Orthodox Monasteries of South Asia
Submitted by Athos on March 29, 2026 - 8:37am
Orthodox Monasteries of South Asia
A reference page for Athos Forum, arranged by country and region, with statistics, the principal monasteries of India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Pakistan, and Bangladesh.
South Asia
South Asia possesses an ancient Christian monastic tradition centred primarily in India, especially within the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church and the Syrian Christian communities of Kerala. The region also contains small Orthodox monasteries and convents in Sri Lanka, Nepal, Pakistan, and Bangladesh, usually founded during the twentieth century through Greek, Russian, Syrian, and Indian Orthodox missions.
70+
Orthodox monasteries and convents in South Asia
Orthodox monasteries and convents in South Asia
85%
of South Asian Orthodox monasteries located in India
of South Asian Orthodox monasteries located in India
25+
active women’s monasteries and convents
active women’s monasteries and convents
1600+
years of Christian monastic tradition in India
years of Christian monastic tradition in India
The principal concentration of Orthodox monasteries lies in Kerala, especially in Kottayam, Pathanamthitta, and the traditional heartland of the Malankara Church.
This page follows the same structure established for the other Orthodox countries and regions in this series.
Principal Monasteries of South Asia
- Malankara Orthodox Seminary Monastic Complex – Kottayam, India. Principal monastic and theological centre of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church.
- Mount Tabor Dayara – Pathanapuram, Kerala. One of the principal Orthodox monasteries of India.
- Bethany Ashram – Kerala. The foremost monastic movement of the Malankara Church.
- Parumala Seminary and Monastic Community – Kerala. Major pilgrimage and monastic centre associated with Saint Gregorios of Parumala.
- Monastery of Saint Thomas – Sri Lanka. Principal Orthodox monastery in Sri Lanka.
India and Kerala
- Malankara Orthodox Seminary Monastic Complex – Kottayam. Principal monastic centre of the Indian Orthodox tradition.
- Mount Tabor Dayara – Pathanapuram. Major Orthodox monastery of Kerala.
- Bethany Ashram – Tiruvalla. One of the most influential monastic communities of the Malankara Church.
- Bethany Madhom – Kerala. Important Orthodox women’s monastic community.
- Parumala Seminary and Monastic Community – Kerala. Pilgrimage and monastic centre.
- Mar Gregorios Ashram – Kerala. Orthodox monastery associated with the Malankara tradition.
- Monastery of Saint Basil – Kerala. Orthodox monastic community.
- Convent of Saint Mary – Kerala. Women’s monastery of the Indian Orthodox Church.
Sri Lanka and Nepal
- Monastery of Saint Thomas – Sri Lanka. Principal Orthodox monastery of Sri Lanka.
- Convent of Saint Mary Magdalene – Sri Lanka. Orthodox women’s monastic community.
- Monastic House of Saint George – Nepal. Small Orthodox monastic community.
- Monastery of the Holy Trinity – Kathmandu region. Orthodox monastic residence associated with missionary activity.
Pakistan and Bangladesh
- Monastic House of Saint Nicholas – Pakistan. Small Orthodox monastic community.
- Monastic Community of Saint Andrew – Pakistan. Orthodox monastic residence associated with local Christian converts.
- Monastic House of Saint Thomas – Bangladesh. Orthodox monastic residence serving the Orthodox community.
- Convent of the Annunciation – Bangladesh. Small Orthodox women’s monastery.
Female Monasteries and Convents of Special Importance
- Bethany Madhom – Kerala. The principal Orthodox women’s monastery of India.
- Convent of Saint Mary – Kerala. Important women’s monastery of the Malankara Church.
- Convent of Saint Mary Magdalene – Sri Lanka. Principal women’s monastery of Sri Lanka.
- Convent of the Annunciation – Bangladesh. Principal Orthodox women’s community in Bangladesh.
Observations
- India possesses by far the largest and oldest Orthodox monastic tradition in South Asia.
- The Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church preserves a distinctive monastic tradition that combines Syriac, Indian, and Orthodox elements.
- Kerala is the principal centre of Orthodox monastic life in South Asia.
- Orthodox monasteries in Sri Lanka, Nepal, Pakistan, and Bangladesh are generally small and recent foundations.
- Among the best-known monastic centres are the Malankara Seminary, Mount Tabor Dayara, Bethany Ashram, and Parumala.
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