Gospa Sveta

For hundreds of years, Slovenians have been visiting the ancient Carantanian cathedral of Gospa Sveta (Maria Saal) which is located just north of the the Slovenian border. This cathedral was founded in 753 AD by Bishop Modestus, the Apostle of Slovenians-Carantanians. Gospa Sveta is important in Slovenian history because it was at this location that the first Slovenian nation called Carantania (Karantanija) later known as Carinthia was born in the 6th Century AD. Carantania covered the present day Central European countries of Slovenia and Austria.

Gosposvetsko polje was also where Slovenian Dukes were installed in the 6th century using the Princes Stone (Knezji Kamen) as part of the ceremony. The Princes Stone appears on the Slovenian Euro coin and along with the Coat of Arms of Carantania known as the Black Panther (Crni Panter) are both important historical Slovenian symbols.

Any Slovenians wishing to tour the Cathedral at Gospa Sveta may contact the following persons; The present-day parish priest,

P. Bernhard Grewe, welcomes Slovenian visitors and pilgrims at Gospa Sveta. He can be reached at:

pfarrbuero@pfarre-mariasaal.net or tel. 0043/4223/2254. Address: Domplatz 1, 9063 Maria Saal-Gospa Sveta, Austria

Retired Msgr. Leopold Silan looks after the welfare of pilgrims at Gospa Sveta. Since he can speak Slovenian, particular care is given to Slovenian pilgrims. His address is: Karfreitstrasse 30/7, 9020 Klagenfurt-Celovec, Austria, tel. 0043/463/91-35-74.