Mekhitarist Monastery of Vienna, Armenian Catholic monastery in Neubau, Vienna, Austria.
The Mekhitarist Monastery is an Armenian Catholic religious community in Vienna's Neubau district, housed in a four-story building designed by Joseph Kornhäusel with Renaissance Revival features. The structure along Mechitaristengasse contains extensive collections of manuscripts, religious texts, and objects related to Armenian history and spirituality.
Armenian monks established this community after relocating from Venice to Trieste, then moving to Vienna in 1805 as Napoleon's military campaigns disrupted traditional European religious centers. The monastery became a permanent home for preserving Armenian Catholic knowledge and practice.
The monastery serves as a living center for Armenian Catholic traditions and scholarship, where visitors can encounter centuries of Armenian religious practice and learning. The community here maintains these traditions while opening their doors to those interested in Armenian culture.
The monastery sits on Mechitaristengasse in the Neubau district with its Renaissance Revival facade clearly visible from the street. Visitors should remember this is an active religious community, so respectful behavior and attention to any access guidelines are important.
The community has produced Mechitharine, a herbal liqueur, since 1889 as a primary income source for maintaining the monastery. This unexpected product is one of the less known aspects of the place and shows how the monks secured their economic independence.
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