Minoritenkirche (Vienna)

Minoritenkirche
Minoritenkirche, Vienna, Austria
Religion
Affiliation	Society of Saint Pius X
Leadership	Congregazione Italiana Madonna della Neve
Location
Location	Vienna, Austria
Shown within Vienna Show map of Vienna Minoritenkirche (Vienna) (Austria) Show map of Austria
Geographic coordinates	48°12′34″N 16°21′49″E / 48.2094°N 16.3636°E / 48.2094; 16.3636
Architecture
Architect(s)	Jacobus Parisiensis
Type	Church[1]
Style	Gothic
Groundbreaking	1276
Completed	1350
Specifications
Length	45 m
Width	35 m
Width (nave)	15 m
Height (max)	54 m

The Minoritenkirche (English: Friars Minor Conventual Church, related to the monastic Order of Friars Minor Conventual monks), formally called Italienische Nationalkirche Maria Schnee (English: Italian National Church of Mary of the Snows, related to the Italian Congregation who was the owner of this church), was built in French Gothic style in the Altstadt or First District of Vienna, Austria.^[2]

The site on which the church is built was given to followers of Francis of Assisi in 1224. The foundation stone was laid by King Ottokar II of Bohemia in 1276. Duke Albrecht II later supported the building process, especially the main portal. The Gothic Ludwig choir was built between 1316 and 1328, and used as a mausoleum in the 14th and 15th centuries. Construction of the church was completed in 1350.

The top of its belltower was damaged during the first Austro-Turkish war, rebuilt, then again destroyed again during the second Austro-Turkish war; the top was then replaced by a flat roof.

When Joseph II gave the church to the Italians as a present, they transferred the name Maria Schnee ("Mary of the Snows") from their nearby chapel which was subsequently destroyed.

Following disagreements between the church owner (the Italian Congregation Mary of the Snows) and the Archdiocese of Vienna, the Italian community was moved to the Church of the Holy Trinity of the Friars Minor in the Alservorstadt.^[3] After two years of uncertainty, in 2021 the Italian Congregation donated the Minoritenkirche to the Society of Saint Pius X, which operates it to this day.^[4]