St. Andrew Svorad Abbey

St. Andrew Svorad Abbey is a Benedictine monastery situated at Cleveland's highest elevation, occupying 12 acres of land. The complex includes an abbey church with two connected wings forming a cloister area at its heart.

The abbey was founded in 1922 when Prior Gregory Vanischak established the religious community as part of the Cleveland Diocese. This marked the beginning of a Benedictine presence that has continued in the region ever since.

The community preserves Slovak heritage through its institute while living according to Benedictine customs of shared daily routines. You can observe how the monks organize their days around regular prayer times and communal activities.

Visitors can join the monks for daily prayer services or book time for retreats at Loyola Retreat House on the grounds. A monastery store offers religious items, and the campus is easy to navigate on foot.

The monastery observes specific silence practices, including quiet breakfasts and designated calm periods between evening and morning prayers. These silent times form a distinctive part of the daily rhythm that visitors can notice in their routines.

GPS coordinates: 41.48083,-81.61167

Latest update: December 13, 2025 17:06