The 41st anniversary Mass commemorating former President-elect of Lebanon, Bachir Gemayel, took place at St. Charbels in Punchbowl on September 17th. The Mass also honored all Phalangists, members of Gemayel’s political party, the Kataeb, who perished in the bomb explosion that ended the young leader’s life, and all Kataeb soldiers who participated in the Lebanese war.
This Maronite Mass incorporated special tributes and prayers for the deceased, with a particular focus on the fallen Kataeb soldiers. The Kataeb, established in the mid-1930s, is a Lebanese nationalist party advocating for Lebanon’s full independence and preservation of its current borders. Although a majority of its members have historically been Maronites, the party maintains a secular stance.
Bachir Gemayel, born on November 10, 1947, in Achrafieh, Beirut, was the son of the party’s founder, Pierre Gemayel. He became involved with the party at a young age, following his father’s legacy. However, it was during the Lebanese Civil War that Bachir’s passionate beliefs and eloquent oratory brought him to the forefront. He stood firm against Syrian armed intervention in Lebanon, a sentiment not commonly held then, as he perceived the Syrian government, under Hafez Al-Assad, as aspiring to annex Lebanon.
Bachir’s concerns were validated during the 100-day war in Beirut against the Syrians, which erupted following the increasing influence and authority of the Syrian army in Beirut. During this time, Christian militias formed a loose coalition called the ‘Lebanese Front’, which later solidified into the Lebanese Forces under Bachir’s leadership. Despite the Syrian military’s superior firepower and training, the Lebanese militias emerged victorious.
Due to the Lebanese militias’ growing successes against the stronger, better-equipped Syrian forces — notably during the Battle of Zahle from 1980-1981 — Bachir’s life was incessantly endangered. A 1980 assassination attempt targeting him tragically resulted in the death of his infant daughter, Maya. Regardless of the personal threats, Bachir remained committed to his role. His perseverance culminated on August 23, 1982, when he became the youngest ever elected President of Lebanon. His election received significant acclaim from many Lebanese nationalists and Western countries, including the U.S. However, it faced opposition from Syrians, Palestinians, and their Lebanese allies.
Tragically, on the afternoon of September 14, 1982, Bachir and nearly 30 of his associates were killed in a bomb explosion at the Kataeb headquarters.
To this day, Bachir’s legacy remains a point of contention among the Lebanese. However, his call for nationalism and his vision of a unified Lebanese nation resonates with many who yearn for an end to the deep-seated divisions in the Lebanese Government.
