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Father Ignatios El Khoury, one of the most acclaimed Maronite historians of the 20th century

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Father Ignatios Tannos El Khoury wearing the highest Academic Order of the French Government the “Ordre des Palmes académiques (Order of Academic Palms)” in the rank of officer

Around 300 years ago, His Beatitude Estephan II Boutros El Douaihy, Maronite Patriarch (1630-1704) and one of the most respected Lebanese historians, mentioned the ruling Sheikhs El Chemor in his chronicles about the Maronite history. In 1948, Father Ignatios Tannos El Khoury, one of the most acclaimed and respected Maronite historians of the 20th century, published a historical scientific research about the family called “Sheikhs El Chemor rulers of Akoura (1211-1633) and rulers of Zgharta-Zawyie (1641-1747)”. In this study, Father El Khoury states about the origins of the family El Chemor as being princes from the Ghassanid Royal Family and descending from the last King of Ghassan. That being the reason why they were respected by the Maronites as princes and sovereign rulers. Even regardless of the Ghassanid claim, the El Chemor family is undoubtedly a princely family since their titles didn’t come from any higher authority (prince, King nor emperor). They were sovereign and therefore royal, differently than many Sheikhs in Lebanon who got their titles from the princes that ruled Lebanon as “Ottoman puppets”. Not even those princes were technically sovereign since their power emanated conditionally and exclusively from the Ottoman empire. He also states that the Gharios (Guerios) family from Jbeil and Chiyah in Lebanon was originated from the El Chemor family.

The accounts about the El Chemor/Gharios (Guerios) family were never contested in over 300 years. Not even one line was written against the documents, books or even about the authors. On the contrary, patriarch Douaihy was Blessed by Pope Benedict XVI in 1998 and is in the process of becoming a saint. Father Ignatios had published several historical books published not only in Lebanon but also in Europe and 6 years after the El Chemor scientific study was laureated by the French Government with their highest academic Order, the “Ordre des Palmes académiques (Order of Academic Palms)” in the rank of officer, the second highest. This honor is even higher in precedence than the well known “Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (Order of Arts and Letters)”.

Father Ignatios Khoury has over 35 (thirty five) academic publications plus several peer revised articles and scholarly essays published in renowned magazines and newspapers in Lebanon, other Middle Eastern countries and Europe.

Please, click below to read his academic biography and publications (Original in Arabic)

Father Ignatios Arabic

Please, click below to read his academic biography and publications (English Legal sworn translation)

Father Ignatios Legal English

Please CLICK HERE  for an official 2014’s article (in Arabic) from the Lebanese Government News’s Agency (Lebanese Republic – Ministry of Information) quoting the book about the El Chemor princely family (recognizing the titles and citing some family members) and validating Father Ignatios as an official source.  

Please, click below of the English legal translation of the article

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Recently, Professor Dr. Abbot Antoine Daou, one of the top modern Maronite historians, have confirmed the aforementioned statements in a sworn affidavit.  Prof. Dr. Daou is not only an acclaimed Maronite historian and author of the book “History of the Maronites” (Beirut, 1970) amongst many others, but was graduated by the Pontifical Angelicum University in Rome with Doctorates in Theology and Canon law. He is a siting professor of the La Sagesse University in Lebanon and is the Abbot of the Antoinine Maronite Order. He also serves as the Secretary of the Commission of the Lebanese Bishops’ Conference for Dialogue with Islam.

Prof. Dr. Abbot Daou categorically states that the book about the El Chemor family by Father Ignatios “has been considered as an essential reference of Maronite’s and Lebanon history’s references” and that “no book or criticism has been issued by the Maronite church opposing this chronicling.” About Father Ignatios he states “a well-known historian and writer”.

Please, click here to access the document and the sworn legal translation in English: 

affidavit-professor-dr-antoine-daou

Please, click here to access the document and the sworn legal translation in German: 

affidavit-professor-dr-antoine-daou-german

 

 

Prince Gharios & Royal Family received by the Grand Mufti of Albania

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The Grand Mufti of Albania with HIRH Prince Gharios El Chemor

Last month, HIRH Prince Gharios El Chemor of Ghassan Al-Numan VIII, head of the Royal House of Ghassan and members of the Ghassanid Royal Family were officially received by the Grand Mufti of Albania,  Dr. Skënder Bruçaj, the highest Sunni Muslim authority in the country.

Dr. Bruçaj, born June 22, 1976 in Malësi e Madhe District, is an Albanian Muslim scholar who has been serving as the Grand Mufti (Albanian: Kryemyftiu) of Albania since March 2014. He is also the current head of the Sunni Muslim Community of Albania and had been Director of the Epoka University and Professor at the Bedër University.

HIRH Prince Gharios El Chemor discussed with His Excellency his initiative called “Alliance for Peace” regarding dialogue between Islam and the West, fighting the causes of the growing Islamophobia, receiving full support from the Sunni leader. For his work promoting peace between the religions the Royal House of Ghassan has bestowed upon His Excellency the highest rank of the Order of Saint Michael Archangel.

The delegation was composed by the head of the Royal House of Ghassan HIRH Prince Gharios El Chemor, the honorary head of the House HIRH Prince Cheikh Selim El Chemor, the International Vice-President of Operations and CEO of the Lebanese Branch of the House Sheikh Dr. Elie Gharios, the President of the Royal Ghassanid Academy of Arts and Sciences and Protestant Grand Chaplain of the Royal House of Ghassan Prof. Dr. Dr. Thomas Schirrmacher, PhD, ThD, Mr. Martin Wernecke, knight of the Order of Saint Michael Archangel and Mr. Erion Prendi, the CEO of the Albanian Branch of the Royal House of Ghassan.

 

Ghassanid Royal Family visits Sufi world leader

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HIRH Prince Gharios El Chemor with His Holiness Grandfather Hajji Baba Mondi

Last month, members of the Ghassanid Royal Family  and also board members of the Royal House of Ghassan have visited the world leader of the Bektashi Order of Sufi Islam at their world headquarters in Tirana, Albania.

His Holiness Grandfather Hajji Baba Mondi  (Albanian: Haxhi Baba Edmond Brahimaj) is the world leader of the Bektashi Order or the Bektashi Tariqah (Albanian: Tarikati Bektashi; Turkish: Bektaşi Tarîkatı), a dervish order (tariqat) named after the 13th century Alevi Wali (saint) Haji Bektash Veli from Khorasan, but founded by Balım Sultan. The order is mainly found throughout Anatolia and the Balkans, and was particularly strong in Albania, Bulgaria, and among Ottoman era Greek Muslims from the regions of Epirus, Crete and Macedonia. The order represents the official ideology of Bektashism (Turkish: Bektaşilik).

A large number of academics consider Bektashism to have fused a number of Shia and Sufi concepts, although the order contains rituals and doctrines that are distinct. Throughout its history Bektashis have always had wide appeal and influence among both the Ottoman intellectual elite as well as the peasantry.

The Bektashi have around 150 million followers worldwide and are well-known for promoting inter-religious dialog.

HIRH Prince Gharios El Chemor discussed with His Holiness his ideas about dialogue between Islam and the west, receiving full support from the Sufi leader. For his work promoting peace between the religions the Royal House of Ghassan has bestowed upon His Holiness the highest rank of the Order of Saint Michael Archangel.

The delegation was composed by the head of the Royal House of Ghassan HIRH Prince Gharios El Chemor, the honorary head of the House HIRH Prince Cheikh Selim El Chemor, the International Vice-President of Operations and CEO of the Lebanese Branch of the House Sheikh Dr. Elie Gharios, the President of the Royal Ghassanid Academy of Arts and Sciences and Protestant Grand Chaplain of the Royal House of Ghassan Prof. Dr. Dr. Thomas Schirrmacher, PhD, ThD, Mr. Martin Wernecke, knight of the Order of Saint Michael Archangel and Mr. Erion Prendi, the CEO of the Albanian Branch of the Royal House of Ghassan.

Prince Gharios El Chemor honored by the State of Arkansas

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Certificate of Arkansas’ Goodwill Ambassador signed by the Governor and the Secretary of State

HIRH Prince Gharios El Chemor of Ghassan Al-Numan VIII was honored by the Great State of Arkansas with the honorary title of “Arkansas Traveler” which is the name given to the official Goodwill Ambassadorship of the State.  The beautiful certificate was signed by the Governor Asa Hutchinson and the Secretary of State Mark Martin. The title is the highest honor given to a person not currently living in Arkansas.

The Arkansas Traveler story is connected to Colonel Sanford C. “Sandy” Faulkner, who was very active in Arkansas politics. He was also involved in banking and farming during the 19th century. As oral history has relayed it, Faulkner had gotten lost in the Ozarks during one of his many political campaigns. Looking for a place to stay overnight, Faulkner wandered by a small, log cabin where he was given lodging and hospitality. Faulkner, who was known for retelling of the event, explained that the settler was at first bad tempered and uncommunicative but became more welcoming when Faulkner proved able to complete playing the tune that the settler had been playing on the fiddle. Faulkner’s story of the “Arkansas Traveler” rapidly became part of the state’s folklore.

The award was approved in a resolution by the Arkansas Legislature. The award was created in early 1941 with the first certificate granted May 20, 1941, to President of the United States, Franklin Delano Roosevelt.

Some notable recipients are: US Presidents Franklin D. Roosevelt, Ronald Reagan and Donald Trump. Poet Maya Angelou, Boxer Muhammad Ali, entertainers Garth Brooks, Bob Hope, Gene Autry and Roy Rogers, entrepreneur Steve Forbes, Evangelist Billy Graham, etc.

 

 

Royal Family visits Orthodox Patriarch of Albania

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Last month, members of the Royal Ghassanid Family and board members of the Royal House of Ghassan have visited His Beatitude Patriarch Dr. Anastasios of Tirana, Durrës and All Albania at the headquarters of the patriarchate in Tirana, Albania.

The delegation was composed by the head of the Royal House of Ghassan HIRH Prince Gharios El Chemor, the honorary head of the House HIRH Prince Cheikh Selim El Chemor, the International Vice-President of Operations and CEO of the Lebanese Branch of the House Sheikh Dr. Elie Gharios, the President of the Royal Ghassanid Academy of Arts and Sciences and Protestant Grand Chaplain of the Royal House of Ghassan Prof. Dr. Dr. Thomas Schirrmacher, PhD, ThD, Mr. Martin Wernecke, knight of the Order of Saint Michael Archangel and Mr. Erion Prendi, the CEO of the Albanian Branch of the Royal House of Ghassan.

The Royal House of Ghassan has bestowed upon the Patriarch the highest rank of the Order of Saint Michael Archangel and also the Life Membership in the Royal Ghassanid Academy of Arts and Sciences.

His Beatitude personally took the Royal delegation for a tour to the magnificent headquarters’ facilities of the Autocephalous Greek Orthodox Church of Albania.

The Royal visit was announced on the official website of the Orthodox Church of Albania and also the official website of the Orthodox Church of Serbia.

 

Prince Gharios Foundation in Germany supports construction of a church for Christian refugees

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Dr. h.c. Michael Hesemann, the President of the Prince Gharios Foundation in Germany with Coptic Archbishop Anba Damian

Last April, the Prince Gharios Foundation in Germany (Prinz Gharios Stiftung) helped its first project on German soil: the construction of a church for Christian refugees in the refugee camp near Warburg.

“In charge of the project is His Grace Coptic Archbishop Anba Damian, who has been running the Coptic Orthodox monastery in Brenkhausen for the past 24 years”, said Dr. H.C. Michael Hesemann, the president of the Foundation. His Grace takes care of the refugee camp in which Copts and Syrian Christians live. So far, there has been no way to celebrate the liturgy in the orthodox rite. Now a building is to be renovated and redesigned for this purpose. The concept was welcomed by the board of the Foundation, because of the importance of  allowing Christian refugees to exercise their faith and tradition.

The Prince Gharios foundation, founded in June 2015, is under the Royal House of Ghassan and is dedicated to the Christians of the Middle East – in their old and new home. ” In the orient stood the cradle of our faith. That is why we are associated with them in particular “, explains Dr. Hesemann, a historian and author, “ their tradition is so valuable because it has received the heritage of the first Christians. We must not allow it to fall victim to war and terror.”

The Foundation’s patron, HIRH Prince Gharios El Chemor of Ghassan Al-Numan VIII descends from the El Chemor Sheikhs,  a Christian princely family from Lebanon direct descendants and heirs of the Ghassanid Kings. His ancestors fled to Brazil over a hundred years ago before the genocide of the Ottomans. He’s the head of the Royal House of Ghassan   accredited by the United Nations with the Special Consultative Status.

For The German project, the foundation collected donations at a charity dinner in Zons near Düsseldorf last October and in a Christmas Charity Concert in Campo Santo Tutonico Church in the Vatican last December.

The date when the donation was given was very symbolic and auspicious, the feast of st. Markus, whom the Copts worship as the founder of their church.