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    Franciscan Monastery

    4.5 (56 reviews)
    Closed 9:00 am - 5:00 pm

    Franciscan Monastery Photos

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    "Hail Mary" in Scottish Gaelic
    Marlene M.

    So we begin 2021 with a little stroll around the Franciscan Monastery. When we arrived a little after 3PM on Saturday, the gardens had already closed. And I kicked myself for not having coming in the summer when I first discovered it through a friend. My regret was short-lived though, because even in the middle of winter and with access only to the courtyard, the Monastery is one of the most beautiful and serene places you can visit in DC. We walked around the portico, which features plaques of the "Hail Mary" in 150 languages and enjoyed views of the Monastery as the sun set. It is a wonderful place for contemplation, but it's also a lovely one to bring litte ones to, especially when you've run out of things to do indoors. The place has such a peaceful quality to it that you can even manage to do some contemplation WHILE you tell them to walk and not run. Admission to the church is free, as is the visitor parking lot directly across the street. During the pandemic, the church itself is closed to the public. But the gardens are open. We can't wait to return to visit both when it's possible.

    Gorgeous hidden oasis! Try to stop in when you can hear a concert as the acoustics are marvelous.

    Rowena, Ariel with Fr Larry
    Ariel N.

    The Franciscan Monastery of the Holy Land in America which is located in Washington D.C. is the Holy Land friars' U.S. home, dedicated to supporting the 800-year mission of the Franciscan Friars in the Holy Land through pilgrimage, education, vocations and financial support. For 800 years, the Roman Catholic Church has entrusted the guardianship of the Holy Land and shrines of the Christian religion to the Order of St. Francis (Franciscans). Although making a pilgrimage to the Holy Land is on our bucket list, the ability to trek to The Franciscan Monastery which brings the Holy Land experience to America with full-size replicas of Holy Land shrines, a beautiful church and contemplative gardens is so impressive yet humbling. If you ever find yourself in DC, I would highly recommend making this trip to the Holy Land Monastery in DC - it's well worth it and you will be enthralled with the full-size replicas of all the Holy Land shrines. Be sure to seek out and say hello to the Guardian of the Holy Land Monastery Father Larry Dunham, OFM - he's an amazing and very personable "Guardian!"

    Yan W.

    Kate C. was right... IT'S"S CATHOLIC DISNEYLAND!!! I have to say this is by my FAVORITE PLACE in DC. I never even knew it was there until I saw it on yelp. I took a tour with someone who wasn't religious and we had a great time nonetheless. The docent provided us with an interesting history of both the monastery and Jerusalem. The whole tour was FREE (they accept donations), the grounds were (pardon the pun) immaculate, and everyone was as nice as could be (what do you expect from monks?). The only downside is that the roads there in DC are not labeled.... at all... so bring an iphone or droid. You're GPS will get confused (our TOM TOM did). If you want to go to mass, check their website for the times.

    A beautiful pathway
    Juhi T.

    Peaceful. Simple. Eloquent. Historic. Flowers on flowers on flowers. The monastery is grand on the inside, high ceilings, somber, beautiful artwork. It's actually older than the national cathedral. My favorite though is the garden- it's my new reading spot in DC. On a nice day, if you need some peace and quiet away from the hustle and bustle of the metro area, come here. Tall oak trees line the pathways providing shade from the sun, beautiful flower beds, little nooks and corners for you to hide away. Whether you're a believer in God or not, you won't be able to deny the beauty and simplicity of nature and the calming peace that surrounds the garden. Perhaps it's God's spirit working through the area, or its nature, or both. But really, this is a great place to clear your mind.

    Front entrance
    JeffandPriscilla O.

    Although my son has been attending college in D.C. for several years, he wasn't aware of this place until I pointed it out to him via Atlas Obscura. We decided that a trip to explore the monastery and grounds should be on our itinerary during a recent visit to D.C. We arrived at the Franciscan Monastery on a particularly chilly January day, ruling out any thought of roaming the gardens. Instead, we headed inside for an early afternoon guided tour. Even though we found ourselves surrounded by a large school group during the tour, the guide made sure that everyone could hear his commentary. The tour started with a short documentary film about the monastery, then proceeded into the chapel. It's a very interesting tour that offers a better understanding of the iconography and architectural elements of the monastery. We find unusual sites more interesting so the catacombs were definitely our favorite. Navigating through the catacombs can be a bit tight with a large group, but not impossible. We did linger at the relic of St. Innocent long enough to miss part of the tour narration but caught up quickly. A final stop in the small gift shop ended our visit. They have lots of unusual items for sale, including a large, hand-carved wooden Nativity Scene. The Franciscan Monastery is definitely a unique site among all the monuments and political attractions in the D.C. area. If you're looking to enjoy something a little different, this is the place.

    Gardens
    Amanda J.

    The Monastery is one of my favorite places to walk on the weekends. It is only a few blocks from my apartment, and it has the best gardens I have seen in DC. I originally only walked through the upper rose gardens in the summer, and those alone are completely gorgeous and serene. The roses are always full and lovely, and it is especially gorgeous in the rain. Then, I finally started making it down to the lower gardens where the replicas of the grottos, Garden of Gethsemane, Tomb of the Virgin Mary, and more. I am not Catholic so I didn't understand all of it, but I still have a total respect for everything here. I am so excited for next spring so I can see the flowers again! If you are looking to see beautiful flowers, you should come here over the U.S. Botanic Gardens or the National Arboretum because it is ten times better. Two really cool things about the outdoor gardens. First, they are dog friendly! My parents little 8 pounder loves to walk down the walkways and sniff around all of the flowers. Second, an impressive feat is that there are QR codes so that you can learn more about different shrines. What an easy way to learn more! It took me many trips to see the inside of the Monastery. I finally convinced my housemate to come with me for a 2 PM tour on a Sunday. We expected to be the only people, but about five minutes after the tour started, we ended up with a total group of 8. The tour is short at only 45 minutes, and the comparison to a Disney ride is pretty fair. The opening movie with a monk in front of a green screen was a bit cheesy, but once you are in the church, you will be surprised at the beauty. There are beautiful domes and art, and the lower level under the church with the catacombs is really interesting. I do think I would prefer a little more realism in some of the human depictions in the relics, but most things are really beautiful. The Monastery is also exceptionally welcoming, as my housemate is clearly gay, and there was also a middle-aged gay man on our tour. There was ZERO judgement here, which was awesome. Looks like you could end up with some judgy people looking at these reviews, though. People can talk about the churches in Europe all they want, but there is nothing that old in the U.S. If you aren't an entitled white person who thinks your yearly trip to Europe is normal, then you will appreciate the monastery. At the end of the tour, there is a little gift area. Gifts ranged from rosaries, to handmade ornaments and scarfs, to Holy Water, to granola. I guess the monks enjoying making granola. All in all, this is one of my favorite places to come for serenity on the weekends in the warm weather, and it's one of the true hidden gems of DC.

    upper gardens with columned passages
    Prairie S.

    A beautiful refuge for quiet contemplation in the midst of a residential area. Plenty of parking means low stress. A quiet valley with tall trees and subterranean grotto for meditation. A grand rose garden with columned open passages for great photography backdrops. Lots of nooks with benches for a sit down. A picnic wouldn't be amiss here. No entry fee (here's looking at you Dumbarton Oaks in Georgetown). This place is worth a visit as an off-the-beaten-track spot in Washington D.C.

    Andrew L.

    I love being a tourist. I have lived in DC for 3 years, and I still enjoy walking up to the Lincoln Memorial. However, it is nice to try to find off-path adventures, especially ones that allow dogs. DC's Franciscan Monastery is great if you are just in town to see the monuments, but have run out of things to see, and its great to just go and walk around the gardens and spend an afternoon outdoors. There are some great photo opportunities, an even the potential to creep yourself out in their catacombs. I would say you should control your expectations, however. One reviewer correctly said that this place isn't particularly stunning if you have been to various cathedrals in Europe. However, this isn't a cathedral, its a monastery. Much less money for decorations. Also, this place wasn't around during the renaissance, and Michelangeloan art is really hard to come by these days. They are doing the best they can.

    The Portiuncula
    Marc A.

    Staying as a guest of the Monastery for the weekend, they have a spotless and well equipped "Hermitage" in the woods out back, so for a few days at least, I'm a Hermit. Coincidentally, it's the feast of St Francis, and this being a Franciscan Monastery, there's a lot going on... The beautiful grounds, acres upon acres of land -much of it manicured, much of it raw- and to-scale replicas of sacred holy sites make this a sacred holy site in and of itself. The brothers and Fathers are very friendly and accommodating, they even handed me the keys to my very own private chapel tucked away in the woods out back to use whenever I like, 24/7. Even without all of this, the Church itself is a sight to behold... A must-stop for any Catholic -or Christian for that matter- when in DC.

    Mary Kate E.

    First and foremost, this place is not only historic, but it is very beautiful both inside and out. I was babysitting in the area when the parents told me about the monastery walking distance from their house. The little boy I was watching and I came up for about fifteen minutes before he got antsy and departed. However, the next day, I decided to bring my boyfriend here where we spent a good half of the day just roaming around exploring and people watching. We brought a picnic lunch where we ate it in the parking lot before going across the street to the grounds. Understandable, since they did not want littering and what not. We first went into the church and did our own self guided tour. We didn't wait for a proper tour guide, but rather took it upon ourselves to take in all of the beauty and architecture around us. This was built from 1898-99. There is a real catacomb in here. In Italy, the exhumed the bones of a saint and brought them here to be entombed in the cathedral itself. I am Methodist. Being that I was intrigued about when they hold services and what not to simply check out, I could not help but to be amused by the fairly large confessional calendar they have on Sundays. They had it at 10 and 11AM followed by 1, 2, and 3PM in the afternoon. I guess it makes sense though, right? The grounds are well maintained with hoards of rose gardens of all sorts. I couldn't quit taking pictures because everything was so beautiful. There are mock grottoes (replicas of ones from around the world) and shrines. This is a hidden gem worth seeing especially if you are interested in religion itself or a devout Catholic.

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    We are glad you enjoyed the gardens and hope you return!

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    Ask the Community - Franciscan Monastery

    Can you actually visit the catacombs?

    You can on a guided tour, offered daily on the hour (except noon). On rare occasions, we have opened up the catacombs for private visits, most recently during our December open house. We hope to do that again. Visit myfranciscan.org for tour times… Read more

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    Review Highlights - Franciscan Monastery

    It is a peaceful and tranquil place that offers you a glimpse of the Holy Land and the catacombs in Rome.

    Mentioned in 8 reviews

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    City of Praise Family Ministries

    City of Praise Family Ministries

    4.1(11 reviews)
    7.2 mi

    I went to City Praise Family Ministries to see a play the Friday before Easter, and I was honestly…read moresurprised by the size of the space. As someone who does not go to church often, and when I did it was usually a smaller church, mega churches always catch me off guard. The building itself is very beautiful, modern, and feels relatively new. The people were very kind and welcoming, which made the experience comfortable from the moment we arrived. The play was engaging and the actors were amazing. During intermission, they sold snacks for about one to two dollars, and if you were a guest of one of the actors or actresses, you were able to get additional bites, which was a nice touch. They also had small gifts as well! Overall, it was a perfect Friday night before Easter. At the end, the bishop and pastor came on stage and transitioned into an altar call. This is the part of the experience that can feel different depending on the person. After the initial call, not everyone responds right away, and the pastor continues to wait and encourage people to come forward, sometimes repeating the call multiple times. As more people began to go down, it extended the moment further. For some visitors, including myself and others around me, it felt a bit prolonged, especially after a three hour play. We were ready to leave but also wanted to stay for the closing prayer, so the length of the altar call made it a little difficult to sit through. I understand that this is an important and meaningful part of the service, particularly around Easter, and the pastor is following their calling. Even so, the overall atmosphere was very passionate and welcoming, and I imagine the sermons there are very impactful.

    The service is a bit long. Much time is spent praising the first lady than the kingdom of God.read more

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    City of Praise Family Ministries
    City of Praise Family Ministries - I Got Away Tour

    I Got Away Tour

    City of Praise Family Ministries

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    University Park Church of Christ - Nice warm fire on a cold fall night!

    University Park Church of Christ

    3.0(2 reviews)
    2.8 mi

    I first came across this church a few weeks ago when me and the Tribe attended their Trunk or Treat…read moreevent. Recently we joined them again to attend their Community Thanksgiving Dinner. We love Community dinners--they are an excellent way to bond with a diverse group of people within the community whom you never may have met. We met folks of different ages, ethnicities, talents and even churches. The food was potluch shared by community members, while eating we were treated to lovely piano playing (and riffs) by a member, during dinner the children out together a puzzle game of World counties. After dinner we roasted marshmallows over a huge fire pit and enjoyed s'mores. It's important to note that this church is a generous one, practices what they preach and serves a connector to some of the homeless in the community--a few of whom I was happy to see joined us for the dinner.

    I'd describe it as pretty conservative, yet diverse. There's a good racial mix of Black, White, and…read moreAfricans, and some others as well to a lesser degree. Everybody is generally friendly & welcoming here. They don't use musical instruments or have a choir. Everybody sings 'a capella'-style. They have prayers, sing hymns, do announcements, sermons, full-water-immersion baptisms, take communion(bread & juice), and take up a collection. Women aren't allowed to preach to men here. I've never known any LGBT people here, but I don't think they would feel comfortable being "out" at this church. The pews(benches) are cushioned. You can dress up or go casual, nobody will hassle you about it. The sermons are usually boring, or they spend too much time focusing on minutia details of scripture, essentially beating water out of rocks. They interpret the Bible pretty literally and strictly, at least to the extent of not violating state & federal laws. There are Sunday school classes for all age groups, but they are very boring usually. Sometimes the teenager classes are fun when they are run like a discussion group. There's no playground on-site, but it's right behind the new movie theater. There's no daycare. They do VBS(Vacation Bible School) every year and they have 'Ladies' Day' events. During sermons, they also have "Children's Worship/"Primary Preaching" classes targeted at toddlers through about 6th grade. They have a puppet show in the Children's Worship. Here's an exerpt from Wikipedia about the church's history/theology. Sometimes they refer to this as the Restoration Movement or Stone/Campbell Doctrine. I would suggest reading the entire article too at the following link, though: "Churches of Christ are autonomous Christian congregations associated with one another through common beliefs and practices. They seek to base doctrine and practice on the Bible alone, and seek to be New Testament congregations as originally established by the authority of Christ. Historically, Churches of Christ in the United States were recognized as a distinct movement by the U.S. Religious Census of 1906. Prior to that they had been reported in the religious census as part of the movement that had its roots in the several independent movements that occurred through the leadership of people such as Thomas and Alexander Campbell, Walter Scott, and Barton W. Stone" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Churches_of_Christ

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    University Park Church of Christ - Marshmallow roasting on an open fire...

    Marshmallow roasting on an open fire...

    University Park Church of Christ - Cricket, the dog is a welcome member at the table.

    Cricket, the dog is a welcome member at the table.

    University Park Church of Christ - What's the name of your stylist, Cricket?

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    What's the name of your stylist, Cricket?

    University Baptist Church

    University Baptist Church

    4.7(3 reviews)
    3.7 mi

    UBC is a great church! I can't believe I'm the first person to review it on Yelp!…read more I first went there after not having gone to church in a loooong time, and never having gone anywhere too regularly, and I felt very welcome and at home right away! The pastor is brilliant and hilarious, and delivers a solid and inspiring message.The first time I went there I was laughing so hard I was crying, and no one told me to leave! This is a big deal for someone who found church to be kind of cold and intimidating in the past. The congregation is very diverse which is also very important to me. We live in a culturally diverse area. I want to worship with a congregation that reflects that. The music is great in that it is an array of many different styles and cultures, and uses the gifts of the members of the congregation. Well, you should just come and check it out.

    University Baptist Church is such a warm and welcoming congregation. My elementary age child and…read moreteenagers love the programming for them. The music ministry is diverse and lively and the preaching is incredible. Pastor John Burns is an incredible story teller and relates it all back to scripture in a way that is accessible. I love the worship time. The congregation is diverse in many different ways. They are truly walking the path of being a community of Jesus Christ. They find ways to connect over things they hold in common rather than differences. They are engaged in community services to live out the command to help others. A great worshipping community all around.

    The District Church - Prayer Walk 2024

    The District Church

    4.9(15 reviews)
    2.8 mi

    The pastors really live out the gospel. If you hear how much they have sacrificed for God and where…read morethey have served, you can see they really live out a life of service and love sharing the gospel to people who have been neglected. They use to live in the ghettos of Boston where there were as many funerals there as there are wedding in DC. They opened their house to the neighborhood children who often didn't have enough to eat or needed a safe place. On a side note regarding the post on Chinese New years, all the Christians I know in China and Taiwan celebrate Chinese New Years because it's a time to connect with family and friends and to share and tell them how much you love them. It's not easy being Christian in China and some of them have given up professions, suffered persecution, and are barely scrapping by, but they celebrate Chinese New Years....maybe differently from others....like with prayer and church services along with visiting family, feeding and helping the poor and witnessing to them. Chinese Christians definitely celebrate and share Christ's love during the two week national celebration!

    When we walked in the door, I was struck by how the pastor greeted us, walked us up to "kid city"…read morewhere we could drop off our kids, and then found us seats. As a campus minister, it challenged me to think about how when we are in positions of leadership we can think we are "above" normal tasks such as ushering and welcoming people at the door. However, are there ways I can live out my faith and service in doing humble tasks as the pastor of this church modeled out? Thanks District church, for helping my faith to grow from that visit!

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    The District Church - Come say hi to our hospitality team on Sunday Morning. We hope to welcome you soon.

    Come say hi to our hospitality team on Sunday Morning. We hope to welcome you soon.

    The District Church
    The District Church

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    Franciscan Monastery - churches - Updated May 2026

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