The 50th Year of the Founding of the Middle East Council of Churches... Half a Century of Service

On the occasion of the 50th Year of its Founding, the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) is launching a documentary entitled "Presence and Witness". A documentary that sheds light on the founding of the MECC and the most prominent historical milestones it has passed through, in addition to its challenges and the most important bright achievements it has accomplished through its Ecumenical and humanitarian mission. Thus, MECC constitutes since 1974 the dawn of an Ecumenical era carrying in its heart the Church of the East, embodying the slogan of fraternity and dialogue "Building Bridges, Standing Together".

And the Media is getting ready to watch it!

The Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Professor Dr. Michel Abs officially announces the launch of the documentary "Presence and Witness" produced by the Middle East Council of Churches on the occasion of its Fiftieth Year of Its Founding, during the Christmas gathering held by the family of the MECC General Secretariat, today, Wednesday, December 18, 2024, at the MECC headquarters in Beirut.

During the meeting, the documentary was broadcasted, which outlines the most important historical milestones of MECC, and was watched by the General Secretariat team for the first time. The Secretary General Professor Dr. Michel Abs also provided additional explanations that embody the golden milestones of MECC and the most prominent challenges it faced, stressing that the Middle East Council of Churches remains a loud voice in the wilderness and a platform for fraternity and peace no matter how strong the storms.

In turn, colleagues expressed their joy in working in the Middle East Council of Churches and their deep appreciation for the Ecumenical mission that MECC has sought to achieve since its establishment in 1974, through building bridges, bridging distances, and serving with dignity.

Watch with Us the Episode Produced by “The Platform of the Word” at the Middle East Council of Churches

As part of its new program network, “The Platform of the Word” at the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) presents the third episode of the program “And the Family Remains”, under the title “Family and Christmas”.

The program raises issues related to the family, motherhood and childhood, in addition to the Church’s view and response to the challenges, especially in light of the difficult living conditions that the region is passing through.

What Is the Broadcast Schedule?

On the occasion of Christmas, Télé Lumière and Noursat will broadcast the first four episodes of the program "And the Family Remains" produced by "The Platform of the Word" at the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), consecutively on Wednesday 18, Thursday 19, Friday 20, and Monday 26 December 2024, at 5 pm Beirut time.

The program raises issues related to the family, motherhood and childhood, in addition to the Church’s view and response to the challenges, especially in light of the difficult living conditions that the region is passing through.

On the occasion of the Anniversary of His Election as Patriarch of the See of Antioch

On the occasion of the Anniversary of the Election of His Beatitude Patriarch John X, Successor of the Apostles Peter and Paul, the Thirteenth of the Holy Apostles, as Patriarch of the See of Antioch and All the East for the Greek Orthodox, the Secretary General Professor Dr. Michel Abs, the Secretary General Professor Dr. Michel Abs extends, in the name of the family of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), his warmest congratulations to His Beatitude, President of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) for the Orthodox family, asking the Lord to grant him more graces and bless his service and contributions in the field of the Lord.

The Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) also wishes His Beatitude Patriarch John X many years with the power of the Holy Spirit, and continued health and holiness in his pastoral mission so that he may remain a faithful leader of the Holy Church and a model in his love for Christ.

A Documentary on the Occasion of the Fiftieth Year of the MECC Founding... Soon!

On the occasion of the Fiftieth Year of Its Founding, the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) will launch a documentary entitled “Presence and Testimony,” which will soon be available on the MECC official website and its social media platforms. As well as, it will be sent to the Media.

From the General Secretary of the International ACT Alliance Mr. Rudelmar Bueno de Faria

From the General Secretary of the World Council of Churches (WCC) Reverend Professor Dr. Jerry Pillay

Entitled “Disaster Risk Management and Churches Response”

The Middle East Council of Churches held a training session in the Governorate of Akkar, entitled “Disaster Risk Management and Churches Response,” with support from Tearfund.

The session took place in the hall of Our Lady of Salvation Melkite Greek Catholic Church in the town of Sheikh Mohammad – Akkar, and was attended by more than fifty participants from various Churches and professional backgrounds.

The meeting began with a Prayer prepared by Father Spiridon Tannous, titled “The Church of Antioch’s Response to the Famine in Jerusalem.” After this, the participating youth introduced themselves and became acquainted.

Subsequently, Father Spiridon divided the youth into groups and organized training workshops, which generated significant interest among the attendees.

Later, Father Basilios Ghafari and the Journalist Lea Maamary gave lectures on different types of disasters, their impact on individuals and society, and the importance of local churches taking action to respond to crises by forming and effectively organizing emergency committees.

A Meditation of Hope During the Christmas Season - Produced by MECC

Watch with Us the Second Episode of this Program

Produced by “The Platform of the Word” at the Middle East Council of Churches

As part of its new program network, "The Platform of the Word" at the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) presents the second episode of the program "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.

A Special Christmas Episode with Father Charbel Al Khoury and the MECC Secretary General Professor Dr. Michel Abs

On the occasion of the Glorious Christmas, “The Platform of the Word” at the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) presents a special Christmas episode entitled "We are awake... Waiting for Our Return", from the Church of Our Lady of Amchit in Lebanon. Guests were the Parish Priest Father Charbel Al Khoury and the Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Professor Dr. Michel Abs. They were interviewed by the Journalist Lea Adel Maamary, the Director of "The Platform of the Word" and the Coordinator of Church and Media Relations at the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC).

The episode centered around Christmas topics, as well as about human and social, existential issues. It also highlights Bethlehem - the Church of the Nativity, which was embodied by Father Charbel Al Khoury in his Parish. It carries many messages confirming that the Light of Christ is the only one who illuminates the darkness of the earth.

From the Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Professor Dr. Michel Abs

From Father Charbel Al Khoury, Parish Priest of Our Lady of Amchit - Lebanon

From His Eminence Bishop Michel Kassarji, Head of the Chaldean Community in Lebanon

From His Eminence Metropolitan Antonios Al Soury, Greek Orthodox Metropolitan of Zahle, Baalbek and their Dependencies, and Member of the Executive Committee of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC)

From His Beatitude Patriarch Cardinal Louis Raphaël Sako, Chaldean Patriarch in Iraq and the World, and Honorary President of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC)

“Do you believe this?” (John 11: 26)

The Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) releases the Arabic version of the “Week of Prayer for Christian Unity” booklet 2025, under the title “Do you believe this?” (John 11: 26), based on the Biblical Text 11: 17-27.

The booklet presents resources that were prepared by a group of brothers and sisters of the Monastic Community of Bose in Northen Italy. The resources were jointly edited and published by the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity (DPCU) and the Faith and Order Commission of the World Council of Churches (WCC), and were translated into Arabic by the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), as every year.

The title of this year has been chosen to emphasize once again the necessity of adhering to faith, hope, and unity in Prayer, at a time when the world and the Middle East are suffering from many wars, conflicts, crises and divisions amidst a wave of injustice, inequity and hate speech...

Professor Dr. Michel Abs

Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC)

What is happening in the Middle East—specifically its Levantine part—is almost beyond description.

Utter chaos engulfs the region, spreading crime and corruption everywhere: fighting, looting, kidnapping, and oppression under the waning of certain regimes and the emergence of others whose contours remain unclear.

As if all this were not enough, rumors—some spontaneous, others organized or deliberately planted—further add to people’s psychological confusion, intensifying their loss, misery, and distress.

The situation is alarming, and we all look to the future with apprehension, fearing what the coming days may hold. Our fate is unknown, leaving individuals unsettled, with no choice but to bear these psychological and material burdens and wait.

Yet everyone has become convinced that we are victims of conspiracies hatched against us in the shadowy corners of the “deep state” that controls the world’s resources and devours its peoples. None of what is happening is a coincidence: from the extermination of scientists in Iraq more than a decade ago to the assassination of scientists in Syria during the current events. The killing of intellectuals is but the tip of the iceberg in a Levantine conspiracy that has persisted for over a century.

Watch with Us the Second Episode of the Program “And the Family Remains”

Produced by “The Platform of the Word” at the Middle East Council of Churches

As part of its new program network, “The Platform of the Word” at the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) presents the second episode of the program “And the Family Remains”, under the title “Mother and Christmas”.

The program raises issues related to the family, motherhood and childhood, in addition to the Church’s view and response to the challenges, especially in light of the difficult living conditions that the region is passing through.