BLAZON OF THE ARMS OF THE ABBEY-PRINCIPALITY

A new blazon of the arms of the Abbey-Principality has recently been prepared. The Arms of the Abbey-Principality were first registered under Prince-Abbot Edmond I at the Polish Heraldic College at Warsaw in 1923 and subsequently with the American Heraldic College.

Quarterly azure and gules; 1st and 4th: the device of the Abbey-Principality of San Luigi as recorded from its foundation in 1883; 2nd and 3rd: a crowned lion rampant or holding an axe in sinister chief a star sable.

The arms are surmounted by a princely coronet or and surrounded by a blue, gold and ermine great mantle surmounted by a royal crown.

Motto: Quid Non Deo Juvante – What can we not do with God’s aid.

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)

ABBEY-PRINCIPALITY ENTERS INTO RELATIONS WITH THE REGENCY OF LOMAR

The Abbey-Principality has entered into reciprocal relations of co-operation with the Regency of Lomar, an international humanitarian organisation, under the Regent, Dom Klaus Schlapps, O.P.R., who has accepted the position of Minister of Humanitarian Affairs in the Abbey-Principality. Dom Klaus is Abbot-Bishop of an Old Catholic Cistercian congregation, the Order of Port Royal, with abbeys in Germany, Haiti and France and a Priory in the United States.

PRINCE-ABBOT APPOINTED GOODWILL AMBASSADOR OF THE KINGDOM OF BUNYORO-KITARA

The Kingdom of Bunyoro-Kitara has appointed the Prince-Abbot as a Goodwill Ambassador of the Kingdom.

MATRICULATION OF ARMS

ECCLESIA APOSTOLICA DIVINORUM MYSTERIORUM

The Chancellery has approved the matriculation of the following arms:

Quarterly azure and gules; 1st: the Papal Keys or; 2nd: an escallop or; 3rd: a Lamb of God (a lamb passant proper, with a halo or charged with a cross gules, and the dexter forelimb reflexed over a cross staff from which a pennon of St. George (Argent a cross gules) is flotant); 4th a staff proper surmounted by a fleur-de-lis supported by two crowned lions rampant combatant or. On an escutcheon of pretence or the arms of the Liberal Catholic Church.

The arms are supported by a winged angel and surrounded by a red, gold and ermine great mantle surmounted by a Crown of Thorns.

DUKEDOM OF GHÃT

The Prince-Abbot has conceded the title of Duke of Ghãt to H.E. Peter Gummersbach, Special County Chief (Ow’Isaza), 1st OEBKK, GCCK, KCLBC, KCT, HonEdD, Advisor to H.M. the Omukama of Bunyoro-Kitara, in recognition of services to the Abbey-Principality. The title is hereditary and is granted with remainder to the heirs male of his body.

HIS EXCELLENCY PETER GUMMERSBACH, 1st DUKE OF GHÃT Special County Chief (Ow’Isaza lya Jamani) (Bunyoro-Kitara); 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)); Grand Chancellor and Knight Grand Cross, The Most Honourable Order of Omukama Chwa II. Kabalega (Bunyoro-Kitara); Order Governor – Grand Priory/Chapter Germany, The Most Honourable Order of Omukama Chwa II Kabalega (Bunyoro-Kitara); Hereditary Omukungu, Royal Order of the Engabu (Bunyoro-Kitara); Knight Commander, Order of the Eagle of Georgia and the Seamless Tunic of Our Lord Jesus Christ, Georgia; Commander, Royal Order of the Crown of Jaffna, Arya Cakravati Dynasty –Royal House of Jaffna- “Yaalpaanarasu Mudi Viiraththiruththakaiththokuthic Cinnam (YMVC)”; Knight of the Grand Badge, Order of Queen Tamar, Georgia; Knight, Patriarchal Order of the Holy Cross of Jerusalem; Advisor of H.M. the Omukama, H.M. the Omugo, the Royal Government, the Ministers and the Supreme Council of the Bunyoro-Kitara Kingdom; ex officio Member of the Supreme Council; Representative of the Bunyoro-Kitara Kingdom in Germany; President, “Association of the Representatives of the Kingdom Bunyoro-Kitara worldwide! (ARKBK) CLBG”; Chargé d’Affaires en République Fédéral d’Allemagne (Académie Diplomatique Africaine, ADA); Chairman, “Association for Humanity for the Banyoro”, NPO; Primus-Vice-President, Royal Academy of Aristocracy (RAA), Bunyoro-Kitara Kingdom; is 18th feudal Baron of Burford, Shropshire, England; Hon.Ed.D, Universidad Internacional, Panama.

Arms: Per pale, 1st – Azure an Eagle displayed Or charged on the breast with a Royal Drum of Bunyoro-Kitara Kingdom, Proper, 2nd – Or between two Fleur-de-lis Azure a Fess Gules charged with a Rose Argent seeded Or, The shield is encircled with the chain of office as Grand Chancellor of the Royal Order of Bunyoro-Kitara Kingdom.

Crest: Upon a helm, wreathed and mantled to Dexter Gules doubled Or, to sinister Azure doubled Or, a demi-lion Sable armed and tongued Gules; decorated with a coronet as Duke of the Abbey-Principality of San Luigi and as hereditary Omukungu of Bunyoro-Kitara

Motto: “Cum Deo pro Pax et Iustitia” – “With God for peace and justice.”

Orders: Enclosed the shield is surrounded with the chain of office as Grand Chancellor of the Royal Order “The Most Honourable Order of Omukama Chwa II. Kabalega” of the Bunyoro-Kitara Kingdom; a national hero of the Kingdom and the Republic of Uganda. Furthermore, various orders are shewn.