Emphasizing the Importance of Dialogue, Social Cohesion, and Media Cooperation

Cairo, February 13, 2025

His Grace Bishop Anba Ermia, General Bishop, President of the Coptic Orthodox Cultural Center and Assistant Secretary General of the Egyptian Family House, received the Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Dr. Michel Abs, and a delegation from the Council at the Center's headquarters - Cairo.

The meeting was attended by the MECC Honorary Secretary General Dr. Gergis Saleh, the MECC Associate Secretary General Reverend Dr. Refaat Fikry, and the Media Officer and the Coordinator of the Church and Media Relations at MECC, the Journalist Lea Adel Maamary.  

Bishop Shehata Praises the Work of the Council's Departments, Programs and Advanced Media.

Professor Michel Abs: "We always strive for joint Christian work and to enhance dialogue with others."

Cairo, February 12, 2025

Within the framework of enhancing joint Christian work and affirming the role of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) in spreading the spirit of love among all, the Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Professor Michel Abs, along with a delegation from the Council, visited the Bishop of the Episcopal Church in Egypt, North Africa and the Horn of Africa, His Eminence Bishop Sami Fawzi Shehata at the headquarters of the Episcopal Church in Cairo.

The meeting was attended by the MECC Honorary Secretary General Dr. Gergis Saleh, the MECC Associate Secretary General Reverend Dr. Refaat Fikry, the Secretary General of the Egyptian Council of Churches Father Yachouh Ayoub, and the Journalist Lea Adel Maamary, the Media Officer and the Coordinator of the Church and Media Relations at the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC).

At the beginning, His Eminence Bishop Sami Shehata welcomed the Secretary General Professor Michel Abs and the Council's delegation, stressing that his visit enhances fraternity and cooperation between the Churches.

Stay Tuned for a Special Episode with Monsignor Abdo Abou Kasm and the Journalist Lea Adel Maamary on Télé Lumière and Noursat TV Channel

Watch with us a special episode entitled “The Word Unites Us”, from “The Platform of the Word” at the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), with the Director of the Catholic Information Center in Lebanon Monsignor Abdo Abou Kasm, on Thursday 13 Februatry 2025, at 1:45 pm Beirut Time, on Télé Lumière and Noursat TV Channel. He was interviewed by the Journalist Lea Adel Maamary, the Media Officer at the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), the Director of “The Platform of the Word”, and the Coordinator of the Church and Media Relations at MECC.

The episode focused on the importance of the media in spreading the values of love, fraternity and peace away from the discourse of hatred and injustice, in addition to the role of "The Platform of the Word" in the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) and its mission in strengthening the Ecumenical spirit.

Under the title "Awareness Is One of the Foundations of Education and One of the Pillars of the Church Social Work", the EcoJustice Unit invited the Egyptian Church Youth to an environmental day in Wadi El Natrun in the first section of the Anafora Oasis, which helps a lot of young people to find their devotion in their lives.

In this context, the EcoJustice Unit at the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) prepared a lecture on Environmental Theology and a celebration of the beginning of the year in the Eastern Julian tradition with His Eminence Bishop Thomas of Qusiya and Church personalities in Environmental Theology.

At the beginning of the discussion, Archdeacon Garen thanked His Eminence for his attendance at the celebrations of the Season of Creation and his continuous cooperation in the Middle East and the world.

What is Its Broadcasting Date and Time?

Watch with us on Télé Lumière and Noursat, a special episode about the "Week of Prayer for Cristian Unity" 2025 and the theme of this year “Do you believe this?” (John 11: 26), with Reverend Dr. Paul Haidostian, President of the Union of the Armenian Evangelical Churches in the Near East (UAECNE), President of Haigazian University in Lebanon, and President of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) for the Evangelical Family. He was interviewed by the Journalist Lea Adel Maamary, the Media Officer at the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), the Director of the Platform of the Word, and the Coordinator of the Church and Media Relations at MECC.

The episode, produced by "The Platform of the Word, at MECC, will be broadcasted on Friday 24 January 2025 at 12:30pm Beirut Time.

Strengthening the Media Cooperation with the Catholic Information Center in Lebanon

During his visit to the headquarters of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) in Ras Beirut, the Head of the Catholic Information Center in Lebanon, Monsignor Abdo Abou Kasm, met with the Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Professor Dr. Michel Abs, and the General Secretariat team, on Tuesday, January 21, 2025.

The visit began with a meeting between Monsignor Abou Kasm and Dr. Abs, where they discussed the most prominent current social and humanitarian issues, in addition to ways of cooperation between the Catholic Information Center and the Middle East Council of Churches, especially on the media level.

Afterwards, an introductory session was held between Monsignor Abou Kasm and colleagues in the MECC General Secretariat, where the Secretary General Dr. Abs welcomed him, thanking him for this valuable visit to the Middle East Council of Churches, and praising the role of the Catholic Information Center in conveying the real media message and working to reduce the news and information that may cause anxiety among public opinion.

Marking the Fiftieth Year of the Founding of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), the President of the Heart of Giving Association Mrs. Raifa Al-Daouk, visited the Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Professor Michel Abs, at the MECC headquarters in Ras Beirut, in the presence of the Media Officer, Director of the Platform of the Word, and Coordinator of the Church and Media Relations at MECC Lea Adel Maamary.

The visit included many discussions about various humanitarian and social initiatives and issues being implemented by the associations, especially the Heart of Giving Association.

For her part, Mrs. Raifa Al-Daouk praised the work of the Council and the achievements made on all levels.

At the end of the meeting, colleagues in the MECC Media Department, Elia Nasrallah and Johnny Anton, conducted a media interview with Raifa Al-Daouk, during which she talked about urgent humanitarian and social issues.

His Eminence Archbishop Youssef Soueif: We are called in this East to live unity more than ever before, so we must experience it pastorally, socially and humanly

The Secretary General Professor Dr. Michel Abs: The Week of Prayer for Unity is a step on the path of a thousand miles towards social cohesion and civil peace

In a historical step, and with the blessings and presence of His Eminence Archbishop Youssef Soueif, Archbishop of the Maronite Diocese of Tripoli and President of the Episcopal Committee for Ecumenical Work at the Assemblée des Patriarches et Evêques Catholiques du Liban (APECL), the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) held a press conference to launch the “Week of Prayer for Christian Unity” 2025 under the title “Do you believe this?” (John 11: 26). It coincides this year with the 1700th Anniversary of the First Christian Ecumenical Council in Nicaea.

The conference, which was held on Tuesday, January 7, 2025, in “The Platform of the Word” at the MECC headquarters - Beirut, was attended by Father Tanios Khalil, Dean of the Faculty of Theology at La Sagesse University in Lebanon, and Rapporteur of the Episcopal Committee for Ecumenical Work at the Assemblée des Patriarches et Evêques Catholiques du Liban (APECL), the Journalist George Maalouli, Director of Mariam TV, and colleagues in the MECC General Secretariat.

After His Eminence Archbishop Youssef Soueif blessed the MECC offices and the Platform of the Word by the Holy Water, the conference began with a speech delivered by the Media Officer at MECC, the Director of the Platform of the Word, and the Coordinator of the Church and Media Relations at MECC, the Journalist Lea Adel Maamary, in which she said, “The Churches have advanced concerning the issue of unity regardless of doctrinal differences, based on the fact that when we talk about Theological dialogue, it will be met with a dialogue of love, and this embrace can only be achieved through doctrinal dialogue and love: love of God and love of others.”

The program "Dawn from the East" produced by "The Platform of the Word" at the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), on Télé Lumière and Noursat TV Channel!

Watch with us the second episode, on Friday, January 3, 2025, at 1:00 pm Beirut time.

“Dawn from the East”, a program that addresses the youth, their concerns and aspirations, especially in light of the difficult circumstances that our countries are passing through. It also highlights their various activities and humanitarian initiatives during Christmas.

Secretary General Professor Dr. Michel Abs: "Through the documents we intend to produce, we will address—from an Ecumenical Christian perspective—all phenomena that concern modern humans”

Under the slogan "The Word Became Flesh," and on the occasion of its fiftieth anniversary, the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), in partnership with Télé Lumière and Noursat TV station, launched a new Media Production Center titled "The Platform of the Word." The official ceremony was held on Thursday, November 7, 2024, at the platform's headquarters in the offices of the General Secretariat of the Middle East Council of Churches in Beirut, in the presence of Secretary General Professor Dr. Michel Abs.

Participants in the celebration included:

• Dr. Marie-Thérèse Kreidy, Director of Programs at Télé Lumière and Noursat, representing the station

• Ms. Marutzella Abboud, representing the Near East School of Theology (NEST)

• Journalist Lea Adel Maamary, Responsible of the Platform and Coordinator of the Church and Media Relations at the Council

• Dr. Laure Abi Khalil, Coordinator of the Social Capital Rehabilitation Project at the Council

• The team of the General Secretariat from various departments

Words Praising the MECC Role and Its Purposeful Programs

Aleppo, September 4, 2024

As part of his official follow up visit to the office of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) in Aleppo, the MECC Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs met with the Church Authorities at the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Aleppo, at the invitation of the Metropolitan of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Aleppo, Alexandretta and their Dependencies.

Attendees were alongside His Eminence Bishop Ephraim Maalouli, the Armenian Catholic Archbishop of Aleppo His Eminence Archbishop Boutros Marayati, the Chaldean Bishop of Aleppo His Eminence Bishop Antoine Audo, the Maronite Archbishop of Aleppo His Eminence Bishop Youssef Tobji, the Armenian Orthodox Bishop of Aleppo His Eminence Bishop Magar Ashkarian, the Head of the Armenian Protestant Community in Aleppo Reverend Dr. Harutyun Suleiman, Father Raymond Girgis, the Episcopal Vicar of the Latin Church in Syria, Father Bahjat Karakach, the Head of the Latin Monastery in Aleppo, Father Kommidas Dadaglian, Armenian Catholic Archdiocese, Father Gabriel Azar, the Director of MECC Office in Aleppo Lamis Makhoul, the MECC Coordinator of the Church and Media Relations Journalist Lea Adel Maamary.

What Are the Implications of this Event?

Since the first century AD, the Coptic Church celebrates on the first of June of each year an Ecclesiastical Feast that has a special place in history, geography and civilization, according to the His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark. It is the Feast of the Entry of the Holy Family into the Land of Egypt, after taking a journey full of hardships, torments, and dangers, to escape from King Herod.

Hence, the path of the Holy Family carries many spiritual, historical and cultural meanings and connotations, in addition to a tourist aspect, as His Holiness Pope Tawadros II described this path as "a special blessing and a unique gift that God gave to Egypt."

La campaña de las Naciones Unidas «ÚNETE para poner fin a la violencia contra las mujeres» sigue en marcha durante 16 días de activismo en todo el mundo. El Consejo de Iglesias del Oriente Medio participa con ACT Alliance en la campaña y alza su voz para proteger a las mujeres y preservar sus derechos.

Señalando que esta campaña anual de la ONU comenzó en el Día Internacional de la Eliminación de la Violencia contra la Mujer, el 25 de noviembre, y terminará en el Día Internacional de los Derechos Humanos, el 10 de diciembre.

The United Nations campaign “UNITE to End Violence Against Women” is still ongoing during 16 days of activism, worldwide. The Middle East Council of Churches is participating with ACT Alliance in the campaign and raises its voice towards protecting women and preserving their rights.

Noting that this UN annual campaign starts on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women on 25 November, and ends on the International Human Rights Day on 10 December.

In the new issue of the weekly newsletter Momentum issued by the Communication and Public Relations Department of the Middle East Council of Churches, you can find the weekly message of the MECC Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs, which is entitled “On World Food Day: Humanity Between Schizophrenia and Hypocrisy”. It is written for the founding day of the Food and Agriculture Organization, and the World Food Day, on 16 October.