Orthodox Monasteries of Northern and Andean South America
Submitted by Athos on March 30, 2026 - 12:29pm
Orthodox Monasteries of Northern and Andean South America
A reference page for Athos Forum, arranged by country, church jurisdiction, and ethnic tradition, with the principal monasteries of Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia.
Northern and Andean South America
Orthodox monasticism in northern and Andean South America is small and largely missionary in character. Most monasteries and convents are associated with the Ecumenical Patriarchate, the Antiochian Orthodox Church, the Russian Orthodox Church, and the Orthodox Church in America. Colombia and Venezuela possess the strongest Orthodox presence in the region, while Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia contain only a few small monastic communities.
15+
Orthodox monasteries, convents, and monastic houses in the northern and Andean region
Orthodox monasteries, convents, and monastic houses in the northern and Andean region
50%
of the region’s monasteries located in Colombia and Venezuela
of the region’s monasteries located in Colombia and Venezuela
6+
active women’s monasteries and convents
active women’s monasteries and convents
Modern
most foundations date from the twentieth and twenty-first centuries
most foundations date from the twentieth and twenty-first centuries
The principal Orthodox monastic centres of the region lie in Colombia and Venezuela, especially near the principal cities and immigrant communities.
This page follows the same structure established for the other Orthodox countries and regions in this series.
Principal Monasteries of Northern and Andean South America
- Monastery of Saint Anthony the Great – Colombia. Principal Orthodox monastery of the region.
- Convent of Saint Mary Magdalene – Venezuela. Principal women’s Orthodox monastery of northern South America.
- Monastic House of Saint George – Ecuador. Principal Orthodox monastic residence in Ecuador.
- Monastery of Saint Herman of Alaska – Peru. Orthodox missionary monastery.
- Monastic Community of Saint Nicholas – Bolivia. Orthodox monastic community.
Colombia and Venezuela
- Monastery of Saint Anthony the Great – Colombia. Principal Orthodox monastery of Colombia.
- Convent of Saint Catherine – Colombia. Women’s Orthodox monastery.
- Convent of Saint Mary Magdalene – Venezuela. Principal women’s monastery in Venezuela.
- Monastery of Saint John the Baptist – Venezuela. Orthodox monastery associated with the Antiochian Orthodox community.
- Monastic House of Saint Raphael – Colombia. Small missionary monastery.
Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia
- Monastic House of Saint George – Ecuador. Principal Orthodox monastic residence in Ecuador.
- Convent of Saint Paraskeva – Ecuador. Women’s Orthodox monastery.
- Monastery of Saint Herman of Alaska – Peru. Orthodox missionary monastery in Peru.
- Convent of Saint Irene – Peru. Women’s Orthodox monastery.
- Monastic Community of Saint Nicholas – Bolivia. Principal Orthodox monastic community in Bolivia.
Orthodox Jurisdictions and Ethnic Traditions
- Ecumenical Patriarchate – The largest Orthodox presence in northern South America, especially in Colombia and Venezuela.
- Antiochian Orthodox – Strong among Arab Christian communities in Venezuela and Colombia.
- Russian Orthodox and ROCOR – Small monastic communities in Peru and Colombia.
- Orthodox Church in America – Missionary monastic houses in Peru and Ecuador.
Female Monasteries and Convents of Special Importance
- Convent of Saint Mary Magdalene – Venezuela. Principal women’s monastery of the region.
- Convent of Saint Catherine – Colombia. Principal women’s monastery of Colombia.
- Convent of Saint Paraskeva – Ecuador. Women’s monastery of Ecuador.
- Convent of Saint Irene – Peru. Women’s monastery of Peru.
Observations
- Colombia and Venezuela possess the strongest Orthodox monastic presence in northern South America.
- Most monasteries in the region are small missionary communities.
- The Ecumenical Patriarchate and the Antiochian Orthodox Church account for most Orthodox monasteries in the region.
- Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia possess only a few monastic houses and convents.
- Among the best-known communities are Saint Anthony the Great in Colombia and Saint Mary Magdalene in Venezuela.
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