Holy places

Monasteries, churches and shrines.

• Church of the Holy Sepulchre (Resurrection), Jerusalem Church · Israel / Palestine The church over Golgotha and the Tomb of Christ, consecrated in 335 under Emperor Constantine; the present building is mostly 12th-century. Shared by several Christian communities under the Status Quo.
• Iviron Monastery, Mount Athos Monastery · Greece (Mount Athos) Founded at the end of the 10th century by Georgian monks; third in the hierarchy of Athonite monasteries. Keeps the Iveron Icon of the Theotokos.
• Trinity-Sergius Lavra, Sergiev Posad Lavra · Russia Founded by St Sergius of Radonezh c. 1337. The largest men's monastery in Russia and a Patriarchal residence; home of the Moscow Theological Academy. The ensemble is a UNESCO World Heritage site.
• Kiev Pechersk Lavra, Kyiv Lavra · Ukraine Founded in 1051 by Sts Anthony and Theodosius of the Caves; the cradle of Russian monasticism. The Near and Far Caves hold the relics of the venerable fathers.
• Holy Trinity St Seraphim-Diveyevo Convent Monastery · Russia A convent spiritually guided by St Seraphim of Sarov. His relics have rested here since 1991; the holy Kanavka (Trench) of the Theotokos.
• Basilica of St Nicholas, Bari Cathedral · Italy Built in 1087–1197 for the relics of St Nicholas translated from Myra. Orthodox services are celebrated in the crypt.
• St Catherine's Monastery, Sinai Monastery · Egypt Founded in the 6th century by Emperor Justinian at the foot of Mount Sinai; a working monastery with the oldest collection of icons and manuscripts.
• Valaam Monastery of the Transfiguration Monastery · Russia A monastery on the islands of Lake Ladoga; the date of foundation is debated (from the 10th to the 14th century). Revived in 1989.
• Hagia Sophia, Constantinople (Istanbul) Site · Turkey The Cathedral of the Holy Wisdom built under Justinian in 532–537; the chief church of Byzantium until 1453. Now functioning as a mosque (since 2020), open to visitors.