Wonderful Franciscan crown built into the cloister surrounding the monastery.
We were able to see some reproductions, including reproductions of ancient Christian catacombs, Bethlehem and the Holy Sepulchre.
The gardens are also worth a trip in and of themselves.
The staff is friendly, entrance and parking are free. Give yourself at least an hour.
Great tour, not very long but very informative, also the have relics, very intresting
This is a must while visiting Washington DC. There is a lot to learn and see at the Monastery. The tour is awesome!! The gift shop has very affordable items and great quality!!
Enjoyed a guided tour of the church and replication of holy sites. Also, toured the outdoor gardens.
Take a moment and enjoy the miracles that occur here. Every time there is something new to discover and give thanks for. Don't miss out - visit this holy place of grace and wonder.
Photographs do not do the monastery justice, carvings and statues are all around you as well as a cript below but the cript has hours, call to see when it is open. The serenity inside is complimented to the wonderful gardens outside.
Wonderful place
The tour with Tom was great. He is very knowledgeable
I really liked it because there is a replica of Jerusalem and it is very interesting
Absolutely wonderful! Peaceful, quiet. Sit and wonder or contemplate.
Beautiful church and gardens. Deep faithful experience. Detailed replicas of the holy Land and other sacred location. Gardens are full of blooming flowers.
Very peaceful great place. Loved coming here as a child and love coming now just as much. Great area and beautiful garden. Best time to come is in the spring or especially in the summer.
One of the most beautiful hidden treasures in DC. A repeat visit for us.
A truly holy experience where spiritual connects are enriched by the environment.
Beautiful grounds and samples of the holy lands. Great for educational trip.
It was absolutely amazing. Everything was incredibly beautiful. I'd love to go again one day.
Absolutely magnificent. A beautiful place to contemplate. The grounds are stunning, the replicas of the holy land are stunning. And everyone is so kind and helpful. I will definitely return.
Nice replicas of Holy Land treasures. Garden is nice but slightly dingy.
Confessions every hour from 9-11 in the morning and 1-4 in the afternoon. Great opportunities to receive God's grace and mercy.
It's a beautiful place to visit and learn about the Holy Land
Peaceful place to pray and keep the evil out of your heart
I took so many pictures and can not decide which once to use for this review. This place is amazing and beautiful. I had met with a few friends there right after Christmas and that is the best time to go. The guided Tour was informative, you get to see replicas of many Christian historical sites. The guide just so inspirational. when he talked you could tell he has been at the real locations. You do not have to be Christian to enjoy this place. The Tour is free but donations are accepted and parking is free too. I will be back in Spring to visit the gardens.
Great place if you're in for a religious and divine walk through the history of Christianity
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.
A beautiful and historic religious site for Washington DC. Close to the Basilica but decidedly different flavor. Tour the crypt for an especially cool experience or enjoying the well tended gardens. The yearly Tenebrae service during holy week is unmatched
We were a group from the George Brent Council of the Knights of Columbus, Manassas, VA, along with our Pastor - Father Lee - along with a Docent from the Monastery, they led on a tour which was very informative an inspiring. Replicating places and events in the Holy Land, and many events on the life of Christ. A day I'll not soon forget.
Absolutely stunning, beautiful, prayerful - highly recommend!!
This is a beautiful church, albeit a mixture of several styles. It is a great way to experience parts of the Holy Land for people who are unable to travel. The tour is good and the video introduction is rather impressive all things considered.
The gift shop has been relocate and updated with different items. I miss some of the old selection, but it still has a few items. My favorite is the book of images of the Ave Maria and Pater Noster plaques.
Although I have yet to go, there is also a tour of the gardens in April.
A perfect place to meditate and talk to God I recommend it
Find the Catholic Church to be very unaccepting of me. Love the garden but the interaction with the men who run the place is strained. The finger needs to pointed at themselves instead of wagging at us. Love All, Chose Love not condemnation.
Enjoyed a guided tour of the church and replication of holy sites. Also, toured the outdoor gardens.
Lot's of family enjoying the grounds. Lot of different things to do around the monastery. Enjoyed the time here.
Beautiful, peaceful, inspiring. This Catholic monastery and the gardens are full of beautiful, thought-provoking artwork. The mosaics in the garden are particularly impressive. The church is remarkable for its varied shrines along the walls illustrating important events in the Church's history. Be sure to pick up a pamphlet at the door explaining the artwork. Worth visiting and revisiting.
Beautiful landscapes and gardens. A place of peace and rest. Highly recommend a visit.
Lovely Mass and great acoustics along with the gardens and church.
Gorgeous, quiet, and just a great placd to reflect and spend quality time
Lovely place with a beautiful garden and lots of nooks and crannies to explore. The plant sale was great as well and we definitely want to return.
Beautiful, real Christian spirit. Amazing painted crucifixion scene on the balcony. Do walk up there.
An endearing place to say and see the Rosary on every pillar around the monastery, written in various languages all over the world . . .
Know that monks hate no one. They r followers of Christ and love all that GOD created.
The monastery is one of my very favorite places to visit. It is a beautiful oasis of spiritual and natural beauty in the heart of the city. I highly recommend it to anyone visiting the nation's capital. It is one of the unique places that is off the usual list of sites.
Also be sure to support the good work of the friars when you're there. They keep the Christian presence alive in the Holy Land.
My Mom and Dads first date 1936!!! Still as inspiring and wonderful as ever. A fantastic way to celebrate our faith.
Beautiful and peaceful place for visiting, prayer, contemplation or simply a rest. A true oasis of peace in a corner of DC to reconnect and retreat from daily duties and reflect on spiritual matters in a beautiful setting of gorgeous gardens tucked away in the corner of DMV. The guided tour is a great way to learn more about the monastery and view the catacombs.
Best kept secret in DC, it is quite and calming. The grounds are amazingly beautiful and kept. If you are interested in seeing, experiencing, and learning about the Holy Land and Catholic faith but unable to to the Holy Land this the perfect place. Confession is regularly offer and just the perfect place to spend quite time in prayer and with God.
Inspirational place but not handicapped accessible
This was a very interesting place. The guided tour of the church and catacombs was very interesting. The tour guide, Tom, was very informative and conducted the tour in a very friendly manner
Wonderful respite location in the city. Flowers and plants are amazing in April. Great place to walk, sit and reflect.
Uplifting, truth be told the mass experience for me is awesome. After receiving Holy Communion @ the noon Mass, there is an angel in the church or at least that's how she sounds too me, so soothing and alive. I love the Monastery always have. Visit you will walk away with a deep spiritual gift of love.
The tour is great. A stroll through the gardens is very relaxing.
Beautiful grounds and church. Tours available on weekends and some days of the week.
Beautiful grounds and a nice church. Once a year plant sale.
Cool looking place, gardens look bigger than I thought based on pictures from the web. Will visit when the weather gets warm.
I went thinking an hour would be enough time, it was not. The beauty and richness of history are breathtaking. Ask questions and enjoy yourself!
There is always a guide who offers us his message and explains each site of the Monastery
+JMJ One of two of my favorite Roman Catholic Churches to visit in the DC area. During my USNavy days, 1987-1989, traveled here with friends on sort of a mini-pilgrimage from Norfork, VA to Washington DC. And, even after moving to Richmond, VA, traveling to visit this spiritual oasis, was an eagerly anticipated, almost monthly pilgrimage from 1990 until I moved to AZ in 2013. This Church and Monastery, home of the religious order of Franciscans, custodians of Holy Land Churches, is a most excellent place for tranquil, scenic and even quiet strolls through the grounds of their beautifully maintained rose and other floral gardens. The Rosary Walk is extraordinary in that there are exquisite depictions of the life of Christ done in mosaics. And, to display the universality of the Catholic Church, the Lord's Prayer and the Hail Mary are inscribed on marble(?) tablets translated in to many, many languages from through the world. The outdoor depiction of the Stations of the Cross lends itself to profound meditation upon the sacrificial Passion of Jesus Christ, God and Man, Saviour of Mankind. Additionally, there are several replicas of points of Holy Land interest on the grounds, in addition to a replica of the world renown Grotto of Lourdes, France. The Church's interior is very beautiful and does what a Church is intended to do, take you mind, body, and soul from worldly thoughts to Heavenly contemplation. I loved every visit here and as much as I love living in AZ, I truly miss my opportunities to visit here. Hope those who read this review enjoy my photos. God bless one and all!
Although the interior of the monetary was closed, my husband and I went for a walk around the grounds. The tulips were at the late end of their blossoming, but it was still beautiful. I've lived in DC for a decade, but had never been. What a nice hidden gem!
The Franciscan monastery of the Holy Land is a lovely place. The church community is welcoming and they have wonderful music for their 10AM Sunday masses.
Always a peaceful place to pray. When the weather is good it's nice to walk around the gardens and communicate with nature.
myfranciscan.org