"In the pleasant hobby of philately, collecting postage stamps with a religious theme began early and the practice has now spread so much that it has become one of the large fields in thematic collecting. The theme of RELIGION is very wide including, among a seemingly endless list, subjects such as ; Christianity, Islam, Judaism and other Faiths; the Bible (Old and New Testaments); Churches, Cathedrals and other Sacred Buildings; The Holy Land; Church and Religious History; Stained Glass Windows; Paintings and Religious Art; Madonna and Child; Illuminated Manuscripts; Methodism; Popes and Papal Visits; Vatican; Christmas and Easter and many more themes within themes.",
Peter Greening, The Guild of St Gabriel
Also associated with The World Union of St. Gabriel
(a federation of religious philatelic societies in Europe & other countries)
Publication:The COROS Chronicle (4 per year)
Editor c.2012: John Schmidt, [email protected]
Associate Editor c.2012: G. Paul Billion, [email protected]
Membership Etc. Secretary c.2012:
Jim Bailey, [email protected] ([email protected] c.2012)
P O Box 937, Brownwood, Texas 76804, USA
". . .dedicated to the study and collection of postal material that has some element of religious significance."
"In 1997 the Biblical Study Unit of the American Topical Association (ATA) merged with COROS. Later that year COROS became an ATA affiliate. Also affiliated with COROS is the North American Sovereign Military Order of Malta Philatelic Circle (NASMHOMPC). The COROS Chronicle is this group's official publication and Rev. Augustine H. Serafini is its executive director.
"
Contact c.2008: Jim Bailey, [email protected] ([email protected] c.2012)
P O Box 937, Brownwood, Texas 76804, USA
Convenor c.2007: John Hotchner, [email protected]
P. O. Box 1125, Falls Church, VA 22041-0125, USA
"Founded in 2006, MSCC seeks to serve people worldwide interested in stamps issued in memoriam, black bordered etc covers and death announcements, mourning memorabilia, and ad covers for funeral and burial related services." (USSN:200706:33)
Their "purpose is to study and do census work on mourning covers, identify and prepare a list of mourning stamps, and facilitate the exchange among members of mourning stamps and covers.From the last third of the 18th century to the dawn of the 21st century, black-edged envelopes and stationery informed recipients of the death of a loved one, expressed sympathy and grief, or offered thanks for expressions of condolence.
"
(cite)
Today SMOM "maintains: diplomatic relations and exchange of Ambassadors with over 100 States / Representations in several other States, the Council of Europe, UN Agencies in Geneva, and Permanent Observer Mission to the United Nations. The Order is active in over 130 countries."
"Through the turmoil of many centuries, this monastic, Christian Brotherhood, dedicated to attending the sick and emarginated, never lost its supranational sovereignty. It became a military and naval power in defense of the western Mediterranean from Ottoman incursion. The knights freed captives and negotiated with kings and presidents."
The world's most diminutive, sovereign State began issuing postage stamps on November 15, 1966.
S.M.O.M. MAGISTRAL POST: Via Bocca di Leone 68, Rome 00187, Italy
( P.O. Box) Casella Postale 738, Rome 00100, Italy
"The Gabriel movement was commenced in Germany, during the Thirties, by two Franciscan friars, Clemens Anheuser and Gabriel Schmidt, former missionaries in Brazil. Their extensive knowledge of stamps featuring religious subjects led to them linking up with like-minded stamps collectors and founding the Guild of St. Gabriel. In 1953, under the leadership of the Austrian Guild, an umbrella organisation for the whole movement was founded in Salzburg. Titled 'The World Union of St. Gabriel' its objective is to keep the various National Guilds in touch with each other. This is accomplished by the exchange of their Bulletins, and the World Union Congress held every four years. A member of the British Guild was the General Secretary for twelve years and subsequently President for four. The first Congress was held in 1960 in Munich, the latest in Belgium (Ghent - Gent) in 2004. The next will be held in Slovakia (Nitre) in 2008."
The overall coordination of the World Union of San Gabriel:
c.1981: Mr. Don Jos� Volkaerts, 89 Rue de la Marne, Bruxelles 1140, Belgium (cite)
"In Spain (c.1981), the Union has a wonderful magazine published by the well-known philatelic advertisers Gregory Sierra and Jose Maria Guair�n, for the magazine San Gabriel, No.2 Pina de Ebro, Zaragoza, Spain, winning several medals and awards in exhibitions of international philately.
. . .The World Conservation Union of San Gabriel (La Uni�n Mundial San Gabriel), in the city of Fremont, Ohio, United States, has a Religious Theme Philatelic Academy with an honorary President: Cardinal Francis Spellman (now deceased but Archbishop of New York at the time), a philatelist of international name. . ." (cite)