For the first time in a while, the Lebanese iconic singer Fairouz appeared in a new video posted on her official Twitter page, praying for Lebanon. Fairouz appears to be holding the Book of Psalms in her hands on a red sofa inside her house.
The video was also posted on YouTube on the “Fayrouz Production” page. Rima Rahbani, the daughter of Fayrouz, published it on her Facebook page.
Fairouz does not sing nor chant in the new tape, but only reads from the Book of Psalms. Although previous years witnessed the filming of videos of Fayrouz singing in the Christian Holy Week, her prayers this year anticipated the holy week.
The Psalm she chose seemed to be commensurate with the distress and the global crisis caused by the COVID-19. Fairouz reads: “Psalms 10:1: Why, O LORD, do you stand far away? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?”
The gracious video not only gave Fairouz fans a prayer to hold on to but a small glimpse of Fairouz’s house. Her house, along with most of Fairouz’s personal life, has been surrounded by total secrecy her whole life.
In the video, some of her old pictures rest behind her as she sits near an icon of the Virgin Mary reciting prayers from the Bible. She is seen praying to the Lord for the salvation of the world. Psalm 5:1-3: “Give ear to my words, O LORD, consider my sighing. Listen to my cry for help, my King and my God, for to you I pray.”
There was no direct indication by Fayrouz of the prevailing crisis, which affected most of the countries of the world. The prayers she recited from Psalms seemed carefully selected for this ordeal, concluding her prayer saying: “God is our refuge.”
For many years, Fairouz fans used to watch her hymn on the occasion of Good Friday in one of Lebanon’s churches or monasteries. This year, Fairouz surprised everyone by praying from her home a week prior to the occasion, as if to encourage everyone to “Stay home.”
It is worthy to note that all churches, mosques, and places of worship have been closed in Lebanon to fight the epidemic.
Listen to Fairouz’s touching prayer for Lebanon and the world:
إلهي يُنير ظلمتي ❤️
— فيروز Fairouz (@Fairouzna) April 3, 2020
جديد #فيروز، تصلّي من أجل العالم. pic.twitter.com/wtwFjmGiwt
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