Defiant Nuns run from the Austrian home for their home for their abandoned monastery in the Alps

Three Austrian nuns of the 1980s fled the retirement home, where they were placed and returned to their former monastery.

Sister Bernadet, 88 years old, 86 -year -old sister Regina, and 82 -year -old sister Rita, are the last three nuns at the Kloster Goldstein Monastery in Elsbten, just outside Salzburg.

They regained their access with the help of ex -students and locksmith.

The church authorities are not happy – but the nuns are.

“I’m so pleased I’m home,” Sister Rita said. “I was always at home at home for care. I am so happy and grateful that I came back.”

The trio says they were removed from the monastery against their will in December 2023.

“We were not asked,” Sister Bernadet said. “We had the right to stay here for the rest of our lives and that was broken.”

The three nuns have spent much of their lives at Schloss Goldenstein, a castle that is a monastery and a private school for girls from 1877. The school, which begins to accept boys in 2017, is still functioning.

Sister Bernadet herself attends the school, arriving as a teenager in 1948. One of her fellow students is the Austrian film actress Roma Schneider.

Sister Regina arrived at the monastery in 1958, and sister Rita was four years later.

All three continued to work at school as teachers for many years. Sister Regina was a director.

But the number of nuns declined.

In 2022, the building was taken over by the Archbishopric of Salzburg and the Abbey in Reichersberg, the Augustine Monastery. Provoy Marcus Grassl of the Abbey became the head of the nuns.

The community was officially dissolved in early 2024, and the other nuns were entitled to residence throughout life, as long as they allow them to allow their health and mental capacity.

In December 2023, it was decided to transfer them to a Catholic care home where they were unhappy.

In early September, Sister Bernadet, Sister Rita and Sister Regina moved back, aided by a group of former students.

“I’ve been subordinated all my life, but it was too much,” Sister Bernadet said.

They packed several things and returned to the monastery. The locking of their former apartments was changed, so a locksmith called.

When they first arrived, there was no electricity or water.

In a statement, Prostost Grasl said the nun’s decision to return to the monastery was “completely incomprehensible” and “escalation”.

“The rooms in the monastery are no longer used and in no way meet the requirements for proper care,” he said.

He said that “insecure health conditions of the nuns” mean that “independent living in the Goldstean Monastery is no longer possible.”

Grassl said that the home of the old people provided them with “absolutely essential, professional and good medical care”.

Many of the nun wishes for the future of the monastery were taken into account, he added, including the continuation of the school.

The three nuns stay back in their former home.

Electric and water bonds have already been partially restored, supporters carry food and food and have been seen by doctors.

There is a steady flow of visitors, many of whom are their ex -students.

One of them, Sophie Tasher, said the nuns belong to the monastery. “Goldenstein without nuns is simply not possible.”

“When they need us, they just have to call us and we will be there, for sure. The nuns here have changed so many lives in such a good way.”

Alisha, another student, said the nuns had always recognized old students.

Nuns are posted on Instagram, prayer, liturgy, lunch and descending the steep staircase.

It is said that their old staircase was pulled out after being taken away.

The nuns say they are determined to stay.

“Before I die at the home of the old people, I would soon go to the meadow and go into eternity that way,” Sister Bernadet said.