The Maronite Patriarch, Mar Beshara Boutros Al-Rai, presided over the funeral of the minister and former deputy head of the Kataeb Party, Sajaan Azzi, at Our Lady of Gifts Cathedral in Adma, in the presence of President Amin Gemayel, MP Dr.
“1. Every Thursday morning, we used to search spontaneously on the front page for the editorial of Sajaan Azzi, the former minister, which is distinguished from all newspaper editorials, with its richness in internal and external political analysis, erudition and culture, and the ability to link historical events and conclusions. But 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 responding to his last call from God that accompanied all the stations of his life, which is the word of the prophet Isaiah: “Here I am, send me” (Isaiah 6:8). He was in constant transmission. As soon as he finished his foundational studies at the Institute of the Apostles in Jeunieh, and obtained a degree in philosophy from the Holy Spirit University-Kaslik, and a degree in political and administrative sciences from St. Joseph University-Beirut, he embarked on missionary sectors thanks to the knowledge, intelligence, logic, and analysis that God endowed him with. His message was distributed between journalism, university education, consulting, political work and analysis, and authorship and writing. With a special concern for his family, whom he loved so much and who loved him.
We weep for him with tears of eye and heart with his wife, Mrs. Dania Halim Baroud, his two daughters Aude and Joy, his son-in-law, his two brothers, his sister, his mother-in-law, her children and their families, his relatives and relatives, and the thousands of his acquaintances and friends. He loved all of them, starting with his dear wife, and they lived a happy married life together for thirty-four years without being disturbed by a word or an action.
2. With his death, the pen of one of the most fertile political, historical, media, scientific and literary productions dried up. Although 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, with words about him.
This saw in him: a man of word, thought, dialogue, logic, openness and decency; and another: an exceptional politician, partisan, journalist, and thinker; another: an outspoken and bold political stature; another: a staunch fighter in the ranks of the Lebanese resistance for Lebanon’s sovereignty and identity; another: a fighter who thinks for the sake of Lebanon; another: a wise and friendly political intellectual; another: a summit of political dynamism and intellectual and cultural brilliance; and another: an authentic Lebanese who carried on his shoulders the worries he dug into his conscience, he is the concern of Lebanon; and another: a man of dialogue and a deep and elegant word; and another: a believer in moderation, and a fighter for neutrality; and another: the blatant 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 world of politics in Lebanon; And the last, not the last: the political writer with national affiliation, committed to the Lebanese cause, broad-minded, quick-witted, and hierarchical.
3. His constant life rule: “Here I am” with complete readiness to give out of love for giving. This is the spirit that revived his journalistic message in the editorial office and editorials of the Phalangist newspapers such as Al-Amal, Al-Jarida, An-Nahar, and the magazines Al-Jadeed and Al-Magazine. And in the presidency of the news in “Voice of Lebanon Radio”, and the establishment and management of “Radio Free Lebanon”. In the message of education, he is a lecturer at St. Joseph University in Beirut, and at the Bashir Gemayel Academy at the Holy Spirit University of Kaslik.
In this spirit, he 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. He provided consultations to more than eight international foreign institutions.
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 martyred president, Bashir Gemayel, and to the president, Sheikh Amin Gemayel. 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 the coordination of 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.
4. He found plenty of time to write: he left generations a precious legacy and reference in the fields of politics, history and strategy through his five books in Arabic, 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. What makes him alive among us with his thought and knowledge, renewing our memory, and refreshing the love of our hearts.
Sajaan Azzi really made the difference. With the power of his word emanating from his distinguished personality in science, politics, courage, morals, elegance, and readiness to serve and give without anything in return.
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 prayers near his bed and granted him forgiveness of his sins, humanly and familially, he said it with the sound of a beating heart and a silent tongue: “Here I am, my Lord, so send me to you!” Just as Christ the Lord shared with him the sufferings of redemption, He also shares with him the glory of the Resurrection, so that his family, small and large, may have the best intercessor.
With this hope we bid him farewell together and express our deepest condolences to his wife, Mrs. Dania, his two daughters and son-in-law, to his two brothers and sister, to the families of his late uncles, aunts and uncles, to his mother-in-law, Mrs. Samia and her children and their families, and to all their beloved relatives and relatives in Lebanon and the diaspora.
May God accept him in his heavenly glory, and pour out the balm of consolation on your hearts, and compensate us with his likes.
Christ is risen!”
