The Churches of Vienna, the Golden Apple
As we leave Transylvania and head west towards central Europe; we will first head towards Vienna, the capital of Austria and the second largest German-speaking city in the world. Known as The City of Music,” Vienna has been famous for centuries for its opera houses, conservatories, and theaters. A long list of musicians and musical troupes, including Mozart, Beethoven, Handl, Schubert, Brahms and the Vienna Boys Choir have all been associated with this legacy. It is also a city famous for its visual and theatrical arts, cuisine and architecture, as well as its famous Viennese coffeehouses.
Vienna is also one of the great centers of the Catholic faith in Europe and was at one time considered both a figurative and literal bastion of the Christian faith. As the seat of the Holy Roman Empire and later the Habsburg dynasty during the late Medieval to Renaissance era, the city was once a fortified outpost that was twice under siege by the Ottoman Turkish empire, which called the city "The Golden Apple" for its desirability of conquest. Twice the city went under siege, and twice it was saved from conquest. Each time the people and defenders of the city gave thanks for their deliverance in St. Stephen’s Cathedral. St. Stephen’s Cathedral, mother-church of the Archdiocese of Vienna, is one of the most iconic buildings of the city. With the oldest sections nearly 900 years old, the church is very much a monument to the city of Vienna itself. Built out of limestone with and two spires, respectively 224 feet and 447 feet, the church is a mixture of Gothic and Romanesque styles, containing 18 altars, 5 chapels, 23 church bells and over 230,000 glazed and multi-colored roof tiles, some of which are laid out in a way to depict the famous double-headed eagle; the symbol of the ruling Habsburg Family. The interior of the church also includes an impressive pipe organ, a magnificent stone pulpit and a sacred icon of the Virgin Mary from Hungary known as the Maria Pötsch icon. Also within the church is the tomb of the Holy Roman Emperor Frederick III; a monumental sarcophagus of spectacular red stone complimented by 240 individual statuary pieces. The Emperor does not rest alone: besides an extensive list of notable nobility, clergy and other important dignitaries of Austria whose remains are interred in the crypt of the cathedral, it is believed the remains of over 11,000 others also rest in the catacombs, some parts of which can be toured.
While Saint Stephen’s Cathedral is a must-visit, other visit-worthy churches exist in abundance. St. Rupert’s Church is considered the oldest surviving in the city, while the castle-like church of St. Francis of Assissi church is one of the newest. The Baroque marvels of St. Charles and St. Peter’s churches are both known for their rich interior ornamentation, whereas the Capuchin Church may have an outwardly modest appearance, but its crypt contains the elaborate sarcophagi of almost 150 members of the Habsburg royal family, including more than 30 emperors and empresses.
While not a regular pilgrimage destination, a journey through Vienna is a celebration of both earthly and heavenly aspirations, and a crossroads of European culture; worthy to be called both a tourism and pilgrimage destination.
Be Not Afraid!
Good Shepherd Travel offers trips to Vienna, as well as Rome, Lourdes, Fatima, Ireland, and many other destinations across Europe. And of course, we love Jerusalem and the Holy Land best! For more information on how to begin preparing for a pilgrimage in late 2021 and 2022, contact Tony AbuAita at Tony@goodshepherdtravel.com.