The Roman Catholic Church only recognizes as Orders of Chivalry “per se” the following: the Supreme Order of Christ, the Order of the Golden Spur, the Order of Pius IX, the Order of Saint Gregory the Great, the Order of Saint Sylvester and the oldest one, the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre. In addition to that the Holy See recognizes only the Sovereign Military Order of Malta. Therefore, officially the church doesn’t recognize even historical and very prestigious orders like the Order of the Golden Fleece, the Constantinian Order, etc.  But that doesn’t mean, in any way, that they’re less legitimate.

However, chivalric organizations and associations can be recognized or “erected canonically” by the Holy See according to Canon Law. That’s the only legal recognition an Order outside the aforementioned ones can receive from the Catholic Church. That recognition was bestowed upon the Sacred Order of Saint Michael Archangel – Grand Priory of Brazil on Saint Michael’s day (September 29^th) by Decree of His Excellency Dom Roberto Francisco Ferreria Paz, Diocesan Bishop of Campos in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and also Grand Chaplain of the Order in Brazil. The decree was read during the thanksgiving mass celebrating the Saint Michael Archangel’s feast and HIRH Prince Gharios El Chemor’s 43^rd birthday at the Saint Benedict’s Church in Campos, Brazil.

The Order has many VIP members. Among them, some of the main political and religious leaders in the Middle East like: His All Holiness Bartholomew I the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, His Holiness the Coptic Pope Tawadros II, His Eminence and Beatitude Cardinal Bechara Boutros Rai the Maronite Patriarch, His Excellency Monsignior Maroun Lahham the Archbishop of Jordan, His Excellency Moussa El-Hage the Maronite Archbishop of the Holy Land, etc    See more of the VIP members HERE

Decree granted to the Sacred Order of Saint Michael Archangel – Grand Priory of Brazil