Established in Illah, Nigeria
A Life of Prayer, Hospitality & Service
Discover our community dedicated to prayer and contemplation, spiritual services, retreats and hospitality, agriculture and farming, and sustainable community development.
Spiritual Services
Retreats, counseling, conferences, and spiritual guidance.
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Book a Retreat
Guest house accommodation and personal spiritual renewal.
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Our Enterprises
Farms, bakery, oil mill, feed mill, poultry, and piggery.
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Vocations
Learn about monastic life and the path of discernment.
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Founded
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Years of Service
A Legacy of Ora et Labora
OUR LADY OF THE HOLY CROSS CISTERCIAN MONASTERY, ILLAH is a contemplative community of monks who live according to the Rule of Saint Benedict. Founded in Illah, Nigeria, we strive to seek God in the silence of the heart and the rhythm of manual labor.
Our mission is to be a beacon of spiritual hope and a center for sustainable monastic enterprise, fostering harmony between divine worship and the stewardship of the land.
Crop Farm
Cultivating organic produce and grains to nourish our community and neighbors with sustainable practices.
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Poultry Farm
Modern, humane poultry facility providing high-quality protein for the local region.
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Piggery Farm
Responsible livestock management focused on health, hygiene, and ethical farming.
EXPLORE open_in_newFour Decades of Growth & Grace
Foundation
The Monastery was founded in Illah by Very Reverend Father Abraham Anselm Isidahome Ojefua on 15 August 1982, beginning a legacy of prayer.
A Priory
A beacon of spiritual hope and sustainable community impact as a Cistercian Priory.
Find Silence.
Find Yourself.
Our Guest House offers a peaceful sanctuary for those seeking a break from the noise of the world. Whether for a weekend retreat or a longer stay, we welcome you to share in our rhythm of prayer and silence.
- check_circlePrivate rooms with contemplative views
- check_circleAccess to communal prayer and chapel services
- check_circleNutritious meals from our monastic gardens
The Monastic Rhythm
The daily cycle of prayer and work (Ora et Labora) that defines our communal life. Click on each hour to learn more.
Vigil
Rising in the silence of night for the first office of the day, beginning with communal prayer.
Lauds
Morning prayer of praise, greeting the dawn with psalms and hymns.
Holy Mass
The Eucharistic celebration, the spiritual heart and summit of our monastic day.
Work
Manual labor in the fields, bakery, or mills, sustaining the community and serving neighbors.
Sext
Midday prayer at the sixth hour, pausing work to sanctify the noon hour.
None
Afternoon prayer at the ninth hour, marking the final hour of the Divine Office before evening.
Vespers
Evening prayer of thanksgiving, chanting the psalms as the day draws to its close.
Compline
Night prayer before retiring, entrusting the night to God in sacred silence.
The Monastery Church
The Work of Human Hands
Monastery at Dawn
Agricultural Excellence
Brotherhood and Community
Reach Out to Us
We welcome your inquiries, prayer requests, and visits. Please feel free to get in touch with our community.
Location
P.O. Box 10, Illah, Delta State, Nigeria
holycrossillah@yahoo.com
Phone
+234 (0) 803 405 4055