National News Agency
Maronite Patriarch Beshara Rahi presided Sunday over Easter Mass service in Bkirki, in presence of President of the Republic, Michel Aoun, and First Lady, Nadia Aoun, and a number of political, security and diplomatic figures.
In his holy sermon, the Patriarch congratulated the President on Easter Day, wishing him success in leading the country at the political, economic, security and social levels.
The Patriarch also thanked the Lebanese President for reactivating the work of constitutional institutions and public administrations.
Rahi lauded the current mandate for the achievements made on more than one level, particularly on increasing the capabilities of the army, the security forces and other security apparatuses, especially in maintaining the sovereignty and security of the homeland with high efficiency.
The Patriarch broached the issue of the economic situation in Lebanon, in addition to the educational sector, which he deemed as Lebanon's natural wealth.
"This wealth is threatened to fall if the State does not maintain it. Schools can not in any way hold the burden of endorsing the salary scale without raising tuition fees," stated Rahi.
"Schools in Lebanon are now facing two things: depriving the teachers of their rights and putting additional burdens on the parents," he went on.
"We pray, Mr. President, for God to help you in governing and to be able to find the appropriate solutions to these challenges," Rahi concluded.
