Lebanon Bids Farewell to Wadih Al-Safi in Popular Mass and Suleiman Grants Him Golden Order of Merit

Lebanon bid farewell on Monday afternoon to legendary singer Wadih al-Safi in a popular mass held at St. George Cathedral in downtown Beirut.

Several officials and music figures attended the funeral while Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi presided over the mass.

"We are aware of the vacuum Wadih al-Safi will leave behind him and the deep wound his passing created in our hearts,” al-Rahi said during the mass.

He added: “Wadih al-Safi sang for Lebanon and for God. He collaborated during his career with top musicians like the Rahbani brothers, Zaki Nassif, Mohammed Abdel Wahab and Farid al-Atrash.”

"Professionals in the music industry unanimously agree that al-Safi is the grand master.”

Meanwhile, President Michel Suleiman granted al-Safi a First Grade golden Lebanese Order of Merit, announced caretaker Culture Minister Gaby Layoun at the Cathedral.

Layoun placed the Order of Merit on al-Safi's casket.

The president later ordered that a stamp commemorating the late singer be issued.

In addition to the singer's family and friends, present at the funeral were caretaker minister Layoun, who represented Suleiman, the representative of Speaker Nabih Berri MP Michel Moussa, the representative of Prime Minister Najib Miqati Mohammed al-Mashnouq, MP Bahia Hariri representing ex-PM Saad Hariri, Change and Reform head MP Michel Aoun's representative caretaker Justice Minister Shakib Qortbawi, MP Antoine Abou Khater representing Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea.

The funeral was also attended by several ministers, lawmakers, military personnel, and numerous artists that gathered to bid farewell to the legendary musician.

Following the funeral, al-Safi's casket was carried by his loved ones who marched in downtown Beirut to the sound of his timeless songs.

Al-Safi was laid to rest on Monday evening in his hometown of Niha in the Chouf region.

The singer's family announced on Sunday that “his grave will serve as a cultural landmark for all Lebanese and all his admirers throughout the world.”

Al-Safi, 92, died at Bellevue Medical Center in al-Metn's neighborhood of al-Mansourieh on Friday evening.

The state-run National News Agency noted that the singer was transferred to the hospital at 7:30 pm, after falling ill at the house of his son Tony.