The Vienna Votivkirche is regarded as one of the most important neo-gothic religious buildings in the world.

The "Ringstraßendom" was consecrated on 24 April 1879. The origin of the "Ringstraßendom" next to the main building of the University of Vienna is connected with the assassassination of the young Emperor Franz Joseph I. on February 18, 1853 by the tailor's apprentice Janos Libenyi.

The Emperor's brother, Archduke Ferdinand Maximilian, the later Emperor of Mexico, called for donations after the assassination attempt "in gratitude for the salvation of His Majesty" in order to build a new church in Vienna. The church was to be erected as a "gift of thanks" (votive gift, hence the name) from the peoples of the Monarchy for the salvation of Franz Joseph. 300,000 citizens followed the appeal for donations. In the new "cathedral" all nations of the Danube Monarchy should have found their spiritual and political "home".

The church building was announced in an architectural competition in April 1854. Out of 75 projects submitted by architects from the Danube Monarchy, Germany, England and France, a jury awarded a prize to the project of the then only 26-year-old architect Heinrich von Ferstel. Construction began in 1856. After 23 years of construction, the church was consecrated on April 24, 1879, the day of the silver wedding anniversary of the imperial couple.

The three-nave neo-Gothic basilica in the French cathedral scheme is one of the most important buildings of European historicism. Originating from the revival of the cathedral building lodges, it represents the high point of historicist sacred architecture in Vienna.

The church was initially intended as a hall of fame for great Austrians, similar to Westminster Abbey in London. This idea was only realised by the erection of the tumba by Count Niklas Salm. As a building, the Votivkirche could be completed in 1879, but it did not become a "Cathedral of the Nations". In the meantime, a completely different mood prevailed in the Habsburg Monarchy than in 1853; the political victory of national liberalism led to bitter nationality battles.

In 1880 the Votivkirche was elevated to the status of a parish church, with a parish area extending from the Bellaria to the Roßauer Lände on the ground of the former glacis.

Today: Parish church and "cosmopolitan" church
Around 2,700 Catholics live on the parish grounds of the Votivkirche. As the home of various foreign-language communities in Vienna, the Votivkirche is also a very "cosmopolitan" place of worship. The idea of the Votivkirche as a place of worship that embraces all nations is different today, but is even more comprehensively alive in the Votivkirche. Thus the Votivkirche bridges the gap between the peoples of the Danube Monarchy, who were to find their spiritual home in this church building, and the states which are now reunited with Austria in a new Europe as a result of EU enlargement.

The church is used by the German-speaking parish and the English-speaking community of Vienna. In addition, the church plays an important role for the Latin Americans in Vienna, as one side altar is dedicated to Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico. Close by is also the Afro-Asian Institute with students from numerous non-European nations.

A pastoral focus is placed in the Votivkirche on the care of foreign visitors. Pastor Joseph Farrugia is the tourism pastor of the Archdiocese of Vienna.

Source: www.votivkirche.at/

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