Schottenkirche, Vienna

Schottenkirche
Schottenkirche, Freyung, Vienna
Basic information
Location	Vienna, Austria
Geographic coordinates	48°12′43″N 16°21′53″E / 48.2119°N 16.3647°E / 48.2119; 16.3647Coordinates: 48°12′43″N 16°21′53″E / 48.2119°N 16.3647°E / 48.2119; 16.3647
Affiliation	Catholic Church
Country	Austria
Leadership	P. Nikolaus Poch o.s.b
Website	www.schottenpfarre.at
Architectural description
Architectural type	Church, Basilica Minor
Architectural style	Baroque
Specifications
Direction of façade	W
Length	55 m
Width	25 m
Width (nave)	15 m

The Schottenkirche (English: Scottish Church) is a parish church in Vienna attached to the Schottenstift, founded by Hiberno-Scottish Benedictine monks in the 12th century. In 1418, the Duke Albert V of Austria transferred it to the German-speaking Benedictine monks from the Melk Abbey during the Melker Reform initiated after the Council of Constance. The church has been elevated to the rank of Basilica Minor in 1958.

The Schottenkirche is located in the Freyung in the first district of Vienna's Innere Stadt.

Scottish and Irish missionaries (Iro-Scottish, Hiberno-Scottish) were instrumental in the spread of Christianity in Continental Europe during the Middle Ages. Of special importance in Austria is of Stockerau (of Melk) killed near Vienna in 1012. This Iro-Scottish monk of royal lineage killed at while on pilgrimage to Jerusalem has been patron saint of Austria until 1663.

During the 11th and the 12th century, Scottish Monasteries intended for Scottish and Irish monks exclusively sprang up. The famous Scottish Monastery of St. Jacob at Ratisbon was built around 1090 by Burgrave Otto of Ratisbon in Ratisbon became the mother-house of a series of other Scots Monasteries, among which the Our Blessed Lady at Vienna built in 1158.

The first church was a three-aisled Romanesque pillar church with a single apse, destroyed by a fire in 1276.