At the heart of Holy Week, Antonine University (UA) hosted an Eastern spiritual concert titled “Surely He Took on Our Infirmities” (Isaiah 53:4), presented by the UA Choir at Saint Joseph School – Antoura. Conducted by the Maestro Toufic Maatouk, OAM, the evening brought together a large audience that included public figures, former ministers, artists, journalists, and members of the wider community.

More than a musical performance, the concert unfolded as a moment of prayer and reflection, offering a shared space of contemplation at a time when Lebanon continues to endure profound hardship.

Inspired by the words of the Prophet Isaiah, the concert invited attendees to reflect on the meaning of Christ’s Passion through a carefully curated musical and narrative journey. In a context marked by uncertainty and collective strain, the theme resonated deeply, echoing the lived experience of a community seeking meaning, strength, and hope.

The program drew from the Antonine Maronite tradition, featuring sacred hymns and arrangements by Fathers Boulos Al Achqar, Joseph Waked, Albert Cherfane, and Fady Taouk, alongside arrangements by Italian composer Alberto Maniaci and Charbel Abi Nader. These were interwoven with solo performances by Cesar Naasy, Grace Medawar, and Mira Akiki, creating a rich dialogue between heritage, faith, and artistic expression.

The evening opened with a presentation by media personality Nisrine Zawahra, who set the tone for a contemplative experience that blended music and spoken word. Reflecting on faith and hope, she emphasized that even in times of trial, there remains in Lebanon a deep-rooted belief that rises beyond suffering, just as hope emerges beyond Calvary. The Choir then performed a series of Lenten hymns, including O Holy Mother, Psalm 66 “May God Have Mercy on Us,” and Repent to the Lord, establishing an atmosphere of prayer and reverence.

Throughout the concert, moments of reflection were delivered by artists from across Lebanon, reflecting the country’s rich and diverse cultural and spiritual landscape.

Actor Youssef El Khal offered the first meditation, framing the evening within the solemnity of Holy Week. Through a play on words between “Good Friday” and “Good gathering,” he highlighted both the gravity of the moment and the importance of unity. This was followed by hymns including To You, O Lord, I Lift Up My Soul, O Assembly of the Beloved, and Vain Are the Sons of Adam.

Actor Ammar Chalak continued with a reflection on coexistence and belonging, emphasizing the need to remain united despite differences and reminding the audience that a nation endures only when its people choose, day after day, to remain together. The Choir then performed Mary Arose, With My Voice I Cry to the Lord, and Psalm 22 “My God, Why Have You Forsaken Me?”

Actress Anjo Rihane delivered a moving meditation, presenting hope not as a passing emotion but as a conscious decision to resist despair, and describing resurrection as a daily act of rising again despite loss and fatigue. Her reflection preceded performances of Christ the Savior, the Maronite hymn Let Us Contemplate His Faith, and the Litany of the Passion.

Actor Badih Abou Chakra offered the final meditation, emphasizing that in today’s Lebanon, true victory lies in not losing one another, but in holding on and building together toward a more hopeful future. His words were followed by O My Beloved, bringing the audience into a deeper moment of contemplation.

The evening concluded with a final reflection by Nisrine Zawahra, drawing a powerful parallel between the Cross and the present reality—a nation suspended between suffering and promise. She affirmed that hope is born through perseverance, as the Choir performed the closing hymns, the Litany of the Resurrection and Mubarak, leaving the audience in a spirit of quiet hope and renewal; adamant that suffering isn’t lasting, and that the resurrection of Lebanon is imminent.

More than a concert, this holy evening stood as a space where music, word, and faith converged. It offered the audience a moment to pause, to pray, and to reflect on suffering, redemption, and the enduring possibility of hope.

In times such as these, such moments matter deeply—bringing people together in prayer, in music, and in a shared search for peace.