Krim

Can a building whisper secrets? The Krim church, nestled in Vienna’s 19th district of Döbling, certainly does. It stands on Pater-Zeininger-Platz, named after a former chaplain. The Krim church isn’t just a place of worship. It’s a testament to resilience, a stage for historical drama. Clemens Holzmeister, the architectural maestro, brought Krim church to life between 1931 and 1932. Imagine the rapid construction. Within a year, the church was consecrated, its monstrans gleaming, crafted by the skilled hands of goldsmith Oskar Wicke. But the tranquility was shattered on September 10, 1944. A bomb, a devastating blow, scarred the Krim church. Yet, like a phoenix, it rose again, restored and resolute. Post-war Vienna boomed. The Krim church needed to grow with it. Architect Anton Steflicek expanded the church. He added the nave and choir we see today, between 1955 and 1957. Artist Karl Sterrer added his touch. He created the vibrant stained-glass windows, casting colorful light onto the expanded space. The original structure, with its steadfast tower, became the transept. It now houses a side altar and chapel. The Krim church, initially known as St. Judas Thaddäus in der Krim, officially became a parish on January 1, 1935. A grand ceremony followed on January 13, with none other than President Wilhelm Miklas in attendance. Cardinal Theodor Innitzer presided over the event. In 2016, another transformation. The Krim parish merged with Glanzing and Kaasgraben. They formed the new Franz von Sales parish. Krim church, once St. Judas Thaddäus, now serves as the parish church of Franz von Sales. The side chapel, within Krim church, is a sight to behold. A statue of Judas Thaddäus, sculpted by Hans Andre in 1932, stands watch. The walls are a tapestry of votive tablets. Each one whispers a prayer, a hope, a story of faith. After the expansion, a unique event took place at Krim church. The parishioners themselves chose the altar image. Five designs vied for the honor. Hans Wulz, a renowned Austrian fresco artist of the 1950s, emerged victorious with his vibrant first draft. The painting, a focal point of Krim church, depicts a scene centered around Judas Thaddäus. He holds a host bearing Jesus’s face. He leans on a staff, pointing towards the resurrected Christ, framed by the symbols of the Trinity. Listen closely. Can you hear the chime? Three bells, cast by the Pfundner foundry in Vienna’s 10th district, resonate from Krim church’s tower. Cardinal Franz König consecrated them on May 28, 1960. They are named the Judas Thaddäus Bell (E tone), the Mary Bell (F sharp tone), and the Franz von Sales Bell (A tone). The Krim church. More than just bricks and mortar. It is a story etched in stone, a testament to faith and resilience.