulties of life and preserve human dignity.