10 Amazing Monasteries To Visit In Ontario, Canada

1. St. Anthony Monastery

Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account

Retreat to the peaceful countryside and beautiful town of Perth to engage in spiritual activities alongside St. Anthony’s monks. Spend time labouring together, enjoying each other’s fellowship, while working to maintain the monastery’s spacious grounds. Participate in sacred services, including scriptural readings, prayers, and singing praises. Listen attentively while St. Anthony’s bishops present theological sermons, explaining the relevance and application of the scriptures in daily life.

For those staying onsite, alcohol, drugs, and cigarettes are prohibited, as they would interfere in keeping the property and one’s soul holy for spiritual activities.

St. Anthony Monastery

Address: 608 Miners Point Road, Perth, ON K7H 3C5

Website: St. Anthony Monastery

Opening hours: 9am - 6pm (daily)

2. Tisarana Buddhist Monastery

Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing

Escape from the bustling modern world to learn about the teachings of Buddha and get educated on meditation techniques through Ajahn Chah’s example. Listen to discourses on ancient Buddhist scriptures, discussing how to live a life of discipline, asceticism, and peace, without being influenced by the world’s influences.

During a retreat to the monastery, visitors are able to fraternize, worship, and labour alongside the monks. Financial donations are accepted to help with the training of monks and the maintenance costs of the monastery.

Tisarana Buddhist Monastery

Address: 1356 Powers Road, Perth, ON K7H 3C5

Website: Tisarana Buddhist Monastery

Opening hours: 9am - 9pm (daily)

3. Felician Sisters

Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account

The congregation of the sisters of St. Felix welcome visitors to share in spiritual activities and further their ministry through financial support. Located in one of the best places to visit, Mississauga, the church-ordained institute’s members have been appointed as Christ’s assistants in the spiritual renewal of the world through teachings found in the holy scriptures. By living a life of chastity, poverty, and obedience, members are able to maintain their focus on serving God and the community without worldly distractions.

The Felician Sisters accept donations to be able to further their charitable ministry throughout North America, South America, the Carribean, and Africa.

Felician Sisters

Address: 2165 Mississauga Road, Mississauga, ON L5H 2K8

Website: Felician Sisters

Opening hours: varying hours (daily)

4. Ottawa Theravada Buddhist Vihara and Cultural Center

Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account

Visit Ottawa’s Theravada Buddhist Vihara and Cultural Center to participate in weekly meditation sessions, chanting, and to listen to important spiritual instruction. Celebrate the annual Vesak Festival honouring Buddha by planning a visit in May. Many events and activities offered to Buddhists and non-Buddhists are provided free of charge here, including spiritual schooling for children.

Attend one of the numerous blessing ceremonies, where you can offer up sacrificial gift offerings to Buddha. Learn mindfulness exercises to help reflect and maintain your inner peace and joy, while living in a fast-paced, hectic world.

Ottawa Theravada Buddhist Vihara and Cultural Center

Address: 1153 St. Pierre Street, Orléans, ON K1C 1L4

Website: Ottawa Theravada Buddhist Vihara and Cultural Center

Opening hours: 7am - 8pm (daily)

5. Arrow River Forest Hermitage

Find your centre or reset your spiritual balance with a retreat to the Arrow River Forest Hermitage, where you can practice mindfulness in a tranquil forest setting. Learn from Ajahn Punnadhammo’s and Buddha’s life’s teachings on how to meditate and display loving-kindness to fellow humans.

Choose a retreat to study, peacefully meditate, and volunteer in the upkeep of the spiritual retreat, hidden away in Northern Ontario’s forests. Join the resident and visiting monks in chanting ceremonies, socializing, and listening to the senior monks provide spiritually enlightening lessons found in ancient Buddhist writings.

Arrow River Forest Hermitage

Address: 925-A, ON-593, Neebing, ON P7L 0A2

Website: Arrow River Forest Hermitage

Opening hours: varying hours (daily)

6. St. Kosmas Aitolos Greek Orthodox Monastery

Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing

Plan a visit to St. Kosmas Aitolos Greek Orthodox Monastery to learn how to live according to Christian virtues as laid out in the holy scriptures. Attend sacred services to listen to homilies derived from the life and ministry of Jesus and his apostles. Learn how to apply scriptural teachings in your own life by listening to scriptural sermons given by the church elders.

Through monetary donations, the monastery is able to focus on setting an example in Christian living and to provide a spiritual refuge to those looking for scriptural guidance.

St. Kosmas Aitolos Greek Orthodox Monastery

Address: 14155 Caledon King Townline S, Bolton, ON L7E 5R7

Website: St. Kosmas Aitolos Greek Orthodox Monastery

Opening hours: 10am - 1pm & 3pm - 5pm (daily)

7. Holy Cross Orthodox Monastery

Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account

Learn about Christianity and how to apply its virtues during sermons taken from the bible by the spiritually qualified clergy. By adhering to the teachings and examples of the prophets, apostles, and Jesus Christ, the monastery provides an example to the community and its adherents.

Since the monastery is supported by the Romanian community, services are offered in both Romanian and English, so members can benefit fully from the scriptural advice presented. Offer up prayers and enjoy refreshing fellowship during worship and meals shared alongside fellow believers.

Holy Cross Orthodox Monastery

Address: 308328 Hockley Road, Mono, ON L9W 6N4

Website: Holy Cross Orthodox Monastery

Opening hours: Sun - Fri: 9am - 5pm; Sat: 9am - 7:30pm

8. Holy Cross Priory

Join the Anglican community in worship each Sunday for reflection, spiritually enlightening sermons, prayer, and communion services. It is located in Toronto, which is also one of the best places to live in Ontario. Sing ecclesiastically inspired hymns along with congregation members at Toronto’s Holy Cross Priory. Listen to bible-based sermons in order to reflect on the teachings of Jesus.

Book a spiritual retreat by staying on-site to share in prayer, study, work, and Christian fellowship. Sign your children up to participate in field trips providing spiritual refreshment and generous giving to communities in which they are serving.

Holy Cross Priory

Address: 204 High Park Avenue, Toronto, ON M6P 2S6

Website: Holy Cross Priory

Opening hours: Sun: 8am - 7pm; Tue, Wed & Fri: 12:15pm (closed Mon, Thu & Sat)

9. Waterloo Wellington Buddhist Monastery and Meditation Centre

Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account

During a visit to this Buddhist monastery, visitors can learn how to apply Buddhist principles by listening to sermons given by spiritual leaders. Research how to practise Buddha’s teachings in your own life by reading some of the centre’s publications. Take time to meditate on the teachings of Buddhism and how they can best be reflected in daily living.

Offer donations to help support the Waterloo Wellington Buddhist Monastery and Meditation Centre to assist in spreading the peaceful teachings of Buddhism.

Waterloo Wellington Buddhist Monastery and Meditation Centre

Address: 229 Royal Oak Road, Cambridge, ON N3E 0A5

Website: Waterloo Wellington Buddhist Monastery and Meditation Centre

Opening hours: varying hours (daily)

10. Monastery of Mount Carmel Spiritual Retreat and Conference Centre

Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account

Escape day to day life by signing up for a spiritual retreat, where you can pray, read, rest, and restore your soul. Experience delicious meals while enjoying warm and encouraging association with fellow Christians. Worship together in front of the ornate altar and stained glass windows etched with images of Elijah and Mary. Seek spiritual counsel from spiritually qualified individuals on subjects including the loss of a loved one, divorce, and Christian living.

Sing praises to God, accompanied by an ecclesiastical choir, before settling into your seat to contemplate the divine guidance provided in the day’s scripturally-based sermon.

Monastery of Mount Carmel Spiritual Retreat and Conference Centre

Address: 7020 Stanley Avenue, Niagara Falls, ON L2G 7B7

Website: Monastery of Mount Carmel Spiritual Retreat and Conference Centre

Opening hours: Mon - Fri: 9am - 4:30pm (closed on Sat & Sun)

Experience spiritual refreshment at these Ontario's monasteries

Spending time in beautiful beaches and theme parks is always enjoyable, but, sometimes, it’s better to put your phones and daily cares away while escaping to a spiritual retreat to obtain guidance, meditate, and associate with fellow adherents. Take time to reflect on the peaceful and loving message behind the teachings of Christianity and Buddhism to enhance your spiritual identity. After immersing oneself in the tranquillity of these religious retreats, visitors will be spiritually refreshed and reinvigorated to return to daily life and its challenges.