Church and Convent of the Sisters of the Cross

The Sisters of the Cross church and convent can be found on Kreuzgasse in the Geidorf district of Graz, specifically in the third district.The convent is a branch of the Sisters of Charity of the Holy Cross.Adjacent to it is the Sanatorium of the Holy Cross Sisters, which serves as a general hospital.

The Sisters of the Holy Cross congregation was founded in Switzerland in 1856. In 1871, they established a maids’ asylum in Graz, specifically located in Leonhardstraße.The priest’s hospital was established in Grabenstraße in 1872. After that, in 1878, after-school care centers were opened in the parishes of St. Andrä and Münzgraben. Finally, in 1885, the Maria Hilf sanatorium was founded.The provincial house was constructed in Kreuzgasse in 1887.In 1891, the sisters from Graz assumed responsibility for nursing duties at the Villach hospital, leading to the subsequent establishment of a branch there.The Annaheim, a denominational old people’s and nursing home, was constructed on Riesstraße in 1983.Meanwhile, due to a shortage of young individuals from the Sisters of the Holy Cross, certain institutions have been transferred to other religious communities.

The entire complex was constructed in the late 19th century, starting in 1887, and was designed in a historicist-neo-Gothic architectural style.The building was only extended by a church in 1891 and by the Josefshaus in the south wing in 1904/1905.The complex is elongated and is comprised of four floors.The central risalit, located in the middle of the front façade, features a pediment that is adorned with a pointed helmet.The main building of St. Ulrika is also home to the community of elderly sisters.The St. Josef residential community for elderly sisters is currently located in the Josefshaus.

The Sisters of the Cross monastery church is a neo-Gothic pillar gallery church constructed in 1891.The building features a single-nave design with groin vaults and includes a one-bay gallery.The interior of the space is designed in the Neo-Gothic style.All of the sculptures were created by the artist Peter Neuböck.