Day of Mourning in Vienna

The Austrian re-enactors and the commemoration organized by the Habsburg-Lothringen House followed the route of Franz Joseph’s funeral. It started with a Holy Mass in Stephansdom, and after a spectacular procession, it ended outside the Kapuzinerkirche, where the emperors are buried in the crypt. The Stephansdom was packed with commemorators and re-enactors, evoking the colourful world of the age of the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy. The Holy Mass was celebrated by Prelate Franz Schlegl, and concelebrated by a member of the Hungarian group, Catholic Military Chaplain (and re-enactor regimental padre) Capt. Róbert Kótai. In his sermon, the prelate spoke about the most important stages in the life of the emperor-king, pointing out that he was leading the empire and its people – which was trusted to him by the grace of God, according to his faith –with a firm sense of responsibility and duty all along.

At the end of the Mass – which was also attended by representatives of state organs and diplomatic corps, including the Hungarian military and air attaché – the re-enactors lined up in formation outside Stephansdom, and then the procession, led by members of the ruling house and their escort guards, left for the Kapuzinerkirche. On arriving in the square, they formed a semi-circle, and tied the funerary ribbons on the flags. In what followed, a salvo was fired, and after a “Dismiss!", the participants from the countries of the one-time Monarchy jointly paid tribute inside the crypt in front of the sarcophagus of the late Austrian emperor and Hungarian king.

Despite the inclement weather, almost one thousand military re-enactors came from every corner of the former empire to mark the centenary by re-enacting the events with piety.

Photo: Zsófia Székely