User:The C of E/hkfc

The Hapsburg funeral knocking ceremony, known in German as the Anklopfzeremonie, is a ritual performed at the funerals of monarchs and consorts from the House of Hapsburg. The ceremony takes place at St Stephen's Cathedral, Vienna, Austria. The ceremony involves the master of ceremonies knocking on the cathedral door to request access for the deceased noble. A monk will then deny knowledge of the person, which occurs twice. At the third knock, the decesed Hapsburg is announced as "A poor mortal sinner" to which the doors are then opened.

History
The ceremony has it's basis on Christian teaching that a person's inherited titles and received honours mean nothing before God. Only good works of faith are recognised by God. The description of the deceased the third time as "a poor mortal sinner" is intended to show that the deceased is entering the house of God humble and putting them-self before the mercy of God.

Ceremony
The ceremony has evolved following the fall of the Austria-Hungarian Empire. For Zita of Austria-Hungary, the ceremony remained the same. For the funeral of Crown Prince Otto von Hapsburg, he was initially announced with all his Royal and noble titles, with the monk responding "we do not know him". They then listed his civilian achievements such as President of the International Paneuropean Union, where the monk responded the same. On the third time he was introduced as "Otto, a mortal sinful man" where the monk responded "let him be admitted".