The Maronite Patriarch, Cardinal Mar Beshara Boutros Al-Rahi, indicated that “every Thursday morning, we used to search spontaneously on the front page for the editorial of the former minister, Sajaan Azzi, which is distinguished from all newspaper editorials, with its richness in internal and external political analysis, and wide erudition.” and culture, and in the ability to relate historical events and conclusions.
He pointed out, in his sermon during the funeral of the former minister, Sajaan Azzi, in Our Lady of Gifts Cathedral in Adma, that “this last Thursday, there was one painful word that we feared and prayed not to reach: Sajaan Azzi is dead! As for him, he was fulfilling his last call from God that accompanied All the stations of his life are the words of the prophet Isaiah: “Here I am, send me” (Isaiah 6:8).
Patriarch Al-Rahi explained that “Azzi was in a state of permanent mission. As soon as he finished his foundational studies at the Institute of the Apostles in Jounieh, and obtained a degree in philosophy from the University of the Holy Spirit – Kaslik, and a degree in political and administrative sciences from St. Joseph University – Beirut, he embarked on missionary sectors thanks to What God endowed him with in terms of knowledge, intelligence, logic, and analysis, so his message spread between journalism, university education, consulting, political work and analysis, and writing and writing, with special attention to his family, whom he loved very much and who loved him.”
And he stressed that “with his death, the pen of one of the most fertile political, historical, media, scientific and literary productions has dried up. And if he did not write his editorial this time in “An-Nahar” newspaper, the newspapers were filled with their editorials, their internal pages, and the written, audio and visual social media outlets with words about him.
And he stated, “This one saw in him: a man of word, thought, dialogue, logic, openness, and decency. Another: a politician, partisan, journalist, and exceptional thinker. Another: an outspoken and bold political stature. Another: a solid fighter in the ranks of the Lebanese resistance for the sake of Lebanon’s sovereignty and identity. Lebanon, and another: a sane and friendly political intellectual, and another: a pinnacle of political vitality and intellectual and cultural brilliance, and another: an authentic Lebanese who carried on his shoulders the worries he dug in his conscience, he is the concern of Lebanon, and another: a man of dialogue and deep and elegant words, and another: a believer in moderation and a fighter for neutrality And another: the shrill voice keen on Lebanon’s formula and national cohesion, another: an active minister committed to his moral and ethical convictions, and another: a fighter who devoted his life to defending the Lebanese cause and a writer who carried the issues of the country in his pen, and another: the spearhead in his sovereign struggle with his wisdom, firmness, and rich political and media experience And another: an essential pillar of the political world in Lebanon, and another, but not the last: the political writer with national affiliation, committed to the Lebanese cause, broad-minded, quick-witted, and hierarchical in ideas.
The shepherd also emphasized that his “permanent rule of life is: ‘Here I am’ with complete readiness to give for the love of giving. This is the spirit that revived his journalistic message in the editorial offices and editorials of newspapers such as the Kataeb “Al-Amal”, “Al-Jarida”, “An-Nahar”, “Magazine” and “An-Nahar”. “Al-Jadid” and in the presidency of the news in “Voice of Lebanon Radio”, and the establishment and management of “Radio Free Lebanon”, as well as in the message of education as a lecturer at Saint Joseph University in Beirut, and at the Bashir Gemayel Academy at the Holy Spirit University of Kaslik.
And he stressed that “in this spirit, Azzi provided his consultations through his institution, which he established in Paris for studies and consultations in the field of political and economic risks, and in his publication on political strategy in the Middle East; and he provided his consultations to more than eight international foreign institutions.”
And he stated, “With this full readiness, a young man joined the Lebanese Kataeb party, following in the footsteps of his late father, who founded the Kataeb in the Futouh region. Thanks to this readiness, he became the deputy head of the party and a political advisor to the late President of the Republic, Bashir Gemayel, and to former President Amin Gemayel. “. He recalled that “at the beginning of the Lebanese war, he assumed the presidency of the media department in the Lebanese resistance. As for us, we enjoyed his advice, opinions and depth of thinking in the committees of the Patriarchal Center for Documentation and Research, in coordinating the Neutrality Committee and the International Conference, and in what we personally asked him for national and regional opinions and studies; His absence constitutes a great void for us that can hardly be replaced.”
Al-Rahi continued: “He found plenty of time to write: he left generations a precious legacy and a reference in the fields of politics, history and strategy, with his five books in Arabic, and his editorials in “An-Nahar” newspaper, and his twenty-eight studies in French, in addition to dozens of lectures in universities in Lebanon, Europe and America, which makes him alive among us with his thought and knowledge, renewing our memory and refreshing the love of our hearts.”
And he stressed that “Sajaan Azzi really made the difference, with the power of his word emanating from his distinguished personality in knowledge, politics, courage, morals, elegance, and readiness to serve and give without anything in return.” He added: “Yes, one word: “Here I am, send me” (Isaiah 6: 8) And he said it for the last time on Thursday morning, after he prepared himself spiritually with my personal prayer near his bed, and granted him the forgiveness of his sins, humanly and familially, he said it with the voice of a beating heart and a silent tongue: “Here I am, Lord, send me to you!” He shares with him the glory of the Resurrection, so that his family, small and large, may have the best intercessor.”
