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St. Athanasius Church
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A picturesque church
The former pilgrimage church of St. Athanasius – also known as St. Athanas – in the Carinthian municipality of Berg im Drautal is this year’s motif in the series “Churches in Austria”.
Surrounded by mountains, the chapel stands prominently in a field near the Drautal federal road. It was first mentioned in records in 1443 and consecrated in 1485. The church has borne its current dedication since 1782, named after Saint Athanasius, Patriarch of Alexandria, who is said to have stopped here on his journey into exile to Trier in the 4th century.
Parts of the wide, low nave date back to the Romanesque period and are adjoined by an open porch. The building’s most striking feature is the very tall Late Gothic chancel, built in 1481, topped with a small wooden tower. Inside, the chancel is defined by a Gothic ribbed vault. The high altar dates from 1666, and a Baroque Athanasius altar on the south wall houses a statue of the saint. Noteworthy features include a crescent moon Madonna from the 17th century, a pulpit adorned with painted medallions, and frescoes from the 15th and 16th centuries, including a fragment of a St Christopher fresco on the outer wall, dating to around 1400. The Gothic pilgrim’s cross on the side altar is studded with horseshoe nails to prevent pilgrims from cutting off souvenirs. Pilgrims would kneel and pray on the Roman stone in the church floor, and collect water from the Athanasius spring beside the path leading past the church.
When? 20 June 2025, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Presentation at 11:00 a.m. Where? "Treff Berg" Event Centre, Berg 1, 9771 Berg im Drautal Group pictures: Picture 1 Picture of presentation: © Group picture, left to right: Robert Schneeweiss (Austrian Post – Philately POS), Wilhelm Deuer, Wilhelm Remes (President, St. Gabriel Philately Association), Reverend Josef Allmaier, Elisabeth Plank (Gabriel Guild Carinthia), Wolfgang Krenn (Mayor of Berg im Drautal), Karl Ohnmacht (Honorary President, St. Gabriel Guild)
