Klosterkirche St. Avgin (ehem. Zeno)

The Monastery and Convent Church of St. Avgin (formerly St. Zeno) sits in Arth, in the canton of Schwyz, within the same municipality as Goldau. It began as a Capuchin friary and has served since 1996 as a religious and cultural centre of the Syriac Orthodox Church in Switzerland. The complex is listed in the Swiss inventory of cultural property.

Why does it have two names?

The older name goes back to a chapel of St. Zeno, first recorded in 1290. A friary was later built beside it. "Avgin" arrived with the new owners: the Syriac Christian tradition venerates a saint of that name, and the dedication changed once the community took over. The heritage register keeps both, listing the site as "Avgin (formerly Zeno)".

What is its history?

Capuchins were called to Arth in the mid-1650s to back the Catholic reform in the region. The Zeno chapel was consecrated as a Capuchin church in 1667, with the friary built alongside. Between 1973 and 1996 the order ran a meditation centre here. In 1996 the property was sold to the Syriac Orthodox Church in Switzerland, which opened its religious and cultural centre in the buildings.

How do you get there?

The monastery lies in Arth, just beyond the parish church of St. George and St. Zeno, on Klosterstrasse, a few minutes' walk from the village square. From Goldau you can reach Arth by local train, bus or car. Arth-Goldau is a major rail junction on the Gotthard and Lucerne lines, and the rack railway up the Rigi starts from the same station, so the visit combines easily with a mountain trip.

What is worth seeing nearby?

From outside you see a compact, baroque-era monastic complex set among village streets. Add the neighbouring parish church (built 1694-1697, with its older tower kept) and the old centre of Arth on Lake Zug. The interior is used by a living religious community, so access depends on arrangement with the hosts.

FAQ

Is the monastery still active? Yes, though no longer as a Capuchin house. Since 1996 it has housed the Syriac Orthodox centre in Switzerland.

Is Goldau the same place as Arth? They share one municipality, but the monastery stands in Arth village, not by Goldau station.

When was the church built? A chapel of St. Zeno is recorded in 1290, and it was consecrated as a Capuchin church in 1667.

Can visitors go inside? There are no fixed tourist hours. Contact the community or the Arth parish before you come.