Watch the Highlights of the First Day

The report presents the highlights of the opening of the MECC 12th General Assembly under the theme of “Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid” (Matthew 14:27), at the Papal Logos Center in Wadi El Natrun in Egypt. The video was prepared by the MECC Communication and Public Relations Department in cooperation with the Media Center affiliated to the Coptic Orthodox Church in Egypt.

The report presents a brief overview about the Papal Logos Center in Wadi El Natrun in Egypt, this historical place where the MECC 12th General Assembly is being held, hosted by His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark. The video was prepared by the MECC Communication and Public Relations Department in cooperation with the Media Center affiliated to the Coptic Orthodox Church in Egypt.

The Church of the East Denounces All Conflicts and Wars and Calls On the Christians of the Region to Cling to hope

“Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid” (Matthew 14:27)

The Middle East Council of Churches launches its 12th General Assembly, on Monday, May 16, 2022, under the title of “Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid” (Matthew 14:27) at the Logos Papal Center in Wadi El Natrun, Egypt, with the generous hospitality of His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark, and with the support of the Evangelical Church in Egypt. The Assembly is attended by representatives of 21 Churches from the Middle East. They all stressed on the importance of renewal and attachment to hope and to our faith in Jesus Christ, because with His presence we are neither afraid or discouraged. As well as, they stressed on the need to cling to our East and Land, the Cradle of Christianity.

This is the theme of the Twelfth General Assembly of the Middle East Council of Churches, held for the first time in Egypt, as the Council is overseeing its fiftieth anniversary.

From all the corners of the globe, we meet to the land of the See of St. Mark, renewing the covenant on communication and solidarity in faith, love and service.

Spiritual leaders, partners and delegates of international institutions, local partners and workers in the Council's institutions, are all coming to hear what the Ecumenical Stronghold in the Middle East has to say to them.

They are all coming to tell us their concerns and to hear our plans and aspirations.

Monday 16 May 2022

Hosted by His Holiness Pope Tawadros II

The Middle Eastern Churches Will Meet in a Historical and Ecumenical Event

New Hope Under the Title of “Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid” (Matthew 14:27)

Under the title of “Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid” (Matthew 14:27), the Middle East Council of Churches kicks off its 12th General Assembly on Monday 16 May 2022, focusing on many issues related to the Middle Eastern Christians, their challenges, aspirations and strength of their presence in unity. Participants from the MECC four Church families will define a future vision that guarantee the consolidation of the ecumenical spirit and the achievement of the most important humanitarian and social goals among all the people of the region.

Standing Together Towards a More Sustainable Partnership

The General Secretariat of the Middle East Council of Churches held its annual meeting with its international and regional partner organizations and institutions, online, on Thursday, March 24, 2022. The meeting aimed at exchanging point of views and experiences in order to develop the MECC role and to ameliorate the work mechanisms in order to achieve the desired goals, and work together for a more effective future partnership.

For months, administrative and operational preparations have been underway for the convening of the twelfth General Assembly of the Middle East Council of Churches at a rate that increases as we get closer to its maturity, as this assembly comes five years and eight months after the eleventh assembly that was held in Amman in 2016. It goes without saying that the delay is caused by the pandemic which has been ravaging humanity for three years and is still doing so up till now.

His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark, received His Beatitude Patriarch Cardinal Mar Bechara Boutros Al-Rahi, Patriarch of Antioch and all the East for the Maronites, on Saturday, March 19, 2022, at the Papal Headquarters in Abbassiya, Egypt. His Holiness delivered a welcoming speech in which he stressed on the importance of the ecumenical event that the Church of the East will witness at the 12th General Assembly of the Middle East Council of Churches that will be held in Egypt from 16 to 20 May at the Papal Logos Center under the title of “Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid” (Matthew 14:27).

You can find a photo album from 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 a video presenting experts and speeches from 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).

A Workshop on Media and Advocacy, the Preparations Begun!

With great hope, the Middle East Council of Churches General Secretariat, continues its preparations for its 12th General Assembly of the Council under the title “Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid” (Matthew 14:27), between May 16 and 20, 2022, hosted by His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark, in Egypt. Given the importance of the media's role in shedding the light on Christian reality in the East and serving mankind, the General Assembly has included in its activities a workshop on Christian Media in the Middle East.

You can find the list of participants in 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 a video about the MECC activities in support of Iraqi refugees in Syria since the beginning of the war in Iraq until the end of 2011, with the support of the MECC’s partners and local Churches in Syria. The video was presented during the Council’s 10th General Assembly, held between 29 and 30 November 2011 in Paphos, Cyprus, under the title of “And all who believed were one heart” (Acts 4: 32).

You can find the detailed minutes of 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).

Many thanks to H.H Pope Tawadros II for hosting the next General Assembly

We must work together to contain the post-Coronavirus poverty, unemployment and crises

On Friday, February 11, 2022, the Executive Committee of the Middle East Council of Churches held an online meeting in compliance with the ongoing preventive measures during the Corona pandemic. Members of the Committee from Egypt, Palestine, Jordan, Syria, Iraq, Iran, Cyprus, and Lebanon attended the meeting.

The meeting was presided by the heads of the Church families of the Council: President of the Council for the Eastern Orthodox family His Holiness Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II, President of the Council for the Greek Orthodox family His Beatitude Patriarch John X, President of the Council for the Catholic family His Beatitude Patriarch Cardinal Mar Louis Raphael Sako, President of the Council for the Evangelical family Reverend Dr. Habib Badr. Other participants were members of the Executive Committee, the General Secretariat team, and the invitees of Secretary General Dr. Michel E. Abs.

You can find the full minutes of the MECC 10th General Assembly, held between 29 and 30 November 2011 in Paphos, Cyprus, under the title of “And all who believed were one heart” (Acts 4: 32).

You can find a photo album from the meetings of the MECC 10th General Assembly, held between 29 and 30 November 2011 in Paphos, Cyprus, under the title of “And all who believed were one heart” (Acts 4: 32).

You can find the text of the final communiqué issued by the MECC 10th General Assembly, held between 29 and 30 November 2011 in Paphos, Cyprus, under the title of “And all who believed were one heart” (Acts 4: 32).