(Bonn, 25.06.2025) The bishops of The Blessing Church in Mönchengladbach, part of the archdiocese of the India Christian Mission Church for Continental Europe, were honored to be welcomed to an audience with Lord Mayor Felix Wolfgang Heinrichs in the venerable building of Mönchengladbach City Hall. The Metropolitan Archbishop Thomas Paul Schirrmacher, his deputy Bishop Michael Chandrathas, the latter’s father and Honorary Bishop Antony Chandrathas as well as the founder of the largest Tamil-speaking Pentecostal movement, Archbishop Dr. G. A. Antony (Great Britain) with his wife, the evangelist Dr. Mala Antony (both originally from Sri Lanka, now in global leadership roles in London), and other family members took part. The Superintendent of the Gladbach-Neuss church district, Rev. Dietrich Denker, also an honorary bishop of the archdiocese, who had arranged the audience, was unfortunately traveling abroad.
Schirrmacher paid tribute to the political work of the city leader and particularly emphasized his exemplary openness to cultural and religious diversity, which had also led to Mönchengladbach becoming more or less the center of Tamil-speaking Christians from all over continental Europe. The attending clergymen expressed their sincere gratitude for the coexistence and the benevolent attitude of the city leadership.
During the audience, the certificate of appointment as Honorary Archbishop of the Archdiocese of India Christian Mission for Continental Europe was also ceremoniously presented to Archbishop Dr. G. A. Antony by Archbishop Schirrmacher. The certificate of appointment was officially authenticated by the Superintendent of the Gladbach-Neuss church district.
This was followed by an knight’s award ceremony in Mönchengladbach town hall: On behalf of the Christian Arab Royal House of Ghassanids, the Imperial and Royal House of Ghassan, and His Royal Highness Prince Gharios El Chemor of Ghassan Al-Nu’man VIII—who are officially recognized by the government of the Lebanese Republic as the successors of the last kings ruling in Lebanon—Bishop Michael Chandrathas was knighted and awarded the title of Knight Commander of The Equestrian Order of Saint Sergius by Archbishop Thomas Schirrmacher as Protestant Chaplain of the Royal House in the presence of the Lord Mayor. The knightly orders of the Imperial and Royal House of Ghassan go back historically far before the time of the Crusades.
The text of the accompanying certificate reads:
We Al Nu’ man VIII Charios El Chemor
By The Grace of God
Sovereign Prince, Chief of Name and Arms of the Sovereign Imperial and Royal House of Ghassan
The Historical and Legal Representative of the Ghassanid People of All Religions, Whithersoever Dispersed Around The World, Through The Equestrian Order of Saint Sergius Greets and Bestows Upon
Bishop Michael Chandrathas
The Rank, Title and Dignity of Knight Commander With the Adress of Sir.
With All The Rights, Duties and Privileges Appertaining Thereto.
Witnessed and Confirmed Herunto.
Signed with the Great Seal in Beverly Hills, CA, USA, on 25th of April 2025
Downloads and Links:
- Photo 1: Schirrmacher awards Bishop Michael Chandrathas the Order of Knighthood on behalf of His Royal Highness Prince Gharios of Ghassan © Livia Jebamani
- Photo 2: The certificate
- Photo gallery of the event: https://thomasschirrmacher.net/?p=23967
- About The Equestrian Order of Saint Sergius: https://royalhonors.org/order-saint-sergius
- About The Blessing Church Mönchengladbach: https://blessingchurch.de
