(1856-1939). Jewish Chief Shepardic Rabbi of Salonika and Eretz Israel, 1906-1939.

Rabbi Yitzchak Meir-Levin

(1894, Gor, Poland-1971). Jewish Rabbi and Signer of the Israeli Declaration of Independence. Ordained Rabbi. Leader of the Agudat Yisrael Party. son-in-Law of the Gerer Rebbe. Escaped Polance, 1940, and settled in Palestine. Signer of the Israeli Declaration of Independence. Involved in rescue operations during the Arab-Israeli conflict, 1948. Member of 1st Knesset. First Minister of Social Welfare of Israel, 1948.

His Eminence Joachim Cardinal Meissner

(December 25, 1933, Breslau, Germany-Alive). Roman Catholic Archbishop of Berlin, Germany, 1980-1988, and Archbishop of Cologne, 1988-Current. Ordained Priest, December 22, 1962. Spiritual Counselor of Caritas, 1963-1975. Auxiliary Bishop of Erfurt and Meiningen, Germany, March 17, 1975. Vicar General of Erfurt and Meiningen. Archbishop of Berlin, April 22, 1980. Elevated to the College of Cardinals, February 2, 1983. Metropolitan Archbishop of Cologne, December 20, 1988-Current.

Philipp Melanchthon

(February 16, 1497, Bretten, Germany-April 19, 1560, Wittenberg, Germany). German Lutheran Scholar, Humanist, and Associate of Martin Luther. Born Philipp Schwarzerd. Professor of Greek, University of Wittenberg. Made first systematic presentation of the principles of the Reformation in Loci Communes (1521). Represented Luther at a variety of conferences. Opposed Zwingli. Author of the Augsburg Confession. Luther's designated successor, but prone to compromise. Known as the "Preceptor of Germany," for his role in creating German schools.

His Eminence Paul Ludolf Cardinal Melchers, S.J.

(January 6, 1813, Muenster, Germany-December 14, 1895, Cologne, Germany). Roman Catholic Archbishop of Cologne, Germany, 1866-1885. Ordained Priest, Roman Catholic Church, June 5, 1841. Bishop of Osnabrueck, Germany, August 3, 1857-January 8, 1866. Archbishop of Cologne, Germany, January 8, 1866-July 3, 1885. Attended First Vatican Council, 1869-1870. Opposed definition of Papal Infallibility, but ultimately embraced it. Resisted Kulturkampf and was fined and imprisoned for six months, 1874. Fled to Holland, 1875, and governed his Archdiocese from there until 1885, when he resigned. Elevated to the Sacred College of Cardinals, July 27, 1885. Camerlengo of the Sacred College of Cardinals, 1889-1891. Professed Member, Society of Jesus, 1892.

Most Reverend Bishop Dale Joseph Melczek

(November 9, 1938, Detroit, Michigan-Alive). 3rd Roman Catholic Bishop of Gary, Indiana. Ordained Priest, June 6, 1964. Auxiliary Bishop of Detroit, Michigan, December 3, 1982. Apostolic Administrator of Gary, Indiana, August 19, 1992. Co-Adjutor Bishop of Gary, October 28, 1995. Third Bishop of Gary, June 1, 1996-Current.

His Grace Metropolitan Meliton of Philadelphia

(1951, Imvros, Greece-Alive). Greek Orthodox Metropolitan of Philadelphia, Exarch of Lydia and Chief Secretary of the Holy and Sacred Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate. Ordained Deacon, Greek Orthodox Church, 1974. Codicographer of the Holy and Sacred Synod, Greek Orthodox Church, 1974. Deputy Secretary of the Holy and Sacred Synod, Chief Secretary, 1988-Current. Accompanied Patriarch Dimitrios to the United States, 1990. Metropolitan of Philadelphia and Exarch of Lydia, October 2, 1990. Member of the Holy and Sacred Synod, January 15, 1991.

Most Reverend Auxiliary Bishop Manfred Melzer

(February 28, 1944, Solingen, Germany-Alive). Roman Catholic Auxiliary Bishop of Cologne, Germany, 1995-Current. Ordained Priest, Roman Catholic Church, February 1, 1972. Auxiliary Bishop of Cologne, Germany, and Titular Bishop of Carinola, June 9, 1995-Current.

(October 22, 1936, Palai, India-Alive). 1st Roman Catholic Archbishop of Guwahati, India. Ordained Priest, Order of Salesians of St. John Bosco, May 2, 1965. Bishop of Dibrugarh, India, June 19, 1981. Bishop of Guwahati, India, March 30, 1992. 1st Archbishop of Guwahati, India, July 10, 1995-Current.