Orthodox Monasteries of East and Central Africa
Submitted by Athos on March 29, 2026 - 9:17am
Orthodox Monasteries of East and Central Africa
A reference page for Athos Forum, arranged by country and region, with statistics, principal monasteries of Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Congo, Rwanda, and Burundi.
East and Central Africa
Orthodox monasticism in East and Central Africa is a modern development associated chiefly with the Patriarchate of Alexandria and the missionary work of the Greek Orthodox Church during the twentieth century. Kenya and Uganda possess the largest and most active Orthodox monastic communities in sub-Saharan Africa, while Tanzania, Congo, Rwanda, and Burundi contain smaller monasteries and convents.
45+
Orthodox monasteries and convents in East and Central Africa
Orthodox monasteries and convents in East and Central Africa
60%
of the region’s monasteries located in Kenya and Uganda
of the region’s monasteries located in Kenya and Uganda
18+
active women’s monasteries and convents
active women’s monasteries and convents
100+
years of Orthodox monastic history in modern East Africa
years of Orthodox monastic history in modern East Africa
The principal concentration of Orthodox monasteries lies in Kenya, Uganda, and northern Tanzania, with smaller communities in Congo, Rwanda, and Burundi.
This page follows the same structure established for the other Orthodox countries and regions in this series.
Principal Monasteries of East and Central Africa
- Monastery of Saint Makarios – Kenya. Principal Orthodox monastery of East Africa.
- Convent of Saint Mary of Egypt – Kenya. Principal women’s Orthodox monastery of East Africa.
- Monastery of Saint John the Baptist – Uganda. Principal Orthodox monastery in Uganda.
- Monastery of the Holy Trinity – Tanzania. Principal Orthodox monastery in Tanzania.
- Monastic Community of Saint Anthony – Congo. Orthodox monastery of Central Africa.
Kenya
- Monastery of Saint Makarios – Kenya. The principal Orthodox monastery of East Africa.
- Convent of Saint Mary of Egypt – Kenya. Major Orthodox women’s monastery.
- Monastery of Saint Anthony – Kenya. Orthodox monastic community associated with the Patriarchate of Alexandria.
- Convent of Saint Catherine – Kenya. Women’s Orthodox monastery.
- Monastic House of Saint Moses the Ethiopian – Kenya. Small Orthodox monastic residence.
Uganda and Tanzania
- Monastery of Saint John the Baptist – Uganda. Principal Orthodox monastery in Uganda.
- Convent of Saint Mary Magdalene – Uganda. Principal Orthodox women’s monastery in Uganda.
- Monastery of the Holy Trinity – Tanzania. Principal monastery of Tanzania.
- Convent of Saint Paraskeva – Tanzania. Women’s Orthodox monastery.
- Monastic House of Saint George – Tanzania. Small Orthodox community.
Congo, Rwanda, and Burundi
- Monastic Community of Saint Anthony – Congo. Principal Orthodox monastery of Central Africa.
- Convent of Saint Thekla – Congo. Women’s Orthodox monastery.
- Monastic House of Saint Nicholas – Rwanda. Small Orthodox monastic community.
- Convent of Saint Mary – Burundi. Principal women’s Orthodox monastery in Burundi.
- Monastic Community of the Holy Archangels – Rwanda and Burundi region. Orthodox missionary monastery.
Female Monasteries and Convents of Special Importance
- Convent of Saint Mary of Egypt – Kenya. Principal Orthodox women’s monastery of East Africa.
- Convent of Saint Mary Magdalene – Uganda. Principal women’s monastery of Uganda.
- Convent of Saint Catherine – Kenya. Important Orthodox women’s monastery.
- Convent of Saint Paraskeva – Tanzania. Principal women’s monastery of Tanzania.
- Convent of Saint Thekla – Congo. Principal women’s monastery of Central Africa.
Observations
- Kenya and Uganda possess the largest and most developed Orthodox monastic communities in sub-Saharan Africa.
- Most monasteries in East and Central Africa are recent foundations dating from the twentieth century.
- The Orthodox monasteries of East Africa are closely associated with the missionary work of the Patriarchate of Alexandria.
- Women’s monasteries play an important role in Orthodox life in Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania.
- Among the best-known communities are Saint Makarios in Kenya, Saint John the Baptist in Uganda, and the principal convents of East Africa.
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