In two powerful Sunday homilies, Metropolitan Elias Audi and Maronite Patriarch Bechara Rai offered spiritual and national guidance, urging faithfulness, unity and reform as Lebanon continues to grapple with deepening challenges.
Presiding over Sunday Mass at Saint George Cathedral, Metropolitan Elias Audi, head of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Beirut, commemorated the Fourth Ecumenical Council of Chalcedon, emphasizing the Council’s definition of Christ’s dual nature as both divine and human, a pillar of Orthodox faith.
He urged the faithful to stand firm in their beliefs, warning against the spread of misleading ideas in today’s digital age. “Know your Church’s history, read the Scriptures and hold fast to the truth,” he said.
Drawing a parallel between spiritual and national life, Audi stressed the importance of safeguarding Lebanon’s constitution, likening it to the Church’s doctrine. He criticized the country’s power-sharing culture, calling for urgent reforms, transparent governance and the revival of state institutions.
Meanwhile, from Diman, Maronite Patriarch Bechara Rai centered his sermon on the enduring value of the family, describing it as “the steadfast core, the first natural school and the very first community on Earth.” He stated that despite mounting social and economic pressures, the family can remain “a cradle of holiness” when built on faith and mutual love.
Rai linked the strength of the family to the strength of the nation, declaring that “when the family is built on faith, the nation is built on hope.” He reaffirmed Lebanon’s identity as a place of shared living, anchored in its constitution and the spirit of the National Pact.
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