How did a church built from brick become a gift? The Kirche Maria vom Siege stands before us. It is located on the Mariahilfer Gürtel in Vienna’s 15th district. This district is Rudolfsheim-Fünfhaus. The Kirche Maria vom Siege is a prominent landmark. It was formerly a Roman Catholic parish church. In 2015, it was gifted to the Coptic Orthodox Church.
Construction of the Kirche Maria vom Siege occurred from 1868 to 1875. Friedrich von Schmidt designed it in the historicist Neo-Gothic style. Schmidt also planned the Vienna City Hall. He had created a church design in 1858. He did not know the building site at that time.
Eight central pillars support a ring of chapels. The interior design shares similarities with the decagon of St. Gereon Church in Cologne. A copy of the Maria vom Siege image sits on the right side altar. This image gave the Kirche Maria vom Siege its name. The patronage relates to a legend. This legend tells of a damaged icon. It contributed to the Catholic League’s victory. This victory occurred at the Battle of White Mountain in 1620. The Roman church Santa Maria della Vittoria was also built because of this. The Kalasantiner Order oversaw the Kirche Maria vom Siege beginning in 1985.
The neo-Gothic structure reaches 68 meters with its small tower. This tower sits on the cupola of the Kirche Maria vom Siege. Inside the Kirche Maria vom Siege you can find eight columns. These columns have chapels and polygonal spaces. The right tower tilted. The tower helmet had to be removed. The foundation had to be renovated in 1928.
Highlights of the Kirche Maria vom Siege include several artistic elements. A relief of Madonna with Child sits over the main entrance. A seated Maria with Child is above the main altar. This is technically not related to the real Maria vom Siege image. That image is in the Karmeliterkirche in Rome. A picture copy of the image is left of the entrance. Professor Dr. Kastner dedicated it. He was a former operator of the Kirche Maria vom Siege. Statues of Apostles Peter and Paul are by Anton Schmidgruber. The dome transitions from an octagon to a 16-sided shape.
The Pfarrkirche Maria vom Siege had an organ. G. F. Steinmeyer & Co. built it in 1873. The cone valve instrument had 24 registers. These registers were on two manuals and a pedal. The playing and register actions were mechanical.
The parish of Fünfhaus closed on June 30, 2016. Its territory became part of the Reindorf parish. The Kirche Maria vom Siege was one of eight churches. The Roman Catholic Church gave them to other Christian denominations. This happened between 2010 and June 2022. The Kirche Maria vom Siege stands as a testament. It is a testament to Vienna’s diverse religious history. Its architecture and art tell a compelling story.