Orthodox Monasteries of Mexico and Central America
Submitted by Athos on March 30, 2026 - 12:11pm
Orthodox Monasteries of Mexico and Central America
A reference page for Athos Forum, arranged by country, church jurisdiction, and ethnic tradition, with the principal monasteries of Mexico, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Panama, Honduras, and Central America.
Mexico and Central America
Orthodox monasticism in Mexico and Central America is small but growing. Most monasteries and convents were founded during the twentieth and twenty-first centuries through missionary work by the Patriarchate of Constantinople, the Antiochian Orthodox Church, the Russian Orthodox Church, and the Orthodox Church in America. Mexico possesses the largest Orthodox monastic presence in the region, while Guatemala, Costa Rica, Panama, and Honduras contain smaller communities, often connected with local converts and immigrant groups.
20+
Orthodox monasteries, convents, and monastic houses in Mexico and Central America
Orthodox monasteries, convents, and monastic houses in Mexico and Central America
60%
of the region’s monasteries located in Mexico
of the region’s monasteries located in Mexico
8+
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 concentration of Orthodox monasteries lies in central Mexico, Guatemala, and Costa Rica.
This page follows the same structure established for the other Orthodox countries and regions in this series.
Principal Monasteries of Mexico and Central America
- Monastery of Saint Anthony the Great – Mexico. Principal Orthodox monastery of the region.
- Convent of Saint Mary of Egypt – Mexico. Principal women’s Orthodox monastery in Mexico.
- Monastery of Saint John the Baptist – Guatemala. Principal Orthodox monastery of Guatemala.
- Monastic House of Saint Nicholas – Costa Rica. Principal Orthodox monastic residence in Costa Rica.
- Monastic Community of Saint George – Panama. Orthodox monastic centre of Panama.
Mexico
- Monastery of Saint Anthony the Great – Mexico. The principal Orthodox monastery of Mexico.
- Convent of Saint Mary of Egypt – Mexico. Major Orthodox women’s monastery.
- Monastery of the Holy Archangels – central Mexico. Orthodox monastery associated with the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese.
- Monastery of Saint Nektarios – Mexico. Orthodox monastic community associated with the Greek tradition.
- Monastic House of Saint Herman of Alaska – Mexico. OCA missionary monastic residence.
- Monastery of Saint Benedict of Nursia – Mexico. Western Rite Orthodox monastery.
Guatemala and Honduras
- Monastery of Saint John the Baptist – Guatemala. Principal Orthodox monastery in Guatemala.
- Convent of Saint Mary Magdalene – Guatemala. Principal women’s monastery in Guatemala.
- Monastic Community of Saint Moses the Ethiopian – Guatemala. Orthodox missionary monastery.
- Monastic House of Saint George – Honduras. Principal Orthodox monastic residence in Honduras.
- Convent of Saint Paraskeva – Honduras. Women’s Orthodox monastery.
Costa Rica and Panama
- Monastic House of Saint Nicholas – Costa Rica. Principal Orthodox monastery in Costa Rica.
- Convent of Saint Catherine – Costa Rica. Women’s Orthodox monastery.
- Monastic Community of Saint George – Panama. Principal Orthodox monastic community in Panama.
- Convent of Saint Irene – Panama. Women’s Orthodox monastery.
- Monastic House of Saint Raphael – Costa Rica. Small Orthodox missionary monastery.
Orthodox Jurisdictions and Ethnic Traditions
- Greek Orthodox – The largest Orthodox monastic presence in Mexico and Central America, especially in Mexico and Panama.
- Antiochian Orthodox – Important among Arab Christian communities in Central America.
- Russian Orthodox and ROCOR – Small monastic communities in Mexico and Costa Rica.
- Orthodox Church in America – Missionary monastic houses in Mexico and Guatemala.
- Western Rite Orthodox – A small number of monasteries in Mexico.
Female Monasteries and Convents of Special Importance
- Convent of Saint Mary of Egypt – Mexico. Principal women’s Orthodox monastery of the region.
- Convent of Saint Mary Magdalene – Guatemala. Principal women’s monastery of Guatemala.
- Convent of Saint Catherine – Costa Rica. Major women’s monastery in Costa Rica.
- Convent of Saint Irene – Panama. Principal women’s monastery in Panama.
- Convent of Saint Paraskeva – Honduras. Principal women’s monastery in Honduras.
Observations
- Mexico possesses the largest and most developed Orthodox monastic presence in Central America.
- Most monasteries in the region are modern missionary foundations.
- Greek Orthodox and Antiochian Orthodox jurisdictions account for the majority of monastic communities.
- Guatemala and Costa Rica possess the strongest Orthodox monastic traditions after Mexico.
- Among the best-known communities are Saint Anthony the Great in Mexico and the principal convents of Guatemala and Costa Rica.
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