Principal Monasteries of Albania

• Ardenica Monastery – Fier region. The most famous Orthodox monastery in Albania and one of the best-preserved Byzantine monasteries in the country.
• Monastery of Saint Mary of Zvërnec – Vlorë region. Historic island monastery connected by a causeway.
• Monastery of Saint John the Baptist – Voskopoja. Major monastery of the historic Orthodox centre of Voskopoja.
• Monastery of Saint Naum – southeastern Albania near Lake Ohrid. Historic monastery associated with the Ohrid tradition.
• Monastery of Saint Nicholas – Mesopotam. Important medieval monastery of southern Albania.
• Monastery of the Dormition of the Mother of God – Apollonia. Historic monastery near the ancient city.

Southern Albania and Epirus

• Monastery of Saint Nicholas – Mesopotam. One of the oldest surviving Orthodox monasteries in Albania.
• Monastery of Saint Mary – Kakome. Historic monastery on the southern coast.
• Monastery of the Forty Saints – Sarandë. Historic monastery above the city.
• Monastery of Saint George – near Sarandë. Traditional Orthodox monastery of southern Albania.
• Monastery of Saint Cyriacus – southern Albania. Historic mountain monastery.

Korçë and Voskopoja

• Monastery of Saint John the Baptist – Voskopoja. The principal monastery of the Voskopoja region.
• Monastery of Saints Peter and Paul – Voskopoja. Historic monastic foundation.
• Monastery of Saint Elijah – Korçë region. Traditional monastery of southeastern Albania.
• Monastery of Saint Naum – Lake Ohrid region. Historic monastery associated with Saint Naum and the Ohrid tradition.
• Monastery of Saint Paraskeva – Korçë region. Important women’s monastery.

Berat, Apollonia, and Central Albania

• Ardenica Monastery – Fier region. Principal monastery of central Albania.
• Monastery of the Dormition of the Mother of God – Apollonia. Historic monastery near the ancient city and archaeological site.
• Monastery of Saint Spyridon – Berat region. Orthodox monastery associated with central Albania.
• Monastery of Saint Blaise – near Durrës. Historic monastery and seminary of the Albanian Orthodox Church.

Vlorë and the Coast

• Monastery of Saint Mary of Zvërnec – Vlorë region. The most famous coastal monastery in Albania.
• Monastery of Saint Theodore – coastal Albania. Historic monastic foundation.
• Monastery of Saint Kosmas – southern coast. Monastery associated with Saint Kosmas of Aetolia.

Female Monasteries and Convents of Special Importance

• Monastery of Saint Paraskeva – Korçë region. One of the principal women’s monasteries in Albania.
• Monastery of Saint Mary – southern Albania. Important women’s monastery.
• Convent of Saint Irene – central Albania. Modern Orthodox women’s monastery.
• Convent of the Dormition – Berat region. Women’s monastic community of central Albania.

Observations

• Ardenica Monastery remains the principal and most widely known Orthodox monastery in Albania.
• Most Albanian monasteries are concentrated in the Orthodox regions of the south and southeast.
• Albanian Orthodox monasteries are especially notable for their Byzantine architecture, mountain settings, and post-communist restoration.
• The monasteries of Voskopoja preserve the memory of one of the great Orthodox cultural centres of the Balkans.
• Among the best-known monasteries internationally are Ardenica, Zvërnec, Saint John of Voskopoja, Saint Naum, and Mesopotam.