Commemoration of the massacre .St. Stephen's Cathedral, Vienna

Graz Massacre
National Mourning Ends June 12, 2025, 7:43 PM
Flags at Mourning at Graz City Hall
Unimaginable, yet painfully real: 48 hours after the horrific shooting spree by a 21-year-old at a Graz school, Austria is in shock – and drawing closer together in these difficult moments. Minutes of silence and memorial events are showing compassion and solidarity. Meanwhile, new details about the crime and the condition of the injured are emerging. The "Krone" newspaper is reporting live on the current events – The most important points in brief: Although Arthur A. (21) failed the Austrian Federal Army's psychological test, he was granted a private firearms license despite being unfit for service.
The perpetrator was a passionate first-person shooter player and wore shooting glasses and a headset during the crime.
The perpetrator apparently pursued his revenge plan for months. He shot several times a week at a shooting club. The massacre lasted seven minutes. The 21-year-old knew one of his victims – she was his former teacher.

Three of the victims, who had previously been in the intensive care unit, were transferred to the general ward.

Commemorations and solidarity actions marked the days following the shooting. A brief silence also fell at Nova Rock.

British King Charles officially mourned the victims of Graz. Arnold Schwarzenegger also expressed his shock. Recording of the television broadcast via terrestrial free-to-air public radio and television of the Austrian TV stations Vienna Austria

Video description commemorating the victims of the Graz shooting
A moving, interdenominational memorial service was held in St. Stephen's Cathedral in Vienna to commemorate the ten victims of the tragic shooting in Graz that shook the city and all of Austria on Tuesday morning. The service, held at the end of the three days of national mourning, was presided over by Archbishop Franz Lackner, President of the Austrian Bishops' Conference. Representatives of various Christian churches, including Evangelical Lutheran Bishop Michael Kalupka and Superintendent Wolfgang Rehner, as well as representatives of the Islamic faith community, such as Imam Ermin Schehic, participated to send a strong message of unity and compassion.
The service began with the solemn procession into St. Stephen's Cathedral, followed by a Psalm of Lament (Psalm 142), reflecting the congregation's deep grief. Ten candles were lit, one for each victim, and an eleventh for the perpetrator who took his own life, symbolizing the complex nature of grief and forgiveness. Prominent figures such as Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen, Federal Chancellor Christian Stocker, and Federal Minister Christoph Wiederkehr participated in the candle lighting, as did schoolchildren and representatives of other faiths, underscoring the broad social participation.
A particularly moving moment was Imam Ermin Schehic's recitation of Sura 2 from the Quran, delivered in Arabic and German, emphasizing comfort, patience, and hope in times of trial. In his sermon, Archbishop Lackner called for a shared sharing of the burden of suffering and a shared responsibility for life. He recalled the words of Saint Augustine, who sought meaning in times of grief, and emphasized hope as the "humblest form of faith" that shines even in the darkest moments.

Circumstances and Victims:
On Tuesday morning, a shooting spree occurred at a school in Graz. A 21-year-old perpetrator, Arthur A., ​​killed ten people, mostly Muslim students and teachers, including one of the perpetrator's former teachers. The attack lasted seven minutes, and the perpetrator, wearing shooting glasses and a headset, subsequently took his own life. The shooting, which was apparently planned for months, left deep wounds in the families, the city of Graz, and all of Austria.
Pax Romana – A Wish for Peace:
In the spirit of the Roman ideal of peace, the Pax Romana, which stood for unity, security, and prosperity under Roman rule, this service reflects the desire to find a path of peace and solidarity out of the darkness of tragedy. As the hymn Pax Romana sings, may peace, rooted in community and mutual respect, strengthen the hearts of those who mourn and preserve the memory of the victims in "Heaven, peace reigns beneath the stars" – these words remind us that hope and solidarity can exist even in times of deepest sorrow.

Music: Pax Romana (Chorale of the Epic Roman Legions), complementing the solemn organ music of Cathedral Organist Ernst Palli and the Choir of St. Stephen's.

Source: Recording by Austrian Public Broadcasting, based on reporting by krone.at (June 12, 2025).
May this service be a sign of hope and shared togetherness to heal the wounds of tragedy and promote peace.

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Pax Romana (Chorale of the Epic Roman Legions) (Chorale Epique des Légions Romaines)
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