In pictures: A delegation from the Guardians of the Cedars party - Movement of Lebanese Nationalism participates in the funeral ceremony of the great late Said Akl and put garlands expressing faithfulness
In the beginning, The Maronite Patriarch Mar Bechara Boutros Al-Rahi presided, on Tuesday 2 December 2014, the ceremony of the great poet and philosopher Said Akl at St. George's Cathedral in downtown Beirut. A delegation from the Guardians of the Cedars - Movement of Lebanese Nationalism had arrived at the church to participate in the funeral, as the following others had arrived successively: The president of Kataeb Party Amine Gemayel, the president of the Free Patriotic Movement MP Michel Aoun, Culture Minister Raymond Areiji, Assem Araji representing the president of Future Movement MP Saad Hariri, Tony Abu Khater representing the president of the Lebanese Forces Samir Geagea, Brigadier General Shamel Roukoz representing the army commander General Jean Kahwaji, Brigadier General Fouad Hamid El-Khoury representing the Director General of the Internal Security Forces General Ibrahim Basbous, former Minister Khalil Hrawi, in addition to the deputies Jean Oghassabian, Nabil Nicolas, Nehmatallah Abi Nasr, former minister Salim Juraisati.
Garlands in the name of the Guardians of the Cedars party - Movement of Lebanese Nationalism had arrived at the church, as garlands on behalf of Parliament speaker Nabih Berri, Prime Minister Tammam Salam, President of the Free Patriotic Movement MP Michel Aoun, president of Future bloc MP Fouad El-Sanioura, president of Future Movement Saad Hariri, minister of foreign affaires Gebran Bassil, minister of culture Raymond Areiji, president of Marada Movement MP Sleiman Franjieh. Then the Guardians of the Cedars - Movement of Lebanese Nationalism delegation headed to Zahle to bid farewell to the great late Said Akl in his last journey.
The delegation attended in the beginning the incense prayers on the body of the great late in Mar Maroun Cathedral in Ksara - Zahle, presided by the patriarchal prelate of Maronite Zahle Diocese Bishop Joseph Mouawad, and put two garlands expressing faithfulness to Said Akl in the name of the commander Etienne Sakr "Abou Arz", and in the name of the Central Command of the Guardians of the Cedars Party - Movement of Lebanese Nationalism. The following bishops participated in the prayer: George Alexander, Andre Haddad, Esperidon Khoury, Paul Safar in the presence of MPs Tony Abou Khater and Elie Marouni, and Moussa Fattoush representing MP Nicolas Fattoush, former minister Gabe Lyon, brigadier general Charles Atta representing former minister Elie Skaff, former MP Salim Aoun, Bekaa Governor Judge Antoine Suleiman, the mayor of Zahle Engineer Joseph Diab Maalouf and Mrs. Olginia Elie Ferzli and large crowd from Zahle and the region.
Then the convoy of the late departed to Zahle entrance amid fireworks, towards Hosh Al-Omara, and the delegation of the Guardians of the Cedars party - Movement of Lebanese Nationalism headed to Al-Bayader cemeteries where they put garlands on the tomb of Said Akl, while the convoy walked around many stations before reaching Al-Bayader cemeteries where he was buried.
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