Pfarrkirche St. Anna am Aigen

Dedicated to Saint Anna The fact that at the beginning of the 18th century the small chapel dedicated to Saint Anna became the large and mighty St. Anna Church for its time is directly attributable to the desperate struggle for the Kingdom of Hungary by the Hungarian irregulars, the Kuruc. During the invasions in 1706, the small Anna chapel was not destroyed but severely damaged. Therefore, the population began to implement a church plan that had existed for some time. The construction of the church was completed in 1712 after a relatively short construction period. Due to a lack of money, the church was not solemnly consecrated until April 21, 1717. The last renovation of the church was carried out in 2005. Today, the church boasts many valuable works of art, such as the figures on the high altar of Saint Mother Anna, who teaches Mary to read, the old valuable bells in the bell tower, and the pictures of the Stations of the Cross. The oldest work of art in the church is a painting of the Holy Trinity and dates from around 1730. The people of St. Anna are particularly proud of the organ, which could be newly renovated thanks to generous donations from the local population. The fact that St. Anna am Aigen has begun to make a name for itself as an exhibition venue for a remarkable Christmas crib show in recent years has nothing to do with the fact that this East Styrian border community is repeatedly referred to as "Styrian Bethlehem." This term has become entrenched in the parish population over the decades because, to date, many priestly and religious vocations have emerged from the parish. Already 36 Priests The number of priestly and religious vocations is indeed remarkable. So far, 36 people from St. Anna have been ordained as priests. Among them are four priestly personalities well-known far beyond their homeland: Cardinal Franz Andreas Frühwirth, Diocesan Bishop Leopold Schuster, Cathedral Choirmaster Anton Lippe, and the current Archbishop of Salzburg Dr. Franz Lackner. In addition to the priests, the parish, which essentially includes the political communities of St. Anna am Aigen and Frutten-Giesselsdorf, has also produced numerous women and men who have entered a religious order. Currently, 19 women and one man, all from the parish of St. Anna am Aigen, live in a monastic community. Tour of the Parish Church Inside the parish church, the many figures of saints and paintings are particularly striking. Upon entering the church, one sees on the left a painting of Saint Peter after his defamation, as well as one of Mary Magdalene. The statues in front of the organ show two Franciscans, namely Saint Francis of Assisi (cross in hand) and Saint Anthony (child in arm). Approaching the altar, one sees on the left above the pews an image of Saint Joseph and on the right side Saints Leopold and Barbara. These patrons were chosen because of the founder Leopold and his sister Barbara. Before entering the altar, on the Epistle side hangs a painting of Saint Ulrich (he was a patron saint against the Magyars, and it is assumed that he was also supposed to protect the church from the Kuruc). Saint Augustine, located on the Gospel side, is our second patron saint alongside Mother Anna. The altar itself is adorned on the left by Mary and James the Elder and on the right by Saint Joachim, Mary's father. The high altar, built between 1780 and 1782 by Veit Königer, shows our patron saint Anna teaching her daughter Mary to read from the Holy Scriptures. The two small pictures on the right above the pews show the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary; the oldest painting, which shows the Trinity, is located at the end of the right side aisle, where the Stations of the Cross, designed by Peter Neuböck in 1920, also begin. Furthermore, there is a small statue of John the Baptist here, and at the other end of the aisle, a painting of the Immaculate Mary. In the left side aisle, one can also find a depiction of the Sorrowful Mother. The pulpit, unused since the Second Vatican Council in 1965, shows depictions of the four Evangelists. The current organ, made by the renowned Swiss company Mathis, was consecrated only in 2007, and with its 1,357 pipes divided into 22 registers, it fills the house of God with a majestic sound. The construction of this magnificent instrument was made possible primarily by an anonymous donor, to whom the parish of St. Anna will always be grateful.

Opening hours & season

• 14.01.2026 – 31.12.2026daily08:00–20:00