You can find the speech of His Holiness Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II, Patriarch of Antioch and All the East and Supreme Head of the Universal Syriac Orthodox Church, and president of MECC for the Eastern Orthodox Family, during the MECC 11th General Assembly, held between 6 and 8 September 2016 in Amman, Jordan, under the title of “Give thanks to the Lord for He is good, His mercy endures forever” (Psalm 136: 1).

El discurso de Su Beatitud el Patriarca Juan X, Patriarca Ortodoxo Griego de Antioquía y de todo el Oriente y presidente del MECC para la Familia Ortodoxa Griega, durante la XI Asamblea General del MECC, celebrada entre el 6 y el 8 de septiembre de 2016 en Ammán, Jordania, bajo el título «Den gracias al Señor porque es bueno, porque su misericordia es eterna" (Salmo 136, 1).

You can find the speech of His Beatitude Patriarch John X, Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and All the East and president of MECC for the Greek Orthodox Family, during the MECC 11th General Assembly, held between 6 and 8 September 2016 in Amman, Jordan, under the title of “Give thanks to the Lord for He is good, His mercy endures forever” (Psalm 136: 1).

You can find the speech of His Beatitude Cardinal Louis Raphael Sako, Chaldean Patriarch in Iraq and the World and president of MECC for the Catholic Family, during the MECC 11th General Assembly, held between 6 and 8 September 2016 in Amman, Jordan, under the title of “Give thanks to the Lord for He is good, His mercy endures forever” (Psalm 136: 1).

From November 28 to December 5

On a Mission to Prepare for the 12th General Assembly of the Council, Hosted by Pope Tawadros II

Press release

Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches Dr. Michel Abs visited Egypt from November 28 to December 5, 2021, on a special mission to prepare for the General Assembly of the Council to be held between May 16 and 20, 2022 under the kind hospitality of His Holiness Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark Pope Tawadros II at the Papal Logos Center in Wadi El Natrun.

August 4 Explosion Commemoration Eve

Remembers the Victims and the People Affected, Calls to Pray for them and for Lebanon

Press release

The MECC Executive Committee held its online periodic meeting on Tuesday the 3rd of August 2021. The members of the committee, the Council teams in Beirut, Damascus, Amman, Jerusalem, and Cairo attended the meeting along with guests concerned with the Council’s work.

After the opening prayer, attendees addressed the tragedy of the Beirut port explosion, as it has been a year since the unfortunate accident without reaching any outcome, to determine responsibilities and achieve justice.

And a New Date for the Twelfth General Assembly

Following the invitation of the Middle East Council of Churches Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs, the MECC Presidents held an online meeting, on Thursday, July 8, 2021. The meeting aimed at discussing administrative matters and various topics, in order to develop the work mechanisms and enhance the communication with the various churches in the region, so the MECC achieve the desired goals and consolidate its Ecumenical and humanitarian mission.

The Beginning of An Ecumenical Era in the Eastern Church

“Building Bridges, Standing Together” Since 1974

Since 1974, the Middle East Council of Churches has been working on spreading its Ecumenical message in the East, the birthplace of Christianity and where Christ was born, died and resurrected. Its primary goal lies in deepening spirituality and communion service among the member churches and unifying their voice and efforts.

Bishop Georges Saliba:

The Council has made very bold and wonderful steps based on love and understanding

It is part of my life!

It is interesting to dig in the history of the Middle East Council of Churches and the astonishing number of important names accompanying it since the first founding meeting in May 1974 in Cyprus. People who walked alongside and through the council on the path of Christian unity, in a procession started by Eastern Church families who believed in richness in diversity towards full communion with God and each other.

The Middle East Council of Churches: An Ecumenical History and a Platform for Unity, Witness and Service

What happened during the first founding meeting between 28 and 30 May, 1974? (1)

Amidst tremendous fluctuations and crises of many levels, the Middle East witnessed the beginning of a new Christian phase in 1974 vibrant with efforts and negotiations to unify the voice of the Church under one banner that unites all the Churches of the East within the framework of a comprehensive ecumenical message calling for the acceptance of others and the preservation of the diversity that characterizes every ecclesiastical family.

Behind the Middle East Council of Churches logo lies an Ecumenical Humanitarian and Historical organization seeking, since its foundation in 1974, to work for Christian unity, the testimony of the Bible and serving humanity in different fields. But do you know the exact meanings that this oval logo symbolizes and what its connotations are?

The Middle East Council of Churches General Secretariat issued its annual report for the year 2020, a year in review burdened by challenges and obstacles in the world in general, and the Middle East in particular. The East witnessed a never-ending cycle of crises for decades now.

From the archive of the Middle East Council of Churches: an enlightening stance of its role in building bridges and interfaith dialogue dating back to 2004.

New Associate Secretary General for the Catholic family appointed

The Executive Committee of the Middle East Council of Churches held an online meeting on Thursday 25 February, 2021 instead of attending in person, respecting the preventive measures to stop the spread of the Coronavirus. All the committee members from Egypt, Palestine, Jordan, Syria, Iraq, Kuwait, Iran, Cyprus and Lebanon participated.

An extraordinary meeting of the Executive Committee in Bkerke

During the year 2020, that is coming to an end, the 12th General Assembly of the Middle East Council of Churches, entitled “Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid” (Matthew 14:27), was supposed to take place in September at the Maronite Patriarchate in Bkerke, Lebanon. However, the unpleasant circumstances imposed by the Coronavirus pandemic impeded it, which led the MECC’s Executive Committee to hold an extraordinary meeting on the 17th of September, during which the member churches’ representatives decided to set a new date for the General Assembly in September 2021.

Dr. Michel Abs, the MECC Secretary General started his official visits to the council’s Presidents to thank them for their confidence in electing him as Secretary General for four years. Therefore, his first visit was to His Beatitude Mar Bechara Boutros Al Rahi at the Patriarchate headquarters in Bkerke. He was accompanied by Fr. Gabriel Hachem, the Associate Secretary General and director of the Theological and Ecumenical Department, Mrs. Huguette Salameh, director of the Communication and Public Relations Department, and Ms. Nina Hallak, coordinator of the Diakonia Department in Beirut.

As His Beatitude Patriarch John X Yazigi of Antioch and all the East honored me with his appreciation and overwhelmed me with his love by commissioning me and nominating me to the office of the General Secretary of the Middle East Council of Churches,

And as You yourselves have graciously accepted this nomination,

Allow me to express to You my deepest gratitude as you have entrusted to my care this most precious talent.

Let me furthermore share with you the firm belief that I have concerning a talent for which I shall be accountable as it is put in my trust in the present historical moment we are all passing through and as we are engulfed in dangers that know no precedent.

The Executive committee of the Middle East Council of churches renewed its solidarity with the Lebanese people due to the Beirut blast during its meeting on the 18th of September, which was hosted by His Beatitude Cardinal Mar Bechara Boutros Al-Rahi in the Maronite Patriarchate in Bkerke - Lebanon. It also emphasized that the Council is in solidarity with those affected with the Coronavirus pandemic and they issued many decisions and recommendations.

In a 21 September letter, World Council of Churches interim general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Ioan Sauca congratulated Dr Michel Abs on being elected as the next secretary general of the Middle East Council of Churches.

“When wars and conflicts, hunger and thirst, pain and loss, break our bodies and tremble our spirits, then only God’s hope, love and comfort drive us onward, steadfast, following the steps of Jesus and his disciples on the roads of Jerusalem, Antioch, Damascus, Nineveh, Sidon and Tyre,” wrote Sauca. “This is the case of the people and the churches of the Middle East today.”

The journalist Nawal Nasr in the highly influential political magazine “Nidaa’ Al Watan” in Beirut- Lebanon interviewed Dr. Souraya Bechealany, MECC Secretary General, about the Middle East council of Churches (MECC) as it happened to be the meeting of the Executive Committee in Bkerki to elect the new Secretary General on the 18th of September in bkerki, Lebanon.