The Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, His Beatitude John X, this week received the Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches, Dr. Michel Abs, and members of a council delegation, at the Monastery of Balamand, the Patriarchate’s see in Lebanon.
Discussions revolved directly on the threats faced by the Christians in the region, as well as recurrent crises in the Middle East, which have led to the uprooting of ancient Christian communities.
Both sides referred to goals that the council should aim for in Syria and Lebanon, where the countries’ Christians have decreased over recent years due to war and an economic recession.