Great Paap

Great Paap (Dutch: Grote Paap) is the title held by the head of the Paap family. The title originated with Melchior Paap, the eldest son of Martinos Nikolopoulos, after the establishment of the Paap family in the Dutch Republic during the late 18th century. The original responsibility of the Great Paap was custody of the Book of Paap, a Greek-language religious text written by Martinos, and preservation of its teachings among later generations of the family.

The religious function of the title declined over time. Later Great Paaps increasingly acted as heads of the family, while the Book of Paap remained an inherited family tradition. Martin Paap has held the title since 2007. His son, Martin Paap III, is scheduled to succeed him on 1 November 2027.

Origins

The title developed after Martinos Nikolopoulos and members of his family fled the Peloponnese in 1770 and settled in the Dutch Republic. Martinos had written the Book of Paap, in which he recorded a religious vision concerning the future of his descendants. The family later adopted the surname Paap after the same name appeared independently in Dutch usage around the strongly Christian household.

Martinos did not become Great Paap himself. He remained the author and principal teacher of the book and was later praised within the family as "the one most true Paap". His eldest son, Melchior Paap, born on 7 November 1777, became the first Great Paap. Martinos entrusted him with protecting the original book and maintaining its teachings within the family. Early holders were also described as Paapists because responsibility for the book formed the central purpose of the office.

The Great Paap was expected to teach the text to younger members of the family and ensure that it passed to the next generation. The original succession followed primogeniture through Melchior's descendants. The eldest child of a Great Paap was expected to inherit the position and custody of the book. A refusal by the expected successor could interrupt this succession.

Book of Paap

The Book of Paap described a future confrontation between two members of the family. Martinos wrote of a Paap of light "who had lost it all" and a Paap of darkness "who took it all". He stated that their eventual confrontation would decide the fate of the world. The book also stated that the Paap of light would bear the name Hugerinus and have a four-letter first name.

The word later became part of the Hugerinus lineage after Georgios Nikolopoulos gave his son the name Aris Hugerinus Paap. Georgios chose the name because he considered Martinos's use of Hugerinus meaningful. He did not know that his descendants would continue using the name or that later Paaps would interpret his decision as part of the prophecy. Most early members of the family did not expect Martinos's prophecy to occur literally.

Martinos was respected for his age, religious knowledge and judgment, but belief that two future Paaps would actually fulfil the roles described in the book remained uncommon. The Great Paap continued preserving the text despite this scepticism. Later believers identified Mark Hugerinus Paap as the Paap of light and Eef Paap as the Paap of darkness.

Development of the role

During the first generations, the Great Paap was principally responsible for the Book of Paap. The holder maintained the original text and passed its teachings to descendants. This religious responsibility gradually weakened as later generations devoted less attention to Martinos's predictions.

The Great Paap increasingly became responsible for leadership of the Paap family itself. Family direction and preservation of inherited traditions became more prominent parts of the position. By the modern period, the Great Paap had authority over matters affecting the family as a whole. The holder establishes long-term plans and determines how branches of the family work together. The Great Paap also oversees the preservation of family traditions.

Jan Paap's rejection

Martinus Antonius Johannes Paap intended for his son Jan Paap to succeed him as Great Paap. Jan did not believe the prophecy contained in the Book of Paap and rejected the religious obligations attached to the title. He wanted the Paap name to represent a powerful family and did not want its direction determined by the traditions surrounding Martinos's book.

During the Second World War, Jan formally rejected the expected succession and severed ties with his father and the older Paap traditions. Martinus remained Great Paap after Jan's refusal. Following Martinus's conviction for war crimes on 28 October 1948, Martin Paap I succeeded him as Great Paap.

Jan's rejection later became important to believers in the Book of Paap. Martinos had written:

"When the next Paap rejects the book, the darkness begins its final crusade."

Paapists later identified Jan as the rejecting Paap described in this passage. Jan himself did not accept this interpretation.

Modern leadership

Martin Paap I held the title from 28 October 1948 until November 2007. His son Martin Paap then succeeded him as Great Paap under the hereditary succession.

The modern office retained responsibility for the direction of the family while the original religious duties associated with the Book of Paap were no longer the central function of the title.

Martin Paap III, the son of Martin Paap, is the designated successor. His succession is scheduled for 1 November 2027.

Known holders

Holder	Term	Notes
Melchior Paap		First Great Paap and first hereditary guardian of the Book of Paap
Martinus Antonius Johannes Paap	2 November 1940 – 28 October 1948	Intended for Jan Paap to succeed him
Martin Paap I	28 October 1948 – November 2007	Succeeded Martinus after his conviction
Martin Paap	2007–present	Succeeded Martin Paap I through hereditary succession in November 2007

Martin Paap III is the designated successor and is scheduled to become Great Paap on 1 November 2027.

See also

• Book of Paap
• Paap family
• Paap family members
• Hugerinus lineage
• Martinos Nikolopoulos
• Melchior Paap
• Jan Paap