Antoniuskirche (Saint Anthony's Church), Graz

The Saint Anthony's Church (Antoniuskirche) in Graz holds great significance in the religious and cultural history of the city. Situated in the central district, Innere Stadt, and nestled on the eastern slope of the Schlossberg, near the Styrian Folklore Museum, this Roman Catholic church is part of the Graz-Dom parish. It has been a vital part of the local religious community since its establishment in the early 17th century, between 1600 and 1602, as the first Styrian branch of the Capuchins.

Originally located in the Paulustor suburb, the church's establishment coincided with a significant event on August 8, 1600, when 10,000 Protestant books were burned, symbolizing the expulsion of Protestants from Graz. The papal nuncio consecrated the site for Saint Anthony's Church shortly after, dedicating it to Saint Anthony of Padua.

The architecture of Saint Anthony's Church is characterized by a simple yet dignified exterior, with a medium-sized rectangular structure featuring a smooth main facade and a triangular gable. Inside, the church boasts an intricately designed baroque high altar, adorned with an altarpiece from 1602 by Giovanni Pietro de Pomis, known for his work in Graz. The interior also features various historical artifacts, including 18th-century stalls, 17th-century marble holy water fonts, and a wooden crucifix by Alexander Silveri.

One notable painting by De Pomis, originally intended for another church, portrays Archduchess Maria, the founder of a local monastery, receiving a blessing from the Christ child.

The church's history took a turn with the Josephine reforms in 1786, leading to the closure of the attached Capuchin monastery, which was repurposed as a psychiatric institution. In 1913, the former monastery became the home of the Folklore Museum, marking a transition from religious to cultural significance.