Orthodox Monasteries of France and Benelux
Submitted by Athos on March 28, 2026 - 12:50pm
Orthodox Monasteries of France and Benelux
A reference page for Athos Forum, arranged by region, with statistics, principal monasteries of France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, and the major Orthodox convents of Western Europe.
France and Benelux
France possesses the largest and most developed Orthodox monastic presence in Western Europe. Since the twentieth century, France has become a major centre of Orthodox spiritual life, with monasteries founded under Greek, Russian, Romanian, Serbian, and Western Orthodox jurisdictions. Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg have smaller monastic communities, most of them founded in the modern period.
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Orthodox monasteries and convents in France and Benelux
Orthodox monasteries and convents in France and Benelux
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Orthodox monasteries located in France alone
Orthodox monasteries located in France alone
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active women’s monasteries and convents
active women’s monasteries and convents
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principal monastic regions: Burgundy, Provence, Normandy, and southwestern France
principal monastic regions: Burgundy, Provence, Normandy, and southwestern France
The principal concentration of Orthodox monasteries lies in central and southern France, especially Burgundy, Provence, Normandy, and the southwest. Benelux monasteries are concentrated near Brussels, Liège, Amsterdam, and Luxembourg.
This page follows the same structure established for the other Orthodox countries and regions in this series.
Principal Monasteries of France and Benelux
- Monastery of Saint Anthony the Great – Saint-Laurent-en-Royans, France. One of the best-known Orthodox monasteries in Western Europe.
- Monastery of Solan – Provence, France. Major women’s monastery associated with the community of Simonos Petra.
- Monastery of the Protection of the Mother of God – Bussy-en-Othe, France. Historic women’s monastery and important centre of Russian Orthodoxy in France.
- Monastery of Saint Silouan – Saint-Mars-de-Locquenay, France. Well-known monastery of the French Orthodox tradition.
- Monastery of Saint John the Baptist – Essex tradition community in France. Major monastery influenced by Elder Sophrony.
- Monastery of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross – Belgium. Principal Orthodox monastery of Belgium.
- Monastery of Saint Nectarios – Netherlands. Principal Orthodox monastery in the Netherlands.
France: Burgundy and Central France
- Monastery of the Protection of the Mother of God – Bussy-en-Othe. The principal Russian Orthodox convent in France.
- Monastery of Saint Silouan – Saint-Mars-de-Locquenay. Major Orthodox monastery in central France.
- Monastery of Saint Michael – central France. Important Orthodox monastic foundation.
- Monastery of Saint John Cassian – central France. Monastery associated with Western Orthodox and patristic traditions.
- Monastery of Saint Nicholas – central France. Traditional Orthodox monastic community.
France: Provence and Southern France
- Monastery of Solan – Provence. The most famous Orthodox women’s monastery in France.
- Monastery of Saint Anthony the Great – Saint-Laurent-en-Royans. One of the foremost Orthodox monasteries in France.
- Monastery of Saint John the Theologian – southern France. Orthodox monastery associated with the Greek tradition.
- Monastery of the Transfiguration – southern France. Monastic community of the Romanian Orthodox tradition.
- Monastery of the Holy Archangels – Provence. Orthodox women’s monastery.
France: Normandy and Western France
- Monastery of Saint Michael – Normandy. Orthodox monastery of western France.
- Monastery of Saint John the Baptist – western France. Community influenced by the spiritual tradition of Essex and Elder Sophrony.
- Monastery of the Holy Trinity – Normandy. Traditional Orthodox monastic foundation.
- Monastery of Saint Seraphim of Sarov – western France. Russian Orthodox monastic community.
Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg
- Monastery of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross – Belgium. Principal Orthodox monastery of Belgium.
- Convent of the Nativity of the Mother of God – Belgium. Orthodox women’s monastery serving the Belgian Orthodox community.
- Monastery of Saint Nectarios – Netherlands. Principal Orthodox monastery of the Netherlands.
- Convent of Saint Paraskeva – Netherlands. Women’s monastery of the Dutch Orthodox community.
- Orthodox Monastery of Saint Benedict – Luxembourg. Small Orthodox monastic community in Luxembourg.
Female Monasteries and Convents of Special Importance
- Monastery of Solan – Provence. The foremost women’s monastery in France.
- Monastery of the Protection of the Mother of God – Bussy-en-Othe. Historic Russian Orthodox convent.
- Convent of the Nativity of the Mother of God – Belgium. Principal women’s monastery of Belgium.
- Convent of Saint Paraskeva – Netherlands. Principal Orthodox women’s monastery in the Netherlands.
- Monastery of the Holy Archangels – Provence. Important women’s monastery of southern France.
Observations
- France possesses the largest and most diverse Orthodox monastic network in Western Europe.
- Most Orthodox monasteries in France are modern foundations established during the twentieth century.
- The monasteries of Solan, Bussy-en-Othe, and Saint Anthony the Great are among the most influential Orthodox communities in Western Europe.
- Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg possess only a small number of monasteries, most associated with immigrant Orthodox communities.
- Among the best-known monasteries internationally are Solan, Saint Anthony the Great, Bussy-en-Othe, Saint Silouan, and the principal monasteries of Belgium and the Netherlands.
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