Prince Constantine alongside His Most Excellency Konstantine Pandolfi, Grand Knight of the Holy Orthodox Order of Saint George, conversing with clergy inside the St. George Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Hartford, Connecticut.
On Sunday, 9 August 2026, the Royal and Princely House of Zaccaria de Damalà and the Holy Orthodox Order of Saint George the Great Martyr formally entered into a solemn alliance through the signing of the Instrument of Perpetual Amity, Mutual Recognition and Sacred Cooperation. The instrument was signed during a private meeting at the St. George Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Hartford, Connecticut, by His Royal Highness Prince Constantine Paul, Prince of Achaea and Head of the Royal House, and His Most Excellency Konstantine Pandolfi, Grand Knight of the Order.
Prince Constantine was accompanied by a delegation of the Princely Household, notably featuring the Illustrious Andrew, Baron Baralis, and the Illustrious Daniel, Baron Baralis, serving respectively as Purveyor and Scriptor to the House.
The Instrument of Cooperation establishes a permanent constitutional framework of fraternity between the two institutions, rooted deeply in their shared confession of the Orthodox Christian Faith and their commitment to mutually supporting humanitarian relief and cultural preservation across the Christian East. The foundation of this dynastic and spiritual alliance is further nurtured by the shared spiritual fatherhood of His Grace Bishop Ignatios of Salona, who concurrently serves as the Grand Chancellor of the Order and as the Prelate and High Almoner of the House.
As a central provision of the covenant, the House of Zaccaria de Damalà extended its historical regalian prerogative (fons honorum)—derived from the 1325 imperial creation of the Kingdom of Asia Minor—to the Order. By extending this legally surviving prerogative, the House formally elevates and affirms the chivalric standing of the Order's ranks. In recognition of this concession, His Royal Highness assumes the hereditary dignity of Royal Protector of the Holy Orthodox Order of Saint George the Great Martyr.
Additionally, the Order was granted the high heraldic privilege of quartering its arms with those of the House of Zaccaria de Damalà, specifically displaying this united shield upon the breast of the Imperial Double-Headed Eagle.
The arms of the Holy Orthodox Order of Saint George the Great Martyr, newly quartered with the arms of the House of Zaccaria de Damalà and displayed upon the Imperial Double-Headed Eagle, representing the dynastic protection of the House over the Order.
While maintaining their absolute institutional independence, both parties outlined complementary humanitarian missions: the Order will continue its vital focus on defending and sustaining Christian communities across the Holy Land and the Middle East, while the House will maintain its traditional focus on the Hellenic world, with both institutions sharing a joint collaborative responsibility over initiatives in Turkey. The covenant also features a reciprocal exchange of ex officio honours, granting mutual ranks and standing to officers within both the Order of Saint George and the House's Order of Saint James in Andravida.
Following the signing, the Holy Orthodox Order of Saint George the Great Martyr issued the following press release:
HARTFORD, CT — Today, our Holy Orthodox Order of Saint George the Great Martyr and the historic House of Zaccaria de Damalà formally entered into a solemn covenant of perpetual amity and sacred cooperation. This dynastic and spiritual alliance is rooted in our shared confession of the Orthodox Christian Faith, uniting our missions to mutually support humanitarian relief and cultural preservation initiatives throughout the Christian East.
The instrument was signed during a private ceremony by our Grand Knight, His Most Excellency Konstantine Pandolfi, and His Royal Highness Constantine Paul Zaccaria de Damalà, Prince of Achaea and Head of the House of Zaccaria de Damalà. This enduring fraternity is nurtured by our common spiritual father, His Grace Bishop Ignatios of Salona. Serving simultaneously as Grand Chancellor of the Order and as High Almoner and Prelate of the House, His Grace's pastoral guidance forms the foundational spiritual link uniting our two institutions.
As an Orthodox institution carrying forward the ancient traditions of Christian chivalry, our Order finds a profound historical counterpart in the House of Zaccaria de Damalà. Descended from the Eastern Roman Imperial House of Palaiologos and the Genoese sovereigns of Chios and the Morea, the House uniquely bridges the heritage of the Orthodox East and the Latin West. By virtue of this legacy, the House holds the perpetual rights of the Kingdom of Asia Minor, established in 1325 by the Latin Emperor as a sovereign legal entity existing independently of physical territory. This unbroken dynastic continuity, recognised across centuries by European crowns, provides an extraordinary historical foundation for our shared work.
Under this sacred fraternity, our Order receives the dynastic protection of the House. His Royal Highness assumes the honorary dignity of Royal Protector, formally affirming our chivalric standing by extending the House's historical regalian prerogative to bestow honours. The exercise of this legally surviving Western chivalric right by a modern Orthodox dynasty provides the perfect historical precedent for our own identity as an Orthodox order of chivalry. As a visible testament to this bond, the Order is granted the high privilege of quartering its arms with those of the House upon the breast of the Imperial Double-Headed Eagle. This dynastic recognition beautifully complements our foundational ecclesiastical blessings, uniting the House's dual legacy with our established international network and dedicated charitable apostolate to advance our shared mission across the Holy Land.