Graz mourns: hundreds of memory of the victims of the killing spree in the cathedral

Graz mourns: hundreds of memory of the victims of the killing spree in the cathedral

Dreierschützengasse, 8010 Graz, Österreich - On June 10, 2025, a killing spree in Graz shook the Austrian company when a 21-year-old ex-student of Borg Dreierschützengasse murdered ten people and celebrated eleven more before he committed suicide. This tragedy triggered a wave of grief and compassion, which in the following days was expressed in numerous commemorative celebrations and services. Hundreds of people came together for a memorial event in the Graz Cathedral to commemorate the victim and to find consolation.

The commemoration was opened by Mehmet Celebi, the chairman of the Islamic religious community of Styria, who commemorated the victims, including three Muslim students. Celebi appealed to the responsibility of each individual for society and underlined the need to create no split from pain. Diocesan bishop Wilhelm Krautwaschl and superintendent Wolfgang Rehner also expressed her thoughts. Krautwaschl asked to approach each other and look together in a hopeful future, while Rehner highlighted the importance of consolation, support and peace.

State grants and national solidarity

The tragedy was classified by the Austrian government as a "national catastrophe", which led to the establishment of a three -day state mourning. On the occasion of their end, a memorial service took place in the St. Stephen's Cathedral in Vienna, which was led by Archbishop Franz Lackner. Among other things, Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen and members of the entire federal government were present. During the service, ten white candles were inflamed for the victims, an additional candle was intended for the perpetrator to also illuminate the complexity of grief and responsibility.

Archbishop Lackner emphasized the common responsibility in the mourning period and the importance of perceiving the mourners as brothers and sisters. The Viennese Apostolic Administrator Josef Grünwidl spoke about the lasting wounds that leaves this tragedy and wished hope and light in the dark. Imam Ermin Sehic recited Koran verses, which are supposed to remind you of eternal life and thus promote an interreligious dialogue.

insights into mourning culture

Mourning and dealing with death are not only current topics at the local level, but also in intercultural and interreligious contexts. At a planned interreligious conference, dealing with grief in different cultures is discussed. The importance of intercultural competence and a holistic approach in the palliative and hospice accompaniment is emphasized. It is important that specialists work together from different religious traditions in order to be aside and promote the mourners.

In the period after the tragedy in Graz, the variety of grief coping becomes visible. It turns out that grief is not uniform experience, but depends on the respective cultural and religious perspective. The coexistence in mourning is intended to help build bridges and to promote a solidarity community.

The commemoration in the Graz Cathedral and the service in the Viennese Stephans Cathedral were an expression of this solidarity, completed with the song "Amoi Seg'a us again", sung by Andreas Gabalier, the hope and the indestructible belief in reunion. It remains to be hoped that the government's measures and calls to community and understanding will bear fruit and strengthen social interaction.

For more information about the commemorative celebrations and the current developments, the articles can be found on Kleine Zeitung, OTS and Berliner Forum