Joel Bray Marangella is recognized by Orthodox Bahá'ís as the third Guardian of the Bahá'í Faith, the authorized interpreter of the Bahá'í Writings and the president and sacred head for life of the Universal House of Justice (presently the International Bahá'í Council of the Orthodox Bahá'ís). Born on September 22, 1918 in Lynn, Massachusetts, to his parents Phillip Amalfi Marangella and Edith Brooks Guthrie Marangella, both of whom enrolled as Bahá'ís when Joel was a baby, it may be concluded that young Joel was exposed to the teachings of the Faith at an early age. His parents encouraged him to independently investigate the truth including the investigation of other religious movements and faiths. As a young boy, Joel spent many summers at Green Acre Bahá'í summer school where he came in contact with most of the early believers in America. He declared his faith as soon as he was able to do so, at the age of 15 years, and lived in the major cities of the United States participating in the spiritual and administrative activities of various Bahá'í communities. He married Irene, also a Bahá'í, in 1945, and about five years later they both answered the call of Shoghi Effendi (the first Guardian of the Faith) for pioneers to go to Europe to help spread the Faith. The Marangellas spent eighteen years in France. In 1954, the Hands appointed Joel as an Auxiliary Board Member for the propagation of the Faith. He participated in the formation of the National Spiritual Assembly of France in 1958 and became its President in 1960. The French NSA was the only NSA to accept the proclamation of Mason Remey as the second Guardian of the Faith. In 1965, Joel became the third Guardian, having been appointed by Mason Remey to the Guardianship and as the President of the Second International Bahá'í Council. After leaving France in 1968, Joel lived in Germany, Switzerland and Australia before his recent return to the United States.