Friedensgrotte St. Ruprecht/Raab

The Friedensgrotte (Peace Grotto) is located under the staircase that leads up to the parish church of St. Ruprecht. It was financed and opened in 2004 by committed citizens of St. Ruprecht. The Friedensgrotte is one of the seven places on the “7 Plätze 7 Schätze” (7 Places 7 Treasures) path, which connects the Burgthannerweg and the Kernkapellenweg, and passes 7 places that house 7 special treasures. All seven places have a connection to the well-known woodcarver Hans Pendl. Open all year round. Contact person for the Friedensgrotte/Sternenkinder, as well as for detailed information on the 7 treasures: Hans Pendl (Tel.: + 43 664 796 29 08) THE GROTTO MARY AS QUEEN OF PEACE The Friedensgrotte, in the vault under the staircase of the Baroque church, was created in 2004 by the Ruprecht carving artist Hans Pendl. At its center is a depiction of Mary modeled after the statue of Mary in Medjugorje, which forms a harmonious unit with a wooden cross from the pilgrimage site of Medjugorje. The sculpture, created from linden wood, shows a closed unit and symbolizes the eternal cycle of life. It begins with the love of two people, represented by a wave. The transition into the free surface, structured by notches, symbolizes the course of our life, which can go through highs and lows, until the completion of our earthly existence. The mantle of farewell from this world finally clings closely to the symbol of life, the sun. Embedded in the center of the work is the 11th Station of the Cross from Medjugorje. The vertical crossbeam, protruding from the stony-sandy ground and on an inclined plane, represents the transition from earthly life to faith in eternal life. In everything, the Mother of God Mary accompanies us with her benevolent smile and inviting hand. The cross came directly from Križevac (Cross Mountain) in Medjugorje, after the 14 Stations of the Cross were renewed there. From the 1st Sunday of Advent until Holy Innocents' Day, an approximately 60 cm high “Maria in Erwartung” (Mary in Expectation) is placed in the Friedensgrotte and used for the search for lodging in the parish. STERNENKINDER (STAR CHILDREN) MEMORIAL SITE In the Friedensgrotte in St. Ruprecht an der Raab there is also a memorial site for Sternenkinder. Stars can be selected at any time via Tel. No. 0664/7962908 (Hans Pendl). In the narrower and original sense, Sternenkinder refers to children who die with a weight of less than 500 grams before, during or after birth. In a broader sense, the term Sternenkinder is also used by affected parents for children who die with a birth weight of more than 500 grams. The poetic coinage of the word is based on the idea of naming children who “reached heaven” (poetically: the stars) “before they were allowed to see the light of day.” (Wikipedia) The early death of children, the fate of mothers and fathers, often falls under a cloak of silence or non-address. In many conversations with those affected, the desire grew to find a place in our parish where these little people could be remembered throughout the year. To give this grief a dignified place, a memorial site has been created in the Friedensgrotte. On the glass plate inside the Friedensgrotte, 181 stars are sandblasted. Each of these stars can be “acquired” and inscribed with a name, a date or just a personal symbol. Every year on the 2nd Sunday in December – the worldwide memorial day for Sternenkinder – these children are remembered during a memorial service and a candlelight procession to the Friedensgrotte. Specially produced candles can be taken as a remembrance of Sternenkinder. Sammeltaxi Oststeiermark SAM WZ1842, reservation at +43 50 36 37 38 or ISTmobil.at

Opening hours & season

• 06.04.2021 – 31.12.2025dailyopen all day