Description of the attraction
The Roman Catholic parish church of St. Akakios is located in the center of Schladming and is surrounded by a cemetery. To the north-east of it, on the territory of the necropolis, there is the chapel of St. Anne.
The first written mention of the church of St. Akaki, however, as well as the village of Schladming, dates back to 1299. The square tower was built in the 13th century. At that time, it was deprived of its expressive onion-shaped dome, which appeared only in 1832.
In 1525 the town of Schladming was seriously damaged during the Peasant War. Probably, the church of St. Akaki was in need of reconstruction. The expansion of the only Gothic prayer hall to three naves took place between 1522 and 1532.
The main altar, the main attraction of the interior of the temple, was created in 1702-1704. The sculptures that are installed on it were carved in 1741 by Martin Neuberg from Admont. One of the side altars is dedicated to Our Lady of the Rosary, and the second to St. Luke and the Coronation of the Virgin.
Several times the church of St. Akaki was burned. The most devastating fires occurred in 1814 and 1931. After a fire in 1814, Franz Xaver Gugg cast three new bells for the church in Schladming in Salzburg. The bells cost 1,639 guilders to make.
Since 1857, an independent parish was founded in Schladming, and the church of St. Akakios became a parish.
The feast of the patron saint of the church of St. Akaki is solemnly celebrated on June 22. On this day, a magnificent mass is held in Schladming.
