Emphasis on the Importance of the Lebanese Army and Unity Around It

Metropolitan Elias Audi of Beirut and its Dependencies for the Greek Orthodox Church presided over the Divine Liturgy at St. George's Cathedral. After the reading of the Gospel, he delivered a sermon in which he mentioned that "once again, Independence Day arrives while the country is headless, grappling with problems that those concerned have failed to resolve for years. Added to this is the specter of war that Lebanon has no capacity to endure amidst the state’s collapse and economic breakdown. Most Lebanese, who have suffered the horrors of wars and paid a hefty price in lives, property, and the future of their homeland, do not desire any gamble with their fate. They look forward to the day when a president will be elected, marking the beginning of the country's revival from its prolonged downfall, and the initiation of comprehensive reforms to eradicate corruption, violations of sovereignty and the constitution, breaches of borders, suppression of freedoms, and exploitation of the judiciary. It is essential to confine state decisions to the state, restore dignity to the citizen, authority to the state, and sovereignty to the law. Only then will independence regain its meaning, and the Lebanese will feel they hold their destiny in their hands because their state, with all its components, is the sole ruler, spokesperson, and policymaker for both domestic and foreign affairs." He stressed that "on this occasion, it is necessary to emphasize the importance of our army's role and the need to rally around it, without tampering with anything related to it as it is the last steadfast cornerstone. It is also essential to stress citizens' awareness and their duty to hold their representatives accountable to fulfill the role they were elected to perform."