Metropolitan Archdiocese of the Americas, Europe,
Australia, Africa and In Partibus Infidelium of
The Spanish Orthodox Church EACS/Orthodox Catholic Church
and Allied Jurisdictions

You can be a knight and you don't need to be of royal blood.

Metropolitan Archbishop David L. CooperIt is a little known fact that there have been Orders of Knighthood that did not require royal blood for many centuries. Many of these Religious Orders of Chivalry are in existence today. They tend to be difficult to get initiated into. Many of these Religious Military Orders of Chivalry have their origins in the medieval Catholic Church. A few examples of these Catholic Orders are:

The Order of the Knights Templar, founded in 1118 and confirmed by Pope Honorius II in 1123 The Knights Hospitalers (Also known as the Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of St. John of Jerusalem, Of Rhodes And of Malta; Hospitallers of St. John of Jerusalem: Order of the Knights of Rhodes and other names over the centuries)

Orders of Knighthood:

Other true Orders of Knighthood include:

• The Supreme Order of Christ
• The Order of the Golden Spur
• Order of Pius IX
• The Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulcher
• Order of St Gregory the Great
• Order of St. Sylvester Pope and Martyr
• The Sacred Military Constantinian Order of St. George
• The Teutonic Order

These are not fraternal organizations but are true Orders of Knighthood. Many of them exist today. Some of them are purely awarded by the Pope--not the Vatican.

Metropolitan Archbishop David L. CooperCurrently, there are bishops and archbishops that are Priors or Grand Priors of Orders of Knighthood. We know that Christ's priesthood is a "royal priesthood" from the Bible. Real Bishops carry a historically traceable unbroken lineage from the Holy Apostles of Christ. Historically, bishops have appointed their captains of the guard and controlled knights.

Historically, Religious Military Orders were completely independent of the secular royal houses in many cases.

It is evident that a valid Bishop of God can establish and name a Religious Military Order of Chivalry. This is what we have done. We have instituted this upon the ancient and well established authority of a Bishop of the Holy Church--who with his brother bishops--carries the nearly 2,000 year old Apostolic Succession.

Metropolitan Archbishop David L. Cooper
Metropolitan Archbishop SOC EACS and Allied Jurisdictions
Prelate of the Sacred Magistery, Knights of God of the Archdiocese of Religious Military Orders of Chivalry (SOC EACS)
Chaplain Prelate (Ecclesiastical Grand Cross Chaplain) and Spiritual Prior for The Order of St. Maria of Jerusalem (Teutonic Order) of the House of Antioch and Svevia
Archbishop of the Sovereign Imperial and Royal House of Gharios and Ghassan
Honorary Chaplain of the Royal House of Malkhut Beit David - Settimo and Maestrich
Grand Cross of the Order of the Imperial Eagle of Lagash
Archbishop Affiliated with the Communion of Autocephalous Ecclesiastical Jerusalemite and Primitive.(Holy Throne Primate)
Grand Cross of the Order of Merit Scientific Theology
Duke of Lachish, Count of Ramatayim
Metropolitan Archbishop David L. Cooper of the Royal House_of Gharios and Ghassan
Metropolitan Archbishop David L. Cooper The Sacred Order_of The Knights of God and the Archdiocese of Religious Military Orders of Chivalry
Spiritual Grand Prior and Grand Cross Chaplain of the Regional Commandery of Europe
Archbishop for the Barony and Noble House of Malinovka
Duke of Souanek
Knight Grand Officer in the Venerable Order of the Knights of Occitanie

Our founder, the late Patriarch Georgius Alexis I (Archbishop George Bussman, SGS) not only passed on the Apostolic Succession along with his brother bishops, but specifically granted his "son in God" Archbishop David Leon Cooper rights of initiation into:

The Knights of God and designated him to be the "Prelate of the Grand Magistery" and his brother bishop, The Late Archbishop Miguel DeSoto, to be Grand Prior. We have already begun to initiate Knights of God with the rights to use the title "Sir" before their name. Women may be accepted as a "Dame Grand Cross" with rights to use the title "Lady". This is not a mere "church award" nor is it a "fraternal organization"; it is a true Religious Military Order of Chivalry based upon historical precedent and the Apostolic Succession. We are Orthodox. We are open to sincere men and women who are involved in serious and substantial service to humankind. What is our purpose? To defend the Faith of Christ, the downtrodden, sick, lame and poor. We are opposed to the desecration of holy sites anywhere--regardless of religion. We are concerned about injustices and denial of injustices. If you feel in your heart that you can pledge to work with us toward our goals then we invite you to seek membership.

Note: The title "Grand" was changed to "Sacred" at a later time. The original concept was that there would be a bishop presiding rather than a (lay) Grand Master as is common in most Orders of Knighthood--thus the use of the term "Sacred" .The prelate reserves the right to use either title. He is, in fact, Prior and Grand Master.

You may contact the Prelate of the Sacred Magistery, The Most Reverend David Leon Cooper, OMM, MS, KTG, by writing or calling him directly:

The Knights of God is a ministry under the auspices of The Spanish Orthodox Church and the Ecumenical Apostolic Chaplain Service. We are an independent religious organization and are not affiliated with any other church entity except the Orthodox Catholic Church, NP and the Order of Caring Chaplains, an Orthodox Catholic entity by intercommunion and shared bishops.

For more information on knighthood:

The following site takes you to organizations that we are NOT affiliated with but will give you opportunity for interesting research: www.chivalricorders.org

from left to right:
the Late Bishop Matt Konopka
Bishop John Allen
the Late Patriarch Georgus Alexis I (+George Bussman), Grand Prior
the Late Archbishop Miguel Desoto, Grand Prior
the Late Father Ron Findlay

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