Prince Gharios El Chemor of Ghassan Al-Numan VIII
| Gharios El Chemor Al-Numan VIII | |
|---|---|
| Prince of Ghassan | |
| Head of the House of Ghassan | |
| Predecessor | Cheikh Antonios bin Mikhael El Chemor |
| Born | 29 September 1973 Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil |
| Spouse |
Cristin Al-Numan El Chemor
(m. 2023) |
| House | House of Ghassan |
| Father | Carlos Roberto Gharios (El Chemor) |
| Mother | Sylvia Regina Baccin Gharios (El Chemor) |
| Religion | Roman Catholic |
Gharios El Chemor Al-Numan VIII (né Ahnume Guerios, born 29 September 1973) is the claimant to the defunct throne of Ghassan and the Head of the Royal House of Ghassan.
The Royal House of Ghassan has been accredited by the UN with Special Consultative Status since 2016, [1] with Gharios' claim to the headship of the house being recognized by the Global Imams Council since 2020[2] and by Dr. Joseph Albert Kechichian, one of the leading scholars in Arabic royal succession.[3] Gharios is also the only secular Christian leader from the Middle East recognized by multiple entities of different backgrounds.[4] The Royal House of Ghassan is legally authorized to operate in Lebanon[5][6] by Presidential decree 5,800/2019[7] and by the Lebanese Ministry of Interior and Municipalities General Directorate of Political Affairs and Refugees – Number: 814/4/2022.
Martial arts[edit]
Gharios started practicing martial arts at the age of four with Judo. He was initially forced by his father, but soon started appreciating martial arts and Asian culture more generally. Later he also practiced Kung Fu, Karate, European Fencing, Japanese swordsmanship, Jiu-Jistu, Kali Silat, Kobudo and Aikido.[8]
He started Aikido in 1986 and became an instructor for beginners in 1991. He received the black belt in 1992, being registered in Japan in 1993. In the same year he founded the Shinken Institute, active until 2017, operating schools of Aikido and Japanese Culture in five Brazilian cities.
Gharios was a direct disciple and business associate of Steven Seagal from 1997 to 2002.[9]
Between 2003 and 2017, Gharios was a direct student of Yoshimitsu Yamada Sensei 8o.Dan (one of the few direct disciples of the founder of Aikido Morihei Ueshiba). Gharios was responsible for the Aikido (Aikikai) in Curitiba (Parana, Brazil) from 1991 until 2010.
In 2017, he created the “Bruce Lee Award”, proposing it to the Asian World Film Festival. The award was finally adopted in 2022 by the festival and the Bruce Lee Foundation. The trophy was designed by Sir Daniel Winn.[10]
Writer[edit]
In 2012, Gharios published Dynastic & Nobility Law - The End of a Myth,[11] regarding the laws of nobility, titles and royalty.
In 2014, the prince won the 21st international cultural award given by the regions of Trentino, Abruzzo and Alto Adige (Italian Government) in the history category for his book Middle East - The Secret History and Possible Solutions.[12] He was the first Arab winner in over 20 years.[13]
Charity[edit]
Heavily influenced by his family, especially his grandmother, Gharios has always been interested in charity, volunteering in several non-profit organizations, both in Brazil and the United States.[14]
In 2016 Michael Hesemann founded the Prinz Gharios Stiftung, a non-profit organization based in Germany that aims support Christians in the Middle East, "to provide care, education and training for Christian war orphans, to support persecuted and expelled Christians, and to preserve and promote the culture of oriental Christianity of all denominations."[15]
In 2019, Gharios and his supporters started the "One Voice for Christians" initiative, presided by Antoine Kalaydjian with a board composed by Dr. Joseph Albert Kechichian, Michael Hesemann, Khalil Melhem and Thomas Schirrmacher.[16] The initiative is supported by several religious leaders, including His Holiness Aram I[17] and Paul Youssef Matar.
Most recently, Gharios created World Evolution initiative, which aims to address three major global issues: hunger, “green wealth” and education.[18]
Dynastic orders[edit]
In 2008, when Gharios assumed the headship of the Royal House, he created the first dynastic order, called "Sacred Order of Saint Michael Archangel", which was later renamed to "Equestrian Order of Michael Archangel".
The order was granted to and accepted by Bujar Nishani, former president of Albania, in a special private meeting at the presidential palace in 2017.[19][20][21] The order was also granted to Aram I,[17] the head of the Holy See of Cilicia, in 2018. Other notable members include former Minister of Technology of Brazil and astronaut Marcos Pontes, Hajji Baba Mondi[22] and Prince Leka II of the Albanians.
In 2023 Gharios created two new orders, the Order of Saint Sergius (the patron saint of the Ghassanids) and the Order of Christ Pantokrator, which will be limited to 100 members.
The House of Ghassan had its Fons Honorum recognized by the Augustan Society.[23]
It is argued that the Ghassanids were one of the first Christian Knights,[24][25] fighting to protect the Holy Land under the Byzantine Empire, roughly 500 years before the First Crusade. They were the first Christian combatants to incorporate a code of honour, equivalent to a "chivalric code". The Ghassanid code of honour was based on the Arab concept of "Muru'a", which had basic principles very similar to what later became a synonym of chivalry (bravery in combat, respect for woman, protection of the weak, and honour). Since the Ancient Ghassanids were not organized in Orders, these dynastic orders do not claim to be a succession or a continuation of any ancient order.
Notable public figures who have received honors and orders from the Royal House of Ghassan since 2016, from the Royal House Gazette:
- Pope Francis, Supreme Pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church, Patriarch of Rome, and Sovereign of the Vatican City State
- President Gen Michel Aoun of Lebanon
- President Bujar Nishani of Albania
- Sheikha Hend bint Faisal Al-Qasimi, Princess of Sharjah, UAE
- Leka, Prince of Albania
- Bartholomew I, The Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople
- Tawadros II, the Coptic Orthodox Pope of Alexandria
- Cardinal Bechara Boutros Rai, the Maronite Patriarch of Antioch
- Catholicos Aram I, Armenian Orthodox Patriarch of Cilicia
- Thomas Schirrmacher, Secretary General of the World Evangelical Alliance
- Cardinal Kurt Och, President of the Pontifical Council for Christian Unity
- Sri Sri Gurudev Ravi Shankar (spiritual leader), Hindu
- Senator Marcos Pontes, Minister of Technology and NASA astronaut of Brazil
- Elie Abadie, Senior Rabbi of the Jewish Council of the Emirates in the UAE
- Patriarch Anastasios of Albania
- Roberto Ferreria Pax, Bishop of Campos, Rio de Janeiro
- Baba Mondi, Bektashi Order of Sufi Islam
- Cardinal Leonardo Sandri, Prefect Emeritus of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches
- Anba Damian, General Bishop of the Coptic Orthodox Church in Germany
- Archbishop Angaelos, General Bishop of the Coptic Orthodox Church in the United Kingdom
- Maroun Elias Nimeh Lahham, Archbishop of Jordan
- Payl Mattar, Maronite Archbishop of Beirut
- Moussa El-Hage, Maronite Archbishop of the Holy Land
- Edgard Madi, Maronite Archbishop of Brazil
- Guillermo Karcher, Pontifical Secretary of Protocol
- Jean Makaron, ambassador of Lebanon
- Nasser Ahmad Abdel Karim Al-Lozi, Jordanian Minister and King's Chief of Staff
- Nidal Qatamin, Minister of Labour, Jordan
- Michael Hesemann, author, journalist, and Vatican historian of Germany
- Adel Tweissi, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Jordan
- Rahmi Yaran, The Grand Mufti of Istanbul
- Skender Brucaj, The Grand Mufti of Albania
- Aqel Biltaji, The Lord Mayor of Amman, Jordan
- Munther Haddadin, senator and diplomat, Jordan
- Sheikh Ahmed Al-Kubaisi, spiritual advisor to Sheikh Mohammed Al-Maktoum of Dubai
- Nadia Hashem, journalist and first Minister of State for Women's affairs, Jordan
- Shariffa Bdour, Royal Hashemite Family
- Mikel Mounir, founder of the Al-Haya Party, Egypt
- Professor Zaki Akel Sobrinho, Federal University of Parana, Brazil
- Art Camacho, US film director, producer, actor, and stuntman
- Robert M. Goldman, MD, Antiaging and Sports Medicine Pioneer
- Kiều Chinh, Vietnamese film director, producer, actor, and philanthropist
- Ajahn Acharavadee Wongsakon, Thai Buddhist Master
- Rezkall Tuma, President of the Arab Federation of Brazil
- Dan Inosanto, American Martial Arts Instruction
- Ney Leprevost, Senator, Brazil
- Romeu Tuma, Senator, Brazil
- Yahya Cholil Staquf, politician and cleric, Indonesia
- Major General (ret) William D. Razz Waff, US Dept of Army and Episcopal Priest, USA
Honours and awards[edit]
Honours[edit]
Dynastic honours[edit]
Royal House of Ghassan: Grand-Master of the Equestrian Order of Christ Pantokrator;
Royal House of Ghassan: Grand-Master of the Equestrian Order of Saint Sergius;
Royal House of Ghassan: Grand-Master of the Equestrian Order of Michael Archangel;
Foreign honours[edit]
- Knight of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem (2014);[26]
- Dragomanov Medal of European Communication, The National Pedagogical Dragomanov University in Kiev, Ukraine (2017);[26]
- Knight Commander of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem (2019);[26]
- Grand Cross of the Most Honourable Order of Omukama Chwa II Kabalega (2020);[26]
- Grand Collar of the Royal Order of Obeng II (2021);[27]
Awards[edit]
- Kentucky Colonel (2012);[26]
- AOF Icon Award (2021);
- International Sports Hall of Fame (2022);[28]
- Listed in the Marquis Who's Who in America (2023);[29]
References[edit]
- ^ "Consultative Status - UN". Retrieved 2023-07-11.
- ^ "GIC0072020 - A statement on the sovereignty of the Ghassanid Kingdom" (PDF). Retrieved 2023-06-21.
- ^ "Eine kurze Geschichte der Ghassaniden". Retrieved 2023-07-11.
- ^ "Global Imams Council builds bridges with all religions". Retrieved 2023-07-11.
- ^ "Who are the Ghasasina, whose association will be officially launched in Lebanon in a few days? (in Arabic)". Retrieved 2023-07-07.
- ^ "Aoun congratulated Macron and received Lahham: Lebanon and France will continue to work together for stability in the Middle East and the world". Retrieved 2023-07-10.
- ^ "Sworn translation of the Lebanese Presidential decree 5,800/2019" (PDF). Retrieved 2023-07-06.
- ^ "Royalty is About Serving". Retrieved 2023-07-11.
- ^ "Sensei Page - Shinken Institute". Retrieved 2023-07-04.
- ^ "Festival Awards - Asian World Film Festival". Retrieved 2023-09-26.
- ^ El Chemor, Gharios. Dynastic & Nobility Law - The End of a Myth. Lulu Enterprises Incorporated. ISBN 1105183823.
- ^ El Chemor, Gharios. Middle East - The Secret History and Possible Solutions. Tate Publishing & Enterprises, LLC. ISBN 9781634495080.
- ^ "Bolzano. Gli scrittori Del Zoppo e Ghassan Al-Nu'Man si aggiudicano il Premio Culturale Internazionale Abruzzo-Trentino Alto Adige, 21ª Edizione 2014. Per la prima volta premiato uno scrittore arabo". Retrieved 2023-08-08.
- ^ "Humanitarian - Prince Gharios". Retrieved 2023-07-04.
- ^ "Über Uns - Prinz Gharios Stiftung (In German)". Retrieved 2023-07-04.
- ^ "About Us - One Voice foor Christians". Retrieved 2023-07-04.
- ^ a b "His Holiness Aram I received prince Gharios El Chemor of Ghassan Al-Numan VIII". Retrieved 2023-07-04.
- ^ "How "the greatest, never-heard-of-before dynasty" is helping to create a better world". Retrieved 2023-07-11.
- ^ "Translation of the letter from President Bujar Nishani addressing Gharios El Chemor and the Order". Retrieved 2023-07-06.
- ^ "Letter from President Bujar Nishani addressing Gharios El Chemor and the Order, in Albanian". Retrieved 2023-07-06.
- ^ "Presidenti Nishani priti Princin Gharios El-Chemor of Ghassan Al-Nu'Man VIII". Archived from the original on August 17, 2017. Retrieved 2023-07-06.
- ^ "Ghassanid Royal Family visits Sufi world leader". Retrieved 2023-07-06.
- ^ "Recognized Fontes Honorum". Retrieved 2023-11-21.
- ^ Shahîd, Irfan. Byzantium and the Arabs in the Sixth Century. Vol. 1. Dumbarton Oaks Research Library and Collection. ISBN 9780884022145.
- ^ Shahîd, Irfan. Byzantium and the Arabs in the Sixth Century. Vol. 2. Dumbarton Oaks Research Library and Collection. ISBN 9780884023470.
- ^ a b c d e "Honors - Prince Gharios". Retrieved 2023-07-03.
- ^ "Royal Order of Obeng II". Retrieved 2023-07-03.
- ^ "Class of 2022 - Inductees". Retrieved 2023-07-05.
- ^ "HIRH Prince Gharios El Chemor of Ghassan Al Nu'man VIII Lauded for Excellence in Diplomacy". Retrieved 2023-07-03.
External link[edit]
"Sovereign Imperial Royal House of Ghassan". royalghassan.org. Retrieved 5 March 2024.
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