Markus Stephan Bugnyar, born on 5 March 1975 in Währing, Vienna, studied Catholic Theology and independent religious education at University of Vienna and for a theological study year at the Benedictine Hagia Maria Sion (Dormitio) Abbey in Jerusalem.

Ordained to the priesthood ón 29 June 2000 in Eisenstadt, from Sept. 2000 to Aug. 2001 Chaplain in Mattersburg, Walbersdorf and Pöttelsdorf (Burgengland).
September 2001 - February 2004 Studied at the École biblique et archéologique française de Jérusalem. Rector of the Austrian Hospice of the Holy Family since 1 May 2004.