Doesn’t the name Zum Allerheiligsten Erlöser sound majestic? It translates to “To the Most Holy Redeemer”. This church has a fascinating story. It stands on Rennweg in Vienna’s third district. It’s more than just a pretty building.
The Zum Allerheiligsten Erlöser is also known as the Czech Church. Once it was part of a monastery. Now it serves as a Roman Catholic church. It belongs to the parish of Rennweg-Mariä Geburt. The church falls under the Archdiocese of Vienna.
Back in the day, this was the Redemptoristines Monastery church. Today, the Comforters of Gethsemani own it. They focus on serving Czechs living abroad. The Zum Allerheiligsten Erlöser is a protected monument.
Look around at the simple yet structured exterior. The main front faces Rennweg. Boerhavegasse and Schützengasse border the complex. Architect Carl Roesner designed the church and monastery. The “Worthy Women of the Order of the Most Holy Redeemer in Vienna” commissioned it. People knew them as Redemptoristines. The years of construction were from 1834 to 1836.
This project was Roesner’s first in Vienna. He significantly shaped Historicism in Vienna. Roesner used Renaissance styles. He drew inspiration from his studies in Italy. Anton Hoppe was the master builder.
The building we see today isn’t the original. In 1908, the monastery was sold. The rear sections were torn down. This made way for Schützengasse. A meeting hall was built in the newly opened courtyard.
Since 1922, the “Congregation of the Daughters of Gethsemani” has owned the Zum Allerheiligsten Erlöser. This group grew out of the St. Method Society. They focus on serving Czechs and Slovaks abroad.
The church suffered damage in 1944. A bomb struck near the choir. The high altar was destroyed. Only the “Mary of Perpetual Help” image survived. The sacristy, meeting hall, and tower were also damaged. The tower was rebuilt without its original features.
In 1968, the church’s interior was renovated. The roof was also repaired.
Notice how the church forms the central part of the monastery complex. The monastery wings are slightly set back. Inside, the Zum Allerheiligsten Erlöser is a hall church. It has side aisle-like extensions. It’s a significant example of early Historicism in Austria.
The church’s facade is divided by rusticated work. Delicate pilasters divide the sides. These pilasters support a console frieze. A triangular gable sits above the frieze. The church tower rises above the gable. The tower lost its original structure during World War II.
The round-arched portal features pilasters. These pilasters support a rectangular structure. A round window sits above the portal. A small tondo is in the gable field. The clock on the tower is also framed in a tondo.
The three-story monastery wings each have five window axes. The windows are round-arched. The tracts in Boerhavegasse are also three stories. They lack facade decorations. The single-story meeting hall is between them. It has a pedimented portal.
Inside, the Zum Allerheiligsten Erlöser features a hall with side rooms. The central square bay connects to the transverse rectangular gallery. Side aisles flank the bay. Galleries are above. A triumphal arch separates the choir from the nave. Four marble pillars with composite capitals support a baldachin-like vault.
The simple altar table supports a Renaissance-style altarpiece. It has pilasters and columns. The altar area was rebuilt after World War II. Only the kneeling angels and the image of grace were saved. The “Mary of Perpetual Help” image is a copy from Rome. It depicts Mary with the child Jesus. Angels holding instruments of suffering hover above them.
The Mary Chapel is to the right of the church entrance. It was decorated in Neo-Baroque style in 1935. It was renovated after World War II. It features a copy of the Brandýs nad Labem-Stará Boleslav image. There is also a small copper relief.
The sacristy is a tall vaulted room. Two intersecting arches span from side to side. The organ was built in 1910. It has ten registers. It was rebuilt in 1965.
The Zum Allerheiligsten Erlöser is a testament to Vienna’s rich history. It blends architectural styles. It has served various communities over the years. It continues to be a place of worship and a cultural landmark.