During the Ecumenical Prayer Service’s reception cohosted by the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America and In Defense of Christians (IDC), the nation’s leading advocacy organization for Christians and religious minorities in the Middle East and Africa, HRH Prince Gharios El Chemor met with His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros (Lambriniadis) of America, Most Honorable Exarch of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, (the eighth Archbishop of America elected since the establishment of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese in 1922) The event took place at Saint Sophia Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Washington, DC on last July 14.

Below some candid moments with His Eminence and His Excellency Prof. Dr. Thomas Schirrmacher, Secretary General of the WEA – World Evangelical Alliance

HRH Prince Gharios El Chemor joined spiritual leaders representing Christians and Muslims from around the world in the Masjid Muhammad, the Nation’s Mosque, in Washington, DC on July 13 to discuss relations between the two communities and celebrate the launch of a book titled, God Needs No Defense: Reimagining Muslim – Christian Relations in the 21st Century. More details here

The volume 46, number 46 of the Muslim Journal, America’s largest Muslim newspaper, featured the prince’s participation on the aforementioned event.

You may download the Muslim journal’s full edition here

HRH Prince Gharios E Chemor joined In Defense of Christians (IDC), the nation’s leading advocacy organization for Christians and religious minorities in the Middle East and Africa, for an Ecumenical Prayer Service with the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America at Saint Sophia Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Washington, DC on last July 14.

The Ecumenical Prayer Service fell on the one-year anniversary of the reconversion of the Hagia Sophia cathedral in Istanbul, Turkey, into a mosque, and solemnly commemorated the event.

Hagia Sophia (/ˈhɑːɡiə soʊˈfiːə/; (Turkish: Ayasofya, Koinē Greek: Ἁγία Σοφία, romanized: Hagía Sophía; Latin: Sancta Sophia, lit. ‘Holy Wisdom‘), a Late Antiqueplace of worship in Istanbul, designed by the Greek geometers Isidore of Miletus and Anthemius of Tralles. Built in 537 as the patriarchal cathedral of the imperial capital of Constantinople, it was the largest Christian church of the eastern Roman Empire (the Byzantine Empire) and the Eastern Orthodox Church, except during the Latin Empire from 1204 to 1261, when it became the city’s Latin Catholic cathedral. In 1453, after the Fall of Constantinople to the Ottoman Empire, it was converted into a mosque. In 1935, the secular Turkish Republic established it as a museum. In 2020, it controversially re-opened as a mosque.

Various Christian traditions were represented at the Ecumenical Prayer Service including Archbishop Thomas Schirrmacher, the Secretary General of the WEA – World Evangelical Alliance, the second largest Christian organization in the world with 600 million members.

You may watch the ecumenical service below:

The One Voice Foundation, an inter religious arm of the Royal House of Ghassan, was officially launched in Beirut, Lebanon, yesterday. Unfortunately, due to Covid-19 travel restrictions, HRH Prince Gharios El Chemor, the foundation’s co-founder and chairman, couldn’t attend.

The Foundation launched its first social activity with an intellectual symposium entitled “Lebanon One Living: Uniqueness and Challenges”, in which Judge Dr. Abbas Al-Halabi, Dr. Harith Suleiman, Dr. Ahmed Al-Zoubi and researcher Ziad Al-Sayegh, and moderated by lawyer Rola Elia .

The seminar, was held yesterday at the Monastery of Our Lady of the Bir. Bqania, with a speech by the association’s president, Antoine Kalajian, in which defined the association’s goals and plans for social, civil and cultural development, and building active and responsible citizenship in a civil state.

More info: http://www.onevoicechristians.org/

HRH Prince Gharios El Chemor joined spiritual leaders representing Christians and Muslims from around the world in the Masjid Muhammad, the Nation’s Mosque, in Washington, DC on July 13 to discuss relations between the two communities and celebrate the launch of a book titled, God Needs No Defense: Reimagining Muslim – Christian Relations in the 21st Century.

The main organizations behind the event were Indonesia’s Nahdlatul Ulama, the world’s largest Muslim organization; and the World Evangelical Alliance, a network of churches which represent 600 million evangelical Christians, lead by Dr. Thomas Schirrmacher, Secretary General/CEO of the World Evangelical Alliance, currently the second Christian leader in the world, second only to the Catholic Pope.

Imam Talib M. Shareef, President of the Masjid Muhammad, the organization hosting the event, pointed to the fact that “We are one human family under Almighty God” as a reason to recast Muslim-Christian relations, which have been strained by various conflicts in history.

The event closed with a signing of the Nation’s Mosque Statement by representatives of the three sponsoring organizations, HRH Prince Gharios El Chemor, the only secular Christian leader in the Middle East with historical legitimacy (according to the Global Imams Council, the largest non-governmental body of Muslim leaders) and other religious leaders in the audience.

The statement reads: “Spiritual leaders of Indonesia’s Nahdlatul Ulama, the world’s largest Muslim organization; the World Evangelical Alliance which represents 600 million protestants in 140 countries; and Masjid Muhammad, The Nation’s Mosque, a community of the late Imam W. Deen Mohammed, in Washington, DC, the first mosque in the United States built by descendants of enslaved African Americans, call upon people of good will of every faith and nation to join in building a global alliance founded upon shared civilizational values. This global alliance seeks to prevent the political weaponization of identity, curtail the spread of communal hatred, promote solidarity and respect among the diverse people, cultures, and nations of the world, and foster the emergence of a truly just and harmonious world order founded upon respect for the equal rights and dignity of every human being.”

We believe that the endless and unfruitful debate about the merit of “who has more right to the land” or the continuation of the “blame game” will only assure the prolongation of the hostilities and destruction. Both Palestinians and Israelis are entitled to have their land, their country and their dignity. However, that should not, in any way, shape or form, be achieved at the expense of the other side’s suffering and demise. We unrestrictedly condemn any violence against civilians and any violations of international law. We strongly support the peaceful dialogue and the urgent final resolution of this terrible ongoing suffering for Palestinians and Israelis.

HRH Prince Gharios El Chemor of Ghassan Al-Numan VIII

Head of the Sovereign Imperial and Royal House of Ghassan

Due to the recent events involving the Jordanian Royal Family and high Jordanian officials, in the name of the Royal House of Ghassan, I’d like to reinstate our full support and appreciation to His Majesty King Abdullah II, his leadership and vision. May God Bless and Protect Jordan, his king and people!

HRH Prince Gharios El Chemor of Ghassan Alnuman VIII

Head of the Sovereign Imperial and Royal House of Ghassan

The prince of Ghassan started in the martial arts (Judo) with only 4 years old, initially forced by his father. After that, fell in love with the Asian culture and all its aspects.
Studied also Kung Fu, several styles of Karate, European fencing, Japanese swordsmanship, Jiu-Jistu, Kali Silat, Kobudo and his passion, the Aikido.

In 1992 received his first black belt and founded the Shinken Institute, active until 2017 operating schools of Aikido and Japanese Culture in five cities in Brazil.
One of the masters who most influenced him was Steven Seagal being Seagal’s direct disciple, business associate and personal friend for 5 years (1997-2002). Gharios was the only teacher in South America to have such a relationship directly with Seagal.

Steven Seagal, well known star of Hollywood is also a master of various martial arts styles and 7th. degree black belt in Aikido, and was (before the fame) the first Westerner to own and operate a school on Japanese soil.

Was pioneer, being personally responsible for the promotion of Aikido (Aikikai) in Curitiba (Parana, Brazil) from 1991 until 2010. Is responsible for forming dozens of black-belt instructors that are active today all over Brazil.

Holds the 5th (fifth) Dan (degree black belt) in Aikido (certified by the Aikikai Foundation in Tokyo, Japan) and also holds black belts in Karate and Kobudo (Japanese weapons). More info here

The prince is also a classically trained actor and director with over 300 credits in theater, movies and television since 1994. Is proudly a SAG- Screen Actors Guild actor since 2010. More info here

Today, it was announced by Dr Robert Goldman that the prince will receive the ICON Awards at the AOF Action on Film Festival this July 30/31 in Las Vegas. Over 850 movies will be screened for awards with celebs and Hollywood elite from around the world. Other inductees are: action star Michael Jai White, Olivier Gruner, Sasha Mitchell, Gillian White. Over a dozen simultaneous International film festivals in one, so a mega event honoring 2 years of competitors for 2020/2021. Annual stellar life experience. More info here

Today it was officially announced that HRH Prince Gharios El Chemor of Ghassan Al-Nu’man VIII was appointed as the Secretary General of the FIMO (International Monarchical Forum) Since last year, the prince was already representing the forum as the head to the United States and Lebanon delegations. The Forum’s initiative was founded by the Monarchical Union of Spain presided by Don Joaquin Corominas.
The Forum aims to bring together all the world’s monarchists and all the monarchist movements, related Associations and non-governmental and governmental institutions of all countries. Promoting the Monarchy, its History and culture, through International Conferences, Forums and Summits. Currently, FIMO has delegations from over 30 countries. The events first edition to be held in São Paulo, Brazil in 2021.

The Kingdom of Sefwi Obeng-Mim is a ruling subnational monarchy in the North western region of the Republic of Ghana. Yesterday, HRH Prince Gharios El Chemor of Ghassan Al-Nu’man VIII and His Majesty King Oheneba Nana Kwame Obeng II signed an agreement of mutual recognition and friendship between the Royal House of Ghassan and the Royal House of Sefwi Obeng-Mim.