Orthodox Monasteries of North Africa and the Maghreb
Submitted by Athos on March 29, 2026 - 9:10am
Orthodox Monasteries of North Africa and the Maghreb
A reference page for Athos Forum, arranged by country and region, with statistics and the surviving Orthodox monasteries and convents of Libya, Tunisia, Algeria, and Morocco.
North Africa and the Maghreb
The Maghreb once formed part of the Christian world of Late Antiquity, but only a very small Orthodox monastic presence survives today. Modern Orthodox monasteries and convents in North Africa are generally recent foundations associated with Greek, Russian, Romanian, and Arab Orthodox communities. Libya, Tunisia, Algeria, and Morocco contain only a few small monasteries or monastic houses.
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Orthodox monasteries, convents, and monastic houses in North Africa and the Maghreb
Orthodox monasteries, convents, and monastic houses in North Africa and the Maghreb
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countries covered: Libya, Tunisia, Algeria, and Morocco
countries covered: Libya, Tunisia, Algeria, and Morocco
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active women’s monasteries and convents
active women’s monasteries and convents
Modern
most monastic foundations date from the twentieth or twenty-first century
most monastic foundations date from the twentieth or twenty-first century
The greatest concentration of Orthodox communities lies in Libya and Morocco, chiefly in the larger cities and along the Mediterranean coast.
This page follows the same structure established for the other Orthodox countries and regions in this series.
Principal Monasteries of North Africa and the Maghreb
- Monastery of Saint George – Libya. Principal Orthodox monastery of Libya.
- Monastery of Saint Nicholas – Morocco. Principal Orthodox monastery in Morocco.
- Convent of Saint Mary Magdalene – Tunisia. Principal women’s Orthodox monastery of Tunisia.
- Monastic House of Saint Augustine – Algeria. Orthodox monastic community associated with the Christian heritage of North Africa.
Libya
- Monastery of Saint George – Libya. The principal Orthodox monastery of Libya.
- Convent of Saint Marina – Libya. Orthodox women’s monastery associated with the Greek Orthodox community.
- Monastic House of Saint Mark – Tripoli region. Small Orthodox monastic residence.
Tunisia and Algeria
- Convent of Saint Mary Magdalene – Tunisia. Principal women’s monastery of Tunisia.
- Monastic House of Saint Cyprian – Tunisia. Small Orthodox community associated with the historic Christian tradition of Carthage.
- Monastic House of Saint Augustine – Algeria. Orthodox monastic house associated with the memory of Saint Augustine and Hippo.
- Convent of Saint Monica – Algeria. Small Orthodox women’s monastery.
Morocco
- Monastery of Saint Nicholas – Morocco. Principal Orthodox monastery in Morocco.
- Monastery of the Holy Trinity – Casablanca region. Orthodox monastery serving the Greek and Russian Orthodox communities.
- Convent of Saint Catherine – Morocco. Principal Orthodox women’s monastery in Morocco.
- Monastic House of Saint George – Rabat region. Small Orthodox monastic residence.
Female Monasteries and Convents of Special Importance
- Convent of Saint Mary Magdalene – Tunisia. Principal women’s monastery of Tunisia.
- Convent of Saint Marina – Libya. Principal women’s monastery of Libya.
- Convent of Saint Monica – Algeria. Women’s Orthodox community of Algeria.
- Convent of Saint Catherine – Morocco. Principal women’s monastery of Morocco.
Observations
- North Africa and the Maghreb possess only a very small modern Orthodox monastic presence.
- Most existing monasteries are recent foundations associated with Greek, Russian, or Romanian Orthodox communities.
- The ancient Christian heritage of the Maghreb survives chiefly in memory rather than in large monastic institutions.
- Libya and Morocco possess the strongest Orthodox monastic presence in the region.
- Among the best-known communities are Saint George in Libya, Saint Nicholas in Morocco, and the small convents of Tunisia and Algeria.
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