The Fiftieth Year of the Founding of the Middle East Council of Churches in the Land of Kenana - Egypt

Words Witnessing the Council’s Achievements

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Cairo, September 14, 2024

Two expressions summarized the celebration that was held on the occasion of the Fiftieth Year of the Founding of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) at the New Papal Headquarters in Anba Royce: love and fraternal relations between the Churches.

The celebration was held under the patronage, blessings, and presence of His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark, and in the presence of His Beatitude Patriarch Bishop Anba Ibrahim Ishak, Coptic Catholic Patriarch, Reverend Dr. Andrea Zaki, President of the Evangelical Community in Egypt, representatives of various Churches, Professor Michel Abs, the Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), Reverend Yachouh Ayoub, the Secretary General of the Egyptian Council of Churches, Honorary and Associate Secretaries, Fathers Priests and Pastors, Nun Sisters, personalities and invitees.

The celebration began with a Prayer on the intention of the Council and its work.

The Prayer was followed by a speech addressed by the Presenter of the ceremony the Journalist Ibrahim Ezzat, in which he spoke about the importance of the occasion.

Then, His Holiness Pope Tawadros II delivered a speech in which he welcomed the audience and expressed his happiness that the Coptic Orthodox Church is embracing this important event. His Holiness described the Middle East Council of Churches as a planted tree that gives its fruit at the right time, according to what was stated in the First Psalm, praising what the Council has accomplished over fifty years. He mentioned that the Coptic Church, in its liturgical Prayers, asks: “to end the divisions of the Church” and “to reach the unity of Faith.”

His Beatitude Patriarch Bishop Anba Ibrahim Ishak, Coptic Catholic Patriarch, confirmed that:”

The Middle East Council of Churches was and continues to be a sign of hope, in an era of escalating challenges, especially in societies full of wars and pressures that increase the emigration of our children in the Church.

The role of the Council is not only limited to dialogue between us at the present time, but it opens horizons for training future ministers through Theological colleges amidst the future changes that occur in our society and our Church.”

He added:”

I greatly value the role of the Middle East Council of Churches, not only at the Ecumenical level, but also at the level of dialogue between other religions, and this dialogue is essential in our society. We hope that the work of this Council will continue in building bridges and peaceful coexistence, and I appreciate what the Council has done over the past years regarding the sustainable development.”

Reverend Andrea Zaki, Head of the Evangelical Community, talked about the topic “The Middle East Council of Churches and Christian-Islamic Dialogue”:

“One of the manifestations of dialogue is when each person presents himself in the way he and she believes in, which leads to the removal of barriers. Thus, the Council played an essential role among Churches and other religions in the region. The Council also undertook many initiatives over the fifty years within the framework of real dialogue and full readiness to be open to other ideas. Therefore, dialogue is a basic necessity for building peace. Yes, the Council has proven its ability to engage in dialogue, so let it continue.”

His Eminence Bishop Sami Shehata, the Bishop of the Episcopal Church in Egypt, North Africa and the Horn of Africa, said:”

We live in a society full of challenges, persecution, and emigration. These losses cause instability, which leads to leaving deep humanitarian imprints in the hearts of children and families, not to mention the challenges of emigration and multiple cultures.

Therefore, the Council's Palestinian Refugee Service was established for these purposes.” His Eminence talked about the Department’s work and programs.

His Eminence thanked the Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs and all the employees of the Council. He said:”

It is a Council that aims to achieve human justice and stability in the face of current challenges. We ask God to help us devote our efforts to peace.”

In his turn, the Rt. Reverend Archimandrite Damaskinos Alazrai, representing His Holiness Patriarch Theodore II, the Greek Orthodox Patriarch, said: “

Today we celebrate the Golden Jubilee of the Middle East Council of Churches, which was founded half a century ago. This Council represents an association of Churches in the Middle East that believe in the Lord Jesus Christ as God and Savior. This Council came to fulfill the desire of the Churches of the Middle East to strive seriously to achieve Christian unity. When we delve into the history of the Middle East Council of Churches and see the sequence of events from the first efforts of establishing it until its birth in 1974 to the its completion with the Catholic family who joined it in 1990, we see that the Council has set specific goals.

In this celebration, we pray to the Lord who has preserved our Churches for more than two thousand years as well as the Council for fifty years now, to preserve us and this Council so that it continues on its path to seek towards achieving Christian unity for which Jesus Christ prayed and said: “that all of them may be one...” (John 17 :21).

Afterwards, the Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Professor Michel Abs delivered a speech in which he said:”

At the beginning of my speech, I must thank His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, who blessed this initiative and achievement which is under his patronage. This is not the first time that His Holiness has presented his unlimited support for joint Christian work, that is, Ecumenical, and for the Middle East Council of Churches in particular.

I also pray and ask for mercy for the righteous martyrs of the Church, noting that the issue of martyrdom is ongoing, as believers offer their souls as a testimony to the message of the Incarnate One Whose Kingdom will have no end. I say to everyone, Happy Feast of Nayrouz, and extends my congratulations on the Coptic year 1741 of the martyrs.”

He added:”

During half a century, filled with struggle and testimony, the Middle East Council of Churches formed a diverse identity that shaped its components and the diversity of the components of the region in which it arose.

The Council was able to define an identity for itself that influenced Christians in the Middle East. It has been working for half a century, in delicate and dangerous phases, and has succeeded in redefining its identity, role, and positioning at every step and every stage.

It embodies the spirit and aspirations of the Ecumenical movement in the Cradle of Christianity, where the Message was found and launched to the world. A quick and spontaneous comparison between the “Ecumenical culture and spirit” in the 1970s and today gives us a conclusive evidence of the Council’s influence on the institutional and popular mentality of Christians.

This Council was established by the Churches of the region in order to form a home for work between the Churches. It has fulfilled the role assigned to it since its founding, and the main element in this role is rapprochement between the Churches and bringing them closer at all possible levels.

On another level, the observer must note that the Council is succeeding in repositioning itself with regard to the Churches and their affiliated entities. In this context, it always seeks to create a new differential advantage with regard to the Churches and to non-governmental organizations as well. This matter constitutes a challenge to which the Council is responding, and it is, therefore, an ongoing process because it is part of the characteristics of life.

As for its relationship with Non-Christians in the Middle East environment, the Council has always made a dialogue between Churches and Non-Christians, and it has been, and still is, in sustained interaction with non-Christian communities.

In this context, we must mention that Non-Christian Leaders view the Middle East Council of Churches as an honest and true partner, which embraces equality and engages in peer-to-peer dialogue with everyone with whom dialogue is required. This matter is not limited to the leadership or central level, but rather applies to the popular level, which was the main partner in the National Islamic-Christian Committee for Dialogue in Lebanon, and was a partner in the Arab Dialogue Team as well.”

Reverend Yachouh Ayoub, the Secretary General of the Egyptian Council of Churches, said:”

The Council has faced many challenges, and yet it remains steadfast in its message, a message of light and love.

As we celebrate fifty years since its founding, let us remember the light of Christ that it is always with us.

We praise the existing cooperation between the Middle East Council of Churches and the Egyptian Council of Churches.”

For his part, His Eminence Bishop Thomas Adly, Bishop of the Coptic Catholic Diocese of Giza, Fayoum and Beni Souef, mentioned that the work of the Association of Theological Institutes in the Middle East (ATIME) is great in the field of Ecumenical dialogue and has become a basic necessity in our current world. Theological encounters give us the ability to understand the different other.

Living these encounters with an open heart gives us the true desire to achieve the dignity of the Creator. Also, our Theological encounters help us understand the Theology of creation. Faith and reason are the basics to enter into the secret of life.”

His Eminence added:”

The Theologian must start from the tradition of the Church, and live his Theological service within the Church community.”

Reverend Refaat Fikry, the Associate Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) for the Evangelical Family, talked about the MECC twelves General Assemblies, and highlighted in details the General Assembly that was held in Wadi El Natroun, Egypt. He said:”

The essence of pluralism is at the core of our Christian faith, and also lies in the divine self, so we are required to live the unity. We are the yeast of love in this East. Therefore, we must build bridges of peace, and I look forward with you so that each one of us through his and her Prayer spreads peace and plants seeds of love.”

At the end, Dr. Gergis Saleh, the Honorary Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) addressed a speech in which he spoke at length about the figures who contributed in the birth of the Ecumenical work in the Middle East Council of Churches, who founded the Council and were credited with promoting the Ecumenical work and achievements.

The celebration program included two documentaries about the Middle East Council of Churches. In addition, The "St. Mark" Choir of the Coptic Orthodox Church of St. Mark the Apostle in Heliopolis performed a group of hymns entitled "How Beautiful It is to Gather Together."

A detailed explanation of the Council's logo was also presented.