ON THE TERRITORIAL RESTORATION OF THE ABBEY-PRINCIPALITY

The Abbey-Principality notifies all persons concerned of the following facts:

1. Since its unlawful territorial dispossession by force on 2 August 1884, the Abbey-Principality has consistently called for the restoration of its former territory in the Fezzan.
2. This is evidenced inter alia by the various editions of the Statutes of the Order of the Lion and the Black Cross (the Order was founded in 1883 and has a continuous history to the present day) which make this territorial restoration one of the explicit aims of the Order.
3. The Abbey-Principality continues to protest at the occupation of its territory by others unlawfully and by force.
4. The Abbey-Principality is the sole legitimate sovereign power in respect of its territory and does not recognize any occupying power, whether “Libyan” or otherwise, as exercising any form of legitimate rule over that territory.
5. The Abbey-Principality remains committed to the resolution of its position through diplomatic and peaceful means in keeping with its commitment as a Catholic institution to a strict pacifism.

The following quotations are instructive:

“In the Name of God, the Beneficent, the Merciful. This is the written statement of God’s slave Abu Bakr, the successor of Muhammad, the Prophet and Messenger of God. He affirms for you the rights of a protected neighbour, in yourselves, your lands, your religious community, your wealth, retainers, and servants, those of you who are present or abroad, your bishops and monks, and monasteries, and all that you own, be it great or small. You shall not be deprived of any of it, and shall have full control over it.” (Abu Yusuf, Kitab al-Kharaj, p. 79)

This is the protection which the servant of Allah, Umar ibn Al Khattab, the commander of the faithful extends to them (non-Muslims): “The safeguarding of their lives, property, churches, crosses, and of their entire community. Their churches are not to be occupied, demolished, or damaged, nor are their crosses or anything belonging to them to be touched. They will not be forced to abandon their religion, nor will they be harmed. None of the Jews will live with them in Illiya” (Jersusalem). (Tarikh At-Tabari, Volume 3, p. 609)

DUKEDOM OF SAIH NASRA

The Prince-Abbot has conceded the title of Duke of Saih Nasra to H.E. the Right Reverend Dom Klaus Schlapps, in recognition of humanitarian services. The title is granted for the lifetime of the holder with a special remainder permitting rehabilitation for his successor as Regent of the Regency of Lomar.

HIS EXCELLENCY THE RIGHT REVEREND DOM KLAUS DIETER SCHLAPPS OPR, 1st DUKE OF SAIH NASRA Abbot General, Order of Port Royal; Prior, St Severin’s Abbey, Kaufbeuren, Germany; Honorary Canon, St Michael’s Cathedral, Anglican Church of Cameroon; Knight Grand Cross of The Sovereign, Knightly and Noble Order of the Lion and the Black Cross (L’Ordre Souverain, Chevaleresque et Noble du Lion et de la Croix Noire); Knight Grand Cross of The Sovereign, Chivalrous, Noble and Religious Order of the Crown of Thorns (L’Ordre Souverain, Chevaleresque, Nobilaire et Religieux de la Couronne d’Epines)); Almoner and Senior Chaplain, Military and Hospitaller Order of St Lazarus of Jerusalem, Grand Priory of Carpathia, Kosice; Grand Prior, Ökumenische Bruderschaft des Heiligen Grabs zu Jerusalem, Wettingen CH; Superintendent  und Intl. Director  International Green Cross Organisation (IGCO); Honorary President, Förderverein Santa Rosa de Lima e.V., Kaufbeuren; Regent, Regency of Lomar; Shufai Ngaibunri, Kingdom of Nso, Cameroon; Grosses Verdienstkreuz, Freundeskreis Hoch- und Deutschmeister Mannheim; b. 1959 deac. 1986 pr. 1987; monastic profession 1990; educ. seminaries in Germany and New Zealand.

Arms: (Not currently matriculated)