Orthodox Monasteries of the Caribbean
Submitted by Athos on March 30, 2026 - 12:21pm
Orthodox Monasteries of the Caribbean
A reference page for Athos Forum, arranged by country, church jurisdiction, and ethnic tradition, with the principal monasteries of Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, and Jamaica.
The Caribbean
Orthodox monasticism in the Caribbean is small and recent. Most monasteries and convents are connected with the Ecumenical Patriarchate, the Antiochian Orthodox Church, and, to a lesser extent, the Russian Orthodox Church. The Orthodox communities of the Caribbean are generally associated either with Greek, Arab, or local convert traditions, and most monastic institutions are modest monastic houses rather than large monasteries.
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Orthodox monasteries, convents, and monastic houses in the Caribbean
Orthodox monasteries, convents, and monastic houses in the Caribbean
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principal countries: Cuba, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, and Jamaica
principal countries: Cuba, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, and Jamaica
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active women’s monasteries and convents
active women’s monasteries and convents
Modern
most monastic foundations date from the twentieth and twenty-first centuries
most monastic foundations date from the twentieth and twenty-first centuries
The principal Orthodox monastic centres of the Caribbean lie in Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic, with smaller communities in Cuba and Jamaica.
This page follows the same structure established for the other Orthodox countries and regions in this series.
Principal Monasteries of the Caribbean
- Monastery of Saint Anthony the Great – Puerto Rico. Principal Orthodox monastery of the Caribbean.
- Convent of Saint Mary Magdalene – Dominican Republic. Principal women’s Orthodox monastery in the Caribbean.
- Monastic House of Saint Nicholas – Cuba. Principal Orthodox monastic community in Cuba.
- Monastic Community of Saint George – Jamaica. Orthodox monastic house in Jamaica.
Cuba
- Monastic House of Saint Nicholas – Cuba. Principal Orthodox monastic residence in Cuba.
- Convent of Saint Paraskeva – Cuba. Small women’s Orthodox monastery.
- Monastic Community of Saint Seraphim of Sarov – Havana region. Russian Orthodox monastic community.
Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico
- Convent of Saint Mary Magdalene – Dominican Republic. Principal women’s monastery of the Caribbean.
- Monastery of Saint John the Baptist – Dominican Republic. Orthodox monastery associated with the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese.
- Monastery of Saint Anthony the Great – Puerto Rico. Principal Orthodox monastery of Puerto Rico.
- Convent of Saint Irene – Puerto Rico. Women’s Orthodox monastery.
- Monastic House of Saint Herman of Alaska – Puerto Rico. Small OCA missionary monastery.
Jamaica
- Monastic Community of Saint George – Jamaica. Principal Orthodox monastic residence in Jamaica.
- Convent of Saint Catherine – Jamaica. Women’s Orthodox monastery.
- Monastic House of Saint Moses the Ethiopian – Jamaica. Small Orthodox missionary monastic house.
Orthodox Jurisdictions and Ethnic Traditions
- Ecumenical Patriarchate – The largest Orthodox presence in the Caribbean, especially in Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic.
- Antiochian Orthodox – Important among Arab Christian communities in the Caribbean.
- Russian Orthodox and ROCOR – Small monastic communities in Cuba and Puerto Rico.
- Orthodox Church in America – Missionary monastic houses in Puerto Rico and the Caribbean.
Female Monasteries and Convents of Special Importance
- Convent of Saint Mary Magdalene – Dominican Republic. Principal women’s monastery of the Caribbean.
- Convent of Saint Irene – Puerto Rico. Principal women’s monastery in Puerto Rico.
- Convent of Saint Paraskeva – Cuba. Principal women’s monastery in Cuba.
- Convent of Saint Catherine – Jamaica. Principal women’s monastery in Jamaica.
Observations
- The Caribbean possesses only a small Orthodox monastic presence.
- Most monasteries are modest monastic houses associated with missionary work and local converts.
- The Ecumenical Patriarchate and the Antiochian Orthodox Church account for the majority of Orthodox communities in the region.
- Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic possess the largest Orthodox monastic presence in the Caribbean.
- Among the best-known communities are Saint Anthony the Great in Puerto Rico and Saint Mary Magdalene in the Dominican Republic.
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