House of Bagrationi of imereti 26 January 2021 

Dear Ronald, Happy New Year and Merry Christmas! I wish success and development to you and the Order in this New year.Best regards, your Prince Irakli Bagrationi.

ძვირფასო რონალდ,გილოცავთ ახალ წელს და გილოცავთ შობას!წარმატებებს და განვითარებას ვუსურვებ თქვენ და ორდენს ახალ წელს.პატივისცემით, თქვენი თავადი ირაკლი ბაგრატიონი.

dzvirpaso ronald,gilotsavt akhal ts’els da gilotsavt shobas!ts’armat’ebebs da ganvitarebas vusurveb tkven da ordens akhal ts’els.p’at’ivistsemit, tkveni tavadi irak’li bagrat’ioni.

We, in the OSMTJ Grand Priory of Lebanon, are helping Christian families in need especially in these difficult times and that our country is facing.

When the Beirut’s explosion struck, we stayed with many families who suffered injuries from the explosion. We work alongside the local residents and deploy our unique volunteer model to enable a direct impact helping families in our Christian community recover by donating school fees, food and advice to help our people. The community we serve is not only vulnerable in terms of natural disasters, but also financially. Thanks to passionate volunteers, donors and partners, we’ve provided nearly two years of support to over 120 families and we also have active programs to help kids develop sports activities around the country

2020.7.14 Potential Anti-Christian events in the Middle East

Dear brothers and sisters knights and dames of the Ordre Souverain et Militaire du Temple de Jerusalem,

Two recent attacks on Christianity by governments in the Middle East have come to our attention. First, the statement by the President of the Republic of Turkey to allow the most holy Christian site of the ancient Hagia Sofia (officially the Great Mosque of Ayasofya) to be reconverted to religious use as a Mosque. This imposing edifice, completed in 537 AD under the Emperor Justinian I in the center of the Turkish capitol of Istanbul/Constantinople, was converted to a museum by Kemal Ataturk in 1936, in order to preserve its importance to Christian and Muslim worshippers. Opening the Hagia Sophia as a Mosque, even though open to visitors of all faith, places a chill on the practice of Christianity and may portend further limitations on Christian sites in Turkey. We strongly oppose making this simple of Christianity into a sole religious site for the Muslim religion.

Further, developments in Jerusalem around the Jaffa Gate, based on a court decision, have the potential to obstruct the Christian pilgrim route and weaken the Christian presence in Jerusalem. As with the cased of the Hagia Sofia, this court decision not only affects the Greek Orthodox Church which claims ownership of the gate and its surrounding structures, but it may also disturb peaceful nature coexistence among the multiple Christian and Muslim communities in Israel. OSMTJ strongly supports the attached joint plea of the several Christian Patriarchs resident in Jerusalem.

General Ronald S. Mangum, Master, OSMTJ 

PATRIARCHS AND HEADS OF LOCAL CHURCHES OF JERUSALEM

Joint Statement from the Patriarchs and Heads of Churches in Jerusalem

We, the Heads of the Churches […]

2020.June.25 Forward Look

Dear Noble Grand Priors,

One of your compatriots asked about my plans for the growth of our Order and I thought that it is a good time to update my current and future priorities. We continue to grow; now we can count 36 national entities in the Order. As you know, our Grand Secretary General is in the process of conducting a census of our members so that we know how many members we have and where they are located. When we find “holes” where we have few members, we can develop strategies to increase membership in those areas. I am foremost concerned that we attract quality members who will actively promote our aims and not just increase the quantity of members. By encouraging each Grand Prior to conduct visible humanitarian activities we will  increase the prestige of the Order and therefore increase our membership. This will take time, but it is necessary to sustain a permanent growth.

In addition to conducting our “census” of members, I am putting better business practises in place. We need to begin collecting funds at the international level to handle expenses and to plan for further expansion. I do not see that we need much money, but right now everything is done from our own pockets. I am looking for a Grand Treasurer and will open a banking connection for the Order so that money can be transferred electronically.

Our Grand Almoner is currently collecting information on the humanitarian and charitable activities of each Grand Priory. It is important to capture this information so that we can inform the public, government agencies and religious groups of our activities to increase our visibility and recognition in social circles.We also need […]

The OSMTJ is especially proud to announce the promotion of Philippe Ghostine Matta, to Grand Prior of Lebanon!

Philippe was born in Beirut on January 21st, 1966, and graduated in Business Administration at the American University of Beirut. He’s married with two daughters and one son. Professionally, Philippe is chairman of Mabco Trading & Contracting in Lebanon and Rigotherm Pipes and Fittings in Lebanon and Brazil.

Philippe holds 12 diplomas in teaching tennis, Clinician/Tester at the Modern Tennis Methodology, also a USPTA and PTR professional. All three are American Associations, and a.+ GPTCA B level coach. He organizes many Tennis Workshops.

Philippe is finds his greatest joy in teaching others and being a professor and a mentor to so many.

New Grand Prior of Italy Appointed!

Grand Prior Edgardo Marziani

The Master of the OSMTJ, General Ronald Mangum, has appointed our incredible Brother Edgardo Marziani, to be the new Grand Prior of Italy! 

Edgardo well deserves this accolade as he has had a distinguished career and for so many years, has been a Templar committed to our vows of Knighthood of defending those who can’t defend themselves. Master Ronald Mangum wrote, “I am so pleased to announce the formation of The Grand Priory of Italy,under the intelligent and Godly Grand Prior Edgardo Marziani!”

You can learn more about our Christian Brother from his page here: https://www.facebook.com/edgardo.marziani Please help us congratulate our Brother and share this post on your page!

Grand Prior Edgardo Marziani

Traducción Española

¡El Maestro de la OSMTJ, General Ronald Mangum, ha nombrado a nuestro increíble Hermano Edgardo Marziani, para ser el nuevo Gran Prior de Italia!

Edgardo bien merece este reconocimiento, ya que ha tenido una carrera distinguida y durante tantos años, ha sido un templario comprometido con nuestros votos de Caballería de defender a aquellos que no pueden defenderse. El Maestro Ronald Mangum escribió: “Estoy muy contento de anunciar la formación del Gran Priorato de Italia, ¡bajo el inteligente y piadoso Gran Prior Edgardo Marziani!

Puede obtener más información sobre nuestro Hermano cristiano en su página aquí: https://www.facebook.com/edgardo.marziani ¡Por favor ayúdenos a felicitar a nuestro Hermano y comparta esta publicación en su página!

Grand Prior Edgardo Marziani

Dear Templar Brothers and Sisters, I have promised to establish bridges to the Other Templar obediences, and I have just received the following message from Brother Dom Albino Neves, the Master of the OSMTHMM. I look forward to working with Dom Albino to make our Order stronger.Ronald S. Mangum, Master, OSMTJ

———————– From Grand Master Albino Neves ———————–

“Dear Brother Master of OSMTHJ Brigadier General Ronald Mangum,

I recently learned from members of our Council about the attacks suffered by you our noble Brother, incoherently and inconsistently made by people who do not deserve credibility, since their works are insignificant and do not represent a fraction of the works carried out and developed by Brother Ronald throughout his professional and military life and as a Knight of the Order of the Temple.

We at OSMTH Magnum Magisterium hereby present our solidarity with Brother Mangum, who has long kept side by side in the ranks of the Temple. We believe that man is not what he claims to be but is known by the works he performs. It is common for mediocre men to criticize the works of others, as this is their way of making themselves appear greater. In Brazil it is said that “dogs bark and the caravan passes” and I can assure you that we have found this to be true over time. As the First non-European OSMTH Magnum Magisterium Grand Master in 900 years, I felt the first moments the dissatisfaction of some even before the death of Grand Master Dom Fernando de Sousa Fontes (in memoriam), who were already cheating, showing infidelity and lack of character and that, even without having works to be presented they thought it was their right […]

Magistral Council Announced!

January 4th, 2020, Chicago – The new Magistral Council of the Ordre Souverain et Militaire Du Temple de Jérusalem (OSMTJ), has been named by his Supreme Excellency, Master of the Order, General Mangum:

Grand Chancellor: H.E. Bryant Jones, Grand Prior of the USA,Grand Seneschal: H.E. Jean-louis Lams – Grand Prior of BelgiumGrand Commander: H.E. Keven Ellis – Grand Prior of CanadaGrand Marshall: H.E. Elisabeth Steen – Grand Prior of NorwayGrand Secretary General Emeritus: H.E. Daithi O’Briain – Grand Prior of IrelandGrand Almoner: H.E. Slobodan Traparic – Grand Prior of SerbiaGrand Historian: H.E. Jeong Gustavo – Grand Prior of Argentina. . Grand Chaplain – H.E. Caesar Johnson – Grand Seneschal USA

These appointments and promotions were just the first wave made by S.E., General Ronald Mangum, Master of the Order. The future will hold a second wave of promotions at his discretion. Leaders reacted with elation at this new Council that more fairly represented the world than the previous one.

These are exciting times for the OSMTJ Order! Finally the election of a Master has come. Cast your vote today by reading the instructions here: http://osmtj.net/election/

From ancient times, the Templars have the right to choose their own Master by the votes of the majority.

A Majority of the most senior Grand Priors have called for this election legitimizing our right to finally choose our own Master of the Order.

By its very definition, a “Regent” is the temporary leader of the OSMTJ until a Master of the Order can be elected. The current OSMTJ Rules requires a Regent to hold an election to select a new master within 6 months after a master leaves office. Nicolas has held the position of Regent for about 22 years and has never taken a step to select a Master of the Order. We are the only branch of Templarism that does not have a master. Consequently the senior Grand Priors of the Order are taking this action to select a Master for the Order.

Every Grand Prior has the right to be a candidate for Master by emailing: info@OSMTJ.net

Every Grand Prior may vote for the candidate of their choice by emailing: info@OSMTJ.net