Disclosure Statements: Royal House of Ghassan – Historical Context, Legal Status, and Donations Policy
Orders and Honors
The Ghassanids are historically recognized as among the earliest Christian knights (Arabic: Fāris for men and Fārisah for women), with their legacy tracing back nearly 500 years before the First Crusade and the formal establishment of European chivalric orders. While not structured into military orders in the manner of medieval European knighthood, Ghassanid warriors were known to fight under sacred banners depicting Christ Pantokrator, Saint Michael the Archangel, and Saint Sergius—patron saints of the House. They lived by the pre-Islamic Arab ethical code of Muru’ah, which emphasized virtues such as honor, loyalty, generosity, forgiveness, and the protection of the vulnerable, including women, children, the elderly, and the infirm.
Although the Royal House of Ghassan holds an ancient and distinguished heritage as pioneers of Christian knighthood, it makes no claim of legal or institutional continuity with any medieval or historical order of chivalry or merit. It affirms its unique Arab Christian tradition while respecting the distinctions between cultural-historical legacy and legally established orders.
Donations and Ceremonial Contributions
Passage offerings, ceremonial honorariums, and related contributions made by petitioners or honorees are not fees in the commercial or contractual sense. Rather, they are voluntary donations made in gratitude and support of the mission and humanitarian work of the Royal House of Ghassan, a recognized non-governmental organization (NGO). These contributions help preserve the ceremonial, archival, and operational integrity of the House’s honors system and mission, which upholds time-honored standards of merit and service.
Importantly, no donation guarantees the reception of any honor or title. All recognitions, including honorary or titular distinctions, are awarded strictly at the discretion of the Royal House of Ghassan, based on merit, alignment with its values, and the recommendations of its competent commissions.
Legal and Organizational Status
The Royal House of Ghassan is not a ruling monarchy, but it is legally recognized as a historical and cultural institution. It holds Special Consultative Status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) and is officially acknowledged by the Republic of Lebanon as part of the nation’s historic and cultural patrimony. The House is dedicated to humanitarian outreach, intercultural dialogue, and the protection of Christian heritage in the Middle East and beyond.
It operates exclusively as a volunteer-led NGO, and all resources received are directed toward its cultural, charitable, and interfaith mission.