Minoriten

Friars Minor, oldest existing order following the rule of St. Francis of Assisi (1181/82-1226) beside the Franciscans and the Friars Minor Capuchin; developed from what were called the Conventuals, who pursued a different direction than the "Observants" (outlawed by papal decree in 1317), since 1517 (separation from the Franciscans) formally independent order (OFM Conv., order of Friars Minor Conventual). The first monastery of Friars Minor was founded in Vienna in 1224, followed by foundations in Stein an der Donau (1224), Tulln (1225), Graz (1230), Linz (1236) and in many more places. Mainly as a result of the Reformation movement and the dissolution of monasteries by Emperor Joseph I,I many of these monasteries were dissolved. Today monasteries of the Friars Minor still exist in Vienna, Graz, Neunkirchen (since 1631) and Asparn an der Zaya (since 1624).