Bertholdstein Abbey
Encyclopedia
Bertholdstein Abbey, or St. Gabriel's Abbey, is a Benedictine nunnery at Bertholdstein in Styria, Austria
.
The nunnery was founded in 1889 in Prague
and was raised to the rank of an abbey in 1893. St. Gabriel’s was the first women’s community to join the Beuronese Congregation
within the Benedictine Confederation
. After World War I
, the predominantly German-speaking community relocated to the castle at Bertholdstein in Styria.
In 1942, the nunnery was commandeered by the National Socialists
; the nuns were expelled and could not return until 1946.
Today, the main duties of the community are making vestments and church embroidery and taking care of guests.
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
.
The nunnery was founded in 1889 in Prague
Prague
Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million...
and was raised to the rank of an abbey in 1893. St. Gabriel’s was the first women’s community to join the Beuronese Congregation
Beuronese Congregation
The Beuronese Congregation, or Beuron Congregation, is a union of mostly German or German-speaking religious houses of both monks and nuns within the Benedictine Confederation...
within the Benedictine Confederation
Benedictine Confederation
The Benedictine Confederation of the Order of Saint Benedict is the international governing body of the Order of Saint Benedict.-Origin:...
. After World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, the predominantly German-speaking community relocated to the castle at Bertholdstein in Styria.
In 1942, the nunnery was commandeered by the National Socialists
National Socialist German Workers Party
The National Socialist German Workers' Party , commonly known in English as the Nazi Party, was a political party in Germany between 1920 and 1945. Its predecessor, the German Workers' Party , existed from 1919 to 1920...
; the nuns were expelled and could not return until 1946.
Today, the main duties of the community are making vestments and church embroidery and taking care of guests.