Mariahilfer Church

The church Mariahilf (Mariahilfkirche) is a pilgrimage church and parish church of the parish Graz-Mariahilf in the deanery Graz-center of the city church Graz. Connected to the church is the Minoritenkonvent Graz. The gable above the church portal crowns today a baroque statue of the Archangel Michael, who pushes Lucifer into hell. The other figures of the portal show laterally above the middle door the Order of St. Francis of Assisi and St. Anthony of Padua and above the door the Virgin Mary. The interior of the church looks simple and serious. The large dome over the presbytery was removed as well as the stucco decoration in 1769. The frescoes created by Josef Adam Mölk were also removed (not quite 100 years ago) and gave way to today's simple design. The image of the Virgin Mary on the high altar is considered a painterly masterpiece Pietro de Pomis’. To this day, the monastery buildings are inhabited by Minorite brothers. The monastery also houses the Cultural Center of the Minorites, which hosts events in the fields of music, literature and fine arts. In addition, in the treasury chapel of the monastery find services of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic community, a rom-Uniate church and the Russian Orthodox church to Mary protection in Graz, An ecumenical accommodation instead. The interior and exterior of the Mariahilferkirche has been extensively restored in recent years.