Report: 13 October 2024

In the wake of the security incidents that Lebanon is facing as a result of the war raging throughout it, the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) hastened to launch a humanitarian campaign with the aim of helping the affected and displaced people in the country to overcome this ordeal and restore their usual lives with dignity. Hence, the Middle East Council of Churches continues its efforts during this emergency period in order to implement its relief and field work in response to the deteriorating humanitarian conditions.

In this context, MECC will be publishing a periodical report under the name of "Rescue Lebanon Update" which will keep you informed about the developments of MECC action as well as the overall situation in a context analysis perspective.

The video presents the speech delivered by Father Yashou Ayoub, Secretary General of the Egyptian Council of Churches, at the celebration held by Egypt on the occasion of the Fiftieth Year of the Founding of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), on Saturday 14 September 2024, at the New Papal Headquarters in Anba Royce, Egypt

The video presents the speech delivered by His Eminence Bishop Thomas Adly, Pastor of the Coptic Catholic Diocese of Giza, Fayoum and Beni Souef at the celebration held by Egypt on the occasion of the Fiftieth Year of the Founding of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), on Saturday 14 September 2024, at the New Papal Headquarters in Anba Royce, Egypt

The video presents the speech delivered by His Eminence Bishop Sami Fawzi Shehata, Bishop of the Episcopal Church in Egypt, North Africa and the Horn of Africa, at the celebration held by Egypt on the occasion of the Fiftieth Year of the Founding of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), on Saturday 14 September 2024, at the New Papal Headquarters in Anba Royce, Egypt

The video presents the speech delivered by Archimandrite Damaskinos Alazrai, representing His Holiness Pope and Patriarch Theodoros II, Greek Orthodox Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and all Africa, at the celebration held by Egypt on the occasion of the Fiftieth Year of the Founding of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), on Saturday 14 September 2024, at the New Papal Headquarters in Anba Royce, Egypt.

With the Artist and Journalist Dalia Freyfer and the Musician Mr. Fadi Al Hachem, we raise our hymns and Prayers on the intention of Lebanon and the world, for the sake of peace and justice!

“Your Sight On Our Homeland”, a spiritual recital under the patronage and blessings of His Beatitude Patriarch Cardinal Mar Bechara Boutros Al-Rai, Maronite Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, represented by the Patriarchal Vicar General His Eminence Bishop Hanna Alwan, at the invitation and organization of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) and the Pastoral Office for Persons with Disabilities (POPD) in the Maronite Patriarchate - Bkerke, Lebanon.

The video presents the hymn Christ is one and the Church is the body which was performed by the Saint Mark Choir in New Heliopolis at the celebration held by Egypt on the occasion of the Fiftieth Year of the Founding of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), on Saturday 14 September 2024, at the New Papal Headquarters in Anba Royce, Egypt

The video presents the speech delivered by Reverend Dr. Andrea Zaki, President of the Evangelical Churches in Egypt, the Coptic Evangelical Organization for Social Services and the Fellowship, at the celebration held by Egypt on the occasion of the Fiftieth Year of the Founding of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), on Saturday 14 September 2024, at the New Papal Headquarters in Anba Royce, Egypt

The video presents the hymn Jesus you who fills my thirst with your affection which was performed by the Saint Mark Choir in New Heliopolis at the celebration held by Egypt on the occasion of the Fiftieth Year of the Founding of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), on Saturday 14 September 2024, at the New Papal Headquarters in Anba Royce, Egypt

The video presents the speech delivered by His Beatitude Patriarch Bishop Anba Ibrahim Ishak, Coptic Catholic Patriarch, and President of the Council of Catholic Patriarchs and Bishops in Egypt, at the celebration held by Egypt on the occasion of the Fiftieth Year of the Founding of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), on Saturday 14 September 2024, at the New Papal Headquarters in Anba Royce, Egypt

The video presents the hymn How lovely it is to get together which was performed by the Saint Mark Choir in New Heliopolis at the celebration held by Egypt on the occasion of the Fiftieth Year of the Founding of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), on Saturday 14 September 2024, at the New Papal Headquarters in Anba Royce, Egypt

Lebanon, a nation plagued by decades of crises, has now been engulfed in a devastating war, destroying cities, villages, and uprooting its people. The spiral of violence has exacerbated the wounds inflicted upon Lebanon, with foreign perpetrators continuing the destructive work begun by domestic ones.

The Lebanese people are in a dire state, their homeland and society in ruins. Recent events have dealt a final blow to their remaining hope for a better future. This once ambitious and courageous people have become seekers of shelter, food, and medicine, and their lives reduced to a desperate struggle for survival. Many Lebanese have been forced to leave their homes, searching for a place to sleep, often resorting to the open streets or the hills of garbage that fill the capital.

The video presents the speech delivered by His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark, at the celebration held by Egypt on the occasion of the Fiftieth Year of the Founding of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), on Saturday 14 September 2024, at the New Papal Headquarters in Anba Royce, Egypt

This video presents a reflection entitled “Lebanon Is in Turmoil”. Through its words and scenes, it sheds light on the tragic situation that Lebanon is passing through, asking God, the God of justice and peace, to grant peace in the country and the entire world.

Report: September 2024

A series of historic events shook the Middle East during September sparking fears if an imminent large regional war. Things started with the declaration of the occupying entity of shifting the focus of the war from Gaza to South Lebanon. Consequently, targeted assassinations and terror attacks follow suit in Lebanon. As the prospects for peace are dwindling by the day, a large humanitarian catastrophe is only in its beginning. Unless tempers are winded down and triggers are stopped from being pulled, we are heading into a major catastrophe.

“I call on the international Ecumenical family to make pressure to decide an immediate cease fire, a prevention of any blockade, and secure relief support for the destitute population” 

Solidarity with Lebanon and its people in light of the bloody war they are experiencing. It is an urgent matter with which the World Council of Churches (WCC) held an online consultative meeting, on Friday 4 October 2024, with the participation of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), the ACT Alliance, and invitees from various fields. 

The meeting formed a participatory space for discussion, exchange of experiences, and diving into the challenges that Lebanon is facing during the current period amidst insecurity and an unknown future. The attendees also presented their experiences each one from their position, region, framework, and specialization, calling for a ceasefire and continuous efforts to respond to humanitarian needs. 

A Spiritual Recital at the Church of Christ the King - Zouk Mosbeh, Lebanon, and Live on Télé Lumiere - Noursat TV Channel 

Because light is stronger than darkness, and peace is stronger than war, and under the patronage and blessings of His Beatitude Patriarch Mar Bechara Boutros Al-Rai, Maronite Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) and the Pastoral Office for Persons with Disabilities (POPD) in the Maronite Patriarchate - Bkerke, Lebanon, are honored to invite you to participate in the spiritual recital, “Your Sight On Our Homeland,” performed by the Artist Dalia Freifer, accompanied by Mr. Fadi Abi Hachem. The recital will be hosted by the Journalist Lea Adel Maamary. 

MECC and the Heads of the Churches Explain the Harsh Situations to the Whole World

In an initiative of love and solidarity with Lebanon amidst the difficult circumstances it is passing through due the war raging throughout it, the World Council of Churches (WCC) held an online solidarity meeting with the Ecumenical family in Lebanon and the Middle East, at the invitation of the WCC General Secretary Reverend Professor Dr. Jerry Pillay, on Friday 4 October 2024. This consultation aimed at highlighting the dangerous security, social, and humanitarian field conditions that Lebanon is currently going through, in addition to discussing ways of WCC support to the country.

The meeting was attended by His Eminence Metropolitan Antonios Al Soury, Greek Orthodox Metropolitan of Zahle, Baalbek and Dependencies, and Member of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Executive Committee, representing His Beatitude Patriarch John X, Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and All the East and President of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) for the Orthodox Family, and 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.

Attendees were also the WCC General Secretary Reverend Professor Dr. Jerry Pillay at the head of a WCC delegation, the MECC Secretary General Professor Dr. Michel Abs and the Associate Secretaries General at the head of an MECC delegation, the ACT Alliance General Secretary Mr. Rudelmar Bueno de Faria at the head of an ACT Alliance delegation, as well as concerned participants and invitees.

An online meeting was convened on 4 October by the World Council of Churches (WCC) to express solidarity and support, and to provide a safe and constructive space for sharing, reflection, and discussion on the critical challenges currently facing Lebanon. The Middle East Council of Churches and ACT Alliance also participated in the virtual meeting. 

WCC General Secretary Rev. Prof. Dr. Jerry Pillay said in his opening remarks: “We are extremely concerned by what is happening in Gaza and now extended to Lebanon. It is hoped that this online engagement would communicate to you that you are not alone, the WCC and our ecumenical partners stand with you in your struggles, uncertainty and time of insecurity. Despite the distance we are with you in prayers, thoughts, and spirit.”

Rev. Prof. Dr. Pillay added: “We heard the painful stories of displaced and homeless people in Lebanon, the collective measures of people’s anxieties, destruction of properties, the spread of diseases, and the disruption and closure of educational institutions. We were deeply moved and troubled by these stories.”

Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Secretary General Prof. Dr. Michel Abs, who lives in Lebanon, said that the Lebanese are living in a state of total insecurity due to the daily bombings in Lebanon. “The aggressors are supposedly targeting Lebanese of a certain political affiliation,” he said. “But in the actual displacement situation, nobody knows what the political identity of his new displaced neighbour is.”

A Spiritual Recital Under the Patronage and Blessings of His Beatitude Patriarch Mar Bechara Boutros Al-Rai

At the invitation of the Middle East Council of Churches and the Pastoral Office for Persons with Disabilities (POPD) in the Maronite Patriarchate - Bkerke

Under the patronage and blessings of His Beatitude Patriarch Mar Bechara Boutros Al-Rai, Maronite Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) and the Pastoral Office for Persons with Disabilities (POPD) in the Maronite Patriarchate - Bkerke, Lebanon, are honored to invite you to participate in the spiritual recital, “Your Sight On Our Homeland,” performed by the Artist Dalia Freifer, accompanied by Mr. Fadi Abi Hachem. The recital will be hosted by the Journalist Lea Adel Maamary.

The celebration will be held on Friday 11 October 2024, at 7pm Beirut time, in the Church of Christ the King - Zouk Mosbeh, Lebanon. It will be broadcasted live on Télé Lumiere - Noursat TV Channel, and the social media platforms.