His Excellency The Right Reverend Archbishop Prof. Dr. theol. Dr. phil. Thomas Schirrmacher, PhD, ThD, DD, was born June 25, 1960 in Schwelm, Germany, and studied theology, sociology and other subjects in Switzerland, the Netherlands and the USA. He is consecrated in Apostolic succession as a bishop of the (Anglican) Communio Christiana, but no longer with a diocese, but in international ministry in intrafaith and interfaith dialogue.
He earned four doctorates in ecumenical theology, moral theology, in cultural anthropology, and in the sociology of religion and received several honorary doctorates from the USA and India. He is professor of social ethics as well as president of Martin Bucer European Theological Seminary and Research Institutes with branches in Bonn, Berlin, Zurich, Innsbruck, Prague, Tirana, Istanbul and Sao Paolo, Distinguished Professor of Global Ethics and International Development at William Carey University in Shillong (Meghalaya, India), visiting professor of the sociology of religion at the state University of the West in Timisoara (Romania) and director of the International Institute for Religious Freedom (Bonn, Cape Town, Colombo).
Schirrmacher is one of the architects of the first ever document signed by all churches worldwide in 2011 ("Christian Witness in a multi-religious World“, Vatican, world Council of Churches, World Evangelical Alliance) and serves the World Evangelical Alliance, which speaks for 600 million conservative Protestants, as Chair of the Theological Commission and as Moderator of Intrafaith and Interfaith Relations. In this position he regularly visits Pope Francis, the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and most other top leaders of all religions. Schirrmacher has been invited to give guest lectures at more than 100 universities in more than 50 countries and travels to approx 20 countries each year. As President of the International Council of the International Society for Human Rights, he regularly testifies in the parliaments and courts in Europe and the Americas.
His has written over 102 books, his newest including ‘Fundamentalism’, ‘Racism’, Human Rights’, ‚Suppressed Women’, and ‘Human Trafficking’. Archbishop Schirrmacher was elected the Secretary General of the WEA - World Evangelical Alliance in 2020 and is in an absent leave of his position in the order until the end of his WEA's term.
Grand Chaplain of Brazil
His Imperial and Royal Highness Prince Gharios El Chemor of Ghassan, Al-Nu'man VIII (nee. "Ahnume Guerios" the Portuguese transliteration of "Al-Numan Gharios") was born in Curitiba, Brazil in Saint Michael Archangel's Day (September 29th). Descending from saints, emperors, kings, nobles and heroes. His Highness is internationally recognized as the Chief of Name and Arms of the Sovereign Imperial and Royal House of Ghassan. HIRH is the legitimate descendant and heir of the Ghassanid Kings, of The Byzantine Emperors from the Phocid Dynasty and of the Sheiks Chemor of Zgharta. His ancestors ruled until the 18th Century in Mount Lebanon.
The Sovereign Imperial and Royal House of Ghassan is also a non-profit organization dully registered with the Secretary of State of California under the number 3406967. Also, Prince Gharios' rights and titles were recognized by the International Arbitration Award number 0413/2011 that, according with the Brazilian Federal Law number 9307/96 has the very same legal force as a Federal Court Verdict and according to the "1958 NY Convention on Arbitration" is a legal binding court decision in 148 nations in the world. Even being already "res judicata" (matter already judged not subject to appeal) by Brazilian Law, the International Award was recognized and enforced by the Los Angeles Superior Court in February 2012. (Los Angeles Superior Court Case Number BS-135337 of 02/24/2012) and with technical appraisals (sworn affidavits) by Brazilian judges and jurists in 2013. Those legal decisions were recognized by many of the highest political and religious leaders in the Middle East.
In November 2014, the Prince was invested as a Knight in the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulcher of Jerusalem by His Beatitude Msgr. Fouad Twal, the Patriarch of Jerusalem and Grand Prior of the Order. The Order is one of the oldest Orders of Chivalry (founded circa 1099 CE) and is under the Sovereignty of His Holiness Pope Francis. In 2019, was promoted to Knight Commander.
His Imperial and Royal Highness is an awarded writer, scholar, artist, humanitarian and master of martial arts.
The Prince is the "Supremus Imperator et Magnus Magister" (Sovereign Grand Master) of the Sacred Order of Saint Michael Archangel and active in many Charity projects.
More about HIRH Prince Gharios of Ghassan Al-Nu'Man VIII, please CLICK HERE
Grand Chaplain (Protestant)
Dom Roberto Francisco Ferrería Paz is a Catholic bishop, head of the Diocese of Campos, Rio de Janeiro State in Brazil. He did his philosophy studies at the Major Seminary of Our Lady of the Conception in Viamão. Studies of Theology at the Institute of Theology and Religious Studies at the Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul, and also at the Theological Institute of the Archdiocese of Sao Sebastiao do Rio de Janeiro. He obtained a specialization in History at the University of Montevideo, and the Masters in Canon Law at the Archdiocesan Institute of Canon Law of Rio de Janeiro. Moreover, got specializations in Notaries Ecclesiasticus, Catholic Matrimonial Law, further training for judges and Ecclesiastical Courts, Bioethics, Research Ethics, Spirituality, Bioethics and religious traditions. He was ordained priest on December 16, 1989. Was a professor of Canon Law and Ecclesiastical Law of the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul and the Theological Institute of St John Vianney (CETJOV) in Viamão Seminar, 1990-1996. Judge of the Ecclesiastical Tribunal, 1990-2006 and Judicial Vicar of the Regional Interdiocesan Court of Appeal since 2006. He was president of the Archdiocesan Commission for Social Communications. On December 19, 2007 was appointed by Pope Benedict XVI as Auxiliary Bishop of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Niterói with acacia titular. On February 22, 2008 was ordained bishop in the Metropolitan Cathedral of Porto Alegre, by Archbishop Alano Maria Pena. Don Roberto chose as episcopal motto of life: In libertatem vocati estis. On June 8, 2011 Pope Benedict XVI appointed him bishop for the Diocese of Campos.
In Special Consultative Status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council
Grand Chaplain (Catholic)
The Officers
Grand Master
His Excellency Archbishop Maroun Elias Lahham was born in Irbid Jordan, on July 20, 1948. From 1961 to 1972, he completed his philosophical and theological studies at the Latin Patriarchate Seminary in Beit Jala, where he received a bachelor degree in philosophy and theology. He was ordained priest in Jerusalem on June 24, 1972 by Patriarch James Beltritti.
Studied in Rome from 1988 to 1992, earning a doctorate in pastoral theology and catechesis at the Pontifical Lateran University with a thesis: “The Catechesis of Adult in the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem.” He was appointed Director General of the Latin Patriarchate Schools (1992-1994) upon his return to Jerusalem.
He was Rector of the Patriarchal Seminary in Beit Jala from 1994 until his appointment as Bishop of Tunis, on September 8, 2005. He taught Catechesis and Pastoral Theology at the Seminary in Beit Jala, at the Salesian seminary in Cremisan and at the seminary of the Custody of the Holy Land in Jerusalem. He was appointed Archbishop of Tunis in 2010.
The Archbishop is a proud Ghassanid and the Spiritual Director of the Royal House of Ghassan and Spiritual Counsel to the Sovereign Prince of Ghassan. Due to these appointments, His Excellency is "ex-officio" Grad Chaplain of the Order of Saint Michael Archangel.