The MECC Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs Visits the Syriac Catholic Archbishop of Aleppo
You can find some photos at the end of the text.
Aleppo, September 5, 2024
As part of his official follow up visit to the city of Aleppo, the Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Dr. Michel Abs, accompanied by the Director of the MECC Office in Aleppo Ms. Lamis Makhoul, and the MECC Coordinator of Church and Media Relations Journalist Lea Adel Maamary, visited the Syriac Catholic Archdiocese of Aleppo.
They were received by His Eminence the Syriac Catholic Archbishop of Aleppo Antoine Shahda, His Eminence the Episcopal Vicar Bishop Mounir Sakal, and Father Ephraim Al Makaabri.
At the beginning of the meeting, Bishop Shahada welcomed the Secretary General, wishing that his new term would be full of achievements as the previous one was, and praising the role of Dr. Abs and his distinguished performance for the good of the entire Church.
Afterwards, His Eminence Bishop Antoine Shahada gave an extensive presentation about the Syriac Catholic Church in Aleppo and the initiatives and activities it implements for its people despite the challenges. He stressed that the challenges are many amidst the economic crises, but the biggest one is the issue of presence in this country as a result of the emigration dilemma that the country is witnessing. Thus, this is what puts us in front of an existential challenge.
Bishop Shahada also praised the friendly and fraternal relations between the Churches in Aleppo on the one hand, and the professionalism of the work of the MECC Office in Aleppo on the other hand.
In his turn, the Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs thanked Bishop Shahda and the Fathers for their reception and love, stressing that the crises that the country is witnessing are temporary and must go away, mentioning that the MECC projects and programs lies in the interest of humanity and psychological, relief and social support in accordance with the MECC vision and work. He also stressed that MECC is for all Church Families, because the first and fundamental goal is the human being.
At the end of the visit, Bishop Antoine Shahda offered the Secretary General his book entitled “Fifty Years of Service with Love.”
