Kloster Zscheiplitz Launches Custodes Misericordiae (Keepers of Mercy) Initiative to Renew Witness of Christian Charity
Kloster Zscheiplitz today announced the launch of Custodes Misericordiae (Keepers of Mercy), a new initiative to support and strengthen humanitarian works across the Middle East. Rooted in a spiritual heritage that traces back to the Crusader kings of Jerusalem — in particular King Baldwin II — the initiative affirms that its true inheritance is not land or power, but a vow: where we have received, we must give.
“Our forebears once defended walls with weapons; today, we defend life with mercy,” said Alexander von Hahn, coordinator of Custodes Misericordiae: “At a time when wars and displacement threaten human dignity, Europe needs a renewed witness to Christian charity.”
Unlike traditional organizations, Custodes Misericordiae does not maintain offices or run fundraising structures. Instead, it works in close partnership with established hospitals, religious orders, and aid agencies across the Middle East. The initiative’s mission is threefold:
Membership is open in spirit to all who live by the code of mercy. “The truest heirs of Baldwin are not those who share his DNA, but those who serve the sick, the poor, and the refugee,” von Hahn explained.
Distinct from traditional chivalric orders, Custodes Misericordiae is not bound by politics or ceremony, but by service. It continues a legacy begun nine centuries ago: from citadels to clinics, from conquest to care.
“This is not philanthropy. It is pilgrimage. Mercy is stronger than conquest,” von Hahn concluded.
“Our forebears once defended walls with weapons; today, we defend life with mercy,” said Alexander von Hahn, coordinator of Custodes Misericordiae: “At a time when wars and displacement threaten human dignity, Europe needs a renewed witness to Christian charity.”
Unlike traditional organizations, Custodes Misericordiae does not maintain offices or run fundraising structures. Instead, it works in close partnership with established hospitals, religious orders, and aid agencies across the Middle East. The initiative’s mission is threefold:
- to identify trustworthy works of mercy,
- to share their stories, and
- to connect them with those who wish to help.
Membership is open in spirit to all who live by the code of mercy. “The truest heirs of Baldwin are not those who share his DNA, but those who serve the sick, the poor, and the refugee,” von Hahn explained.
Distinct from traditional chivalric orders, Custodes Misericordiae is not bound by politics or ceremony, but by service. It continues a legacy begun nine centuries ago: from citadels to clinics, from conquest to care.
“This is not philanthropy. It is pilgrimage. Mercy is stronger than conquest,” von Hahn concluded.
About Custodes Misericordiae (Keepers of Mercy)
An initiative of Kloster Zscheiplitz, Custodes Misericordiae (Keepers of Mercy) is a charitable community rooted in a lineage that traces back to the Crusader kings of Jerusalem. Today, it connects reliable humanitarian works in the Middle East with those who wish to support them, working exclusively through established partners such as hospitals, religious orders, and recognized charities. Guided by the conviction that mercy is stronger than conquest, the initiative carries forward a living heritage of service that began nine centuries ago.
Press Contact:
Alexander von Hahn
project coordinator
Kloster Zscheiplitz
von.hahn@me.com | 017631589629
An initiative of Kloster Zscheiplitz, Custodes Misericordiae (Keepers of Mercy) is a charitable community rooted in a lineage that traces back to the Crusader kings of Jerusalem. Today, it connects reliable humanitarian works in the Middle East with those who wish to support them, working exclusively through established partners such as hospitals, religious orders, and recognized charities. Guided by the conviction that mercy is stronger than conquest, the initiative carries forward a living heritage of service that began nine centuries ago.
Press Contact:
Alexander von Hahn
project coordinator
Kloster Zscheiplitz
von.hahn@me.com | 017631589629