Franciscan Monastery of the Holy Land Reviews

Excellent place to visit, a must and the same goes for worshiping.

Very awesome observatory for spiritual Catholic and community participation ..awesome Greenhouse lovely prayer Garden Grotto and catacombs display

Love the Franciscan Monastery! Visited most recently on Holy Thursday, which was very moving. Everone there is so helpful and go out of their way to make your pilgrimage most meaningful!

You can feel the sacred place as you enter it. Friars and Fathers are very friendly. Recommend to save a full day to be able to visit everything. To visit the catacombs you will need a guide, so check website to see guided tours times. Light up a candle and leave your intentions there with a donation.
May the peace of God be with you!

By far, the coolest place I visited in the D.C. area. Mind-blowing artwork and an overwhelming sense of sanctity and peace within the walls of the monastery. If they do retreats, I would sell my kidney to go back and spend a week there. It is a bit of a walk from nearby mass transit, but definitely worth it.

Super picturesque and a great place to meditate/pray with a gorgeous garden. The replica of Virgin Mary's tomb, however, was practically infested with flies. Hard to feel reflective and pray in there when there's a cacophonous hum of flies around you

A truly incredible experience. Everything about the church and grounds are incredible and enhanced with a dedicated tour guide. The church is a recreation of many sights existing in the holy land. Often exactly what exists there. I think it is impossible to visit here and not get a sense of calm and well being. I hope this place lasts forever for future generations.

A peaceful place to stroll through and say a prayer if you wish. Steve at the information desk was very thoughtful and helpful

Very educational; hitten gem away from Washington DC tourists' attractions

A blessing to visit and attend mass! Be sure to visit the gift shop - it has affordable, high quality, and unique items. Take advantage of the guided tour. Praying in their garden provides spiritual peace and strength.

The Franciscan Monastery is a beautiful place to visit when you're in NE DC. The gardens are beautiful, and the church is unique. And if you get a chance, definitely go on the guided tour of the catacombs. Very informative.

Church is beautiful. Very pretty grounds. The spot for Holy Land recreations including replica catacombs. Also many relics.

A gorgeous place with its own history and wonderful tour guys that are quite entertaining for the kids. Enjoy the special tour under the monastery. Make sure to check out the gardens anytime of the Year especially in may. We enjoyed chatting with the nuns who are getting ready for ordained several deacons in May. All in all a very special place to visit

I m not even that spiritual but spending time walking around the gardens here is so peaceful and relaxing.

Replicas of the Holy Land, great place to make a retreat! Reconciliation is offered all day long. Check the website for current times.

Beautiful church and garden. Definitely a must see if you are in Brookland.

Absolutely expectacular gardens. Peaceful. A truly replica of the Holy Land. Great church and Gardens tours. Ample on site parking, free of charge. I love this place!!

Peace full gardens. Beautiful for a Saturday am walk with the wife.

This is a beautiful landmark in DC and the staff are super friendly and helpful

If you are a tourist in the city and miss this place, you wasted your trip. I personally believe this to be the most serene place in DC.

A special, holy place. They recreate the Holy Land in a stunning way. I've been on a number of occasions, including for Stations of the Cross. So much to see, so much to pray with and through, the Crucifixion, the Sepulcher, the Ascension...

When I have the opportunity I take my Pro-Life/Pro-Love Club here when we go on Pilgrimage to Washington, DC for the March for Life. It's a great place to learn about some of our Catholic heritage, especially for young people to see.

Great gardens pretty flowers and trees tells the story of Jesus.

This monastery is like a hidden jewel on the middle of the city. Lovely gardens with many replicas of holy places. The church is also beautiful and the underground spaces are fascinating.

Beautiful, relaxing place, allowing one to think clearly.

The public gardens are open and free to visit. They're well maintained and very serene.

A beautiful experience to live it with faith in the monastery

I saw the monastery for the first time when I was there with the Ron Freeman Chorale to sing musical portions of the Good Friday western service on a balcony above the nave. The acoustics were spectacular. The layout of the church and its chapels is cross shaped and in one part of the nave is a replica of the Holy Sepulcher. Even before you enter their sacred space, the areas outside have beautiful porticoes in the Italian style. I was in several hallways where I enjoyed beautiful small and large art glass in odd locations and interesting pieces of Roman Catholic art like Germanic wood carvings, needlework, stonework and other lovely expressions of devotion. I saw a few monks hither and yon. After the service which we could not see from our perspective but in which we participated with music, we saw all sorts of people in the church spaces below in long lines to visit the replica of the Holy Sepulcher which thankfully I had visited with another chorister before going to an upstairs balcony. Before the service, we ere able to practice some of our repertoire in an astounding room with a piano in the center surrounded by monk's stadii, i.e. carved chairs in which you can stand, lean on arms, or sit for hours as appropriate to the service. I didn't even know they normally existed in the western churches until this visit. I look forward to visiting again and being a part of next year's concert as long as it doesn't conflict with the Julian calendar. I think this would be an appropriate place to bring children on a visit to enjoy and explain the architecture. It is handicap accessible via entrances and elevators.

There is always a guide who offers us his message and explains each site of the Monastery

Best Christian worshipping site in DC! If you haven't been, you should definitely go.

Such a beautiful place! I hope to visit for the tour one day.

Exquisite grounds. Exquisite interior. Times 100 if you are of the faith.

The gardens are spiritually renewing. The presence of God is manifested in the trees, plants, and flowers. Additionally, commemorations of the life of Christ contribute to spiritual uplift and peace.

You don't have to be a Catholic to enjoy the beautiful Monastery and its gardens. The colorful gardens and walking paths are soothing and the religious objects are of museum quality. The Grottos seem a bit dreary but story they tell is one of the most compelling in the Catholic Church.

Beautiful monastery, and interesting concept, trying to recreate some of the holy areas. The tour was OK, but I could have done without the spiel on abortion at the end.

Good place to go but it is better in spring and summer for the gardens but inside it is beautiful at all times

A beautiful church in DC. I heard they have a botanical garden. I didn't get a chance to go in because I forgot my battery. So next time I'll go there and take some quality pictures of the area for those have religious belief or some place to stay and pray.

Very neat place to visit and learn the history and revaluations of Christianity. The tour was one of the most special parts, learning and seeing what was displayed made it easy to enjoy and allowed for better understanding. Great place to go on your own, with a friend, or even the whole family. This place is something unique and special, just like the story behind it all!

Peaceful, beautiful, well shaded for hot summer days

Beautiful monastery and gardens. I love coming here for Mass and confession.

Attended the Christmas Vigil here. Luminarias surrounded the exterior of the church. Beautiful interiors. Choir voices leading the liturgy. Rejoice! A Saviour is born to you.

Lovely spot for some quiet time and reflection! Awesome garden and Lourdes grotto. Beautiful mosaics of the mysteries of the rosary!

Peaceful garden. Tour replicas of the Holy Land catacombs and several holy land grottos. Great visitor center & gift shop. Beautiful church.

It is very nice to feel a spirit that Jesus is there. I would like to come back.

Brookland s Franciscan Monastery is for the people. The public is welcome to wander through the gardens reflecting in the shrines found in caves. The church s high ceiling and underground catacombs welcome all. There s a concert on Sundays at 4pm and anyone can rent for $100 a night one of two tiny homes on the property to use as silent retreats. Saint Francis Hall is one of the most affordable wedding venues in the city. While monks attend to the bee community and gardens, the public are free to roam.

a hidden gem with interesting history. the concert series was wonderful,featuring the organ in an intimate setting

A place of worship, also a replica of the important sites of Christianity. Thanks to the 800 years of hard work from our Franciscan brothers.

Lovely place to visit if you are into architecture. The inside of the Monastery is absolutely beautiful. The craftsmanship is great. Also the grounds of the Monastery is covered in flowers and plants. During spring it is just filled with beautiful colors. They do keep the garden maintained all year round. It s also I nice place to hold a wedding. I actually shot a wedding here.

I always feel comfortable at the Franciscan Monastery. Mass was fulfilling. I always feel comfortable praying there.

Confessions here Monday through Saturday at 9, 10, 11, 1, 2, 3 and 4 o'clock. Early morning weekday mass in chapel. Beautiful garden with stations of the Cross. Gift shop in back, way back to right of main building. Super clean public restrooms inside too.

It's perfect, it's perfect, it's full of peace in that place but it hurts that we could not see down where the images are because we did not know the exact time

Beautiful piece of property with tours outside. The church is beautiful inside, good music during liturgies, but the public speaking system has an echo, sad to say.

Beautiful Monastery. Full of the history of the Holy Land ( in replica).