St. Georgenberg-Fiecht Abbey

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St. Georgenberg-Fiecht Abbey, the successor of St. Georgenberg Abbey and Fiecht Abbey (Abtei St. Georgenberg-Fiecht, Abtei St. Georgenberg and Abtei Fiecht) is a Benedictine monastery situated in Fiecht in the community of Vomp in the Tyrol, Austria.

[edit] History

The monastery originated as a hermitage in about the middle of the 10th century through Blessed Rathold or Rapoto, of the ancient noble family of the Rapotonen, on the Georgenberg ("St. George's Mount"), a rocky outcrop rising some hundred metres above the valley.

St. Georgenberg Abbey was founded on the Georgenberg in 1138 by Reginbert, Bishop of Brixen. Because of natural catastrophes between 1706 and 1750 it was re-founded in the valley of the Inn. The new abbey in the valley was named Fiecht Abbey. The Georgenberg itself remains one of the most important pilgrimage sites in Austria.

Between 1941 and 1945 the abbey was impounded by the Gestapo and the monks exiled, to return after the end of the war.

Since 1967 the abbey has been a member of the Ottilien Congregation (Missionary Benedictines) of the Benedictine Confederation.

[edit] Pilgrimage church on the Georgenberg

Pilgrimages here began after the "blood miracle" that took place in about 1310. The objects of veneration are Saint George, a Gothic Pietà and the reliquary of the Holy Blood. The present magnificent Baroque church was built in about 1750.