Two monks dressed in traditional red access the Punakha Dzong a former monastery in the town of Punakha, Bhutan, Asia

Former Convent San Miguel Arcangel, founded 1541 AD, Route of the Convents, Mani, Yucatan, Mexico, North America

Church of Santo Doming (Iglesia de Santo Domingo), former monastery, Oaxaca City, Oaxaca, Mexico, North America

Church of S. Biagio and Monastery, former College of Maria, Vittoria, Ragusa, Sicily, Italy, Mediterranean, Europe

Former Camaldolese monastery, Lake Wigry, Wigry National Park, Poland, Europe

The Jerónimos Monastery or Hieronymites Monastery, a former monastery of the Order of Saint Jerome near the Tagus river in the parish of Belém, in the Lisbon Municipality, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site

The Jerónimos Monastery or Hieronymites Monastery, a former monastery of the Order of Saint Jerome near the Tagus river in the parish of Belém, in the Lisbon Municipality, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site

The Jerónimos Monastery or Hieronymites Monastery, a former monastery of the Order of Saint Jerome near the Tagus river in the parish of Belém, in the Lisbon Municipality, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site

Maastricht, Netherlands dz?dz?dz? View of the Maastricht Natural History Museum, housed in the former Grauwzustersklooster monastery. Located in the historic Jekerkwartier district, it showcases the regiondz?dz?dz?s natural heritage.

The Jeronimos Monastery (Hieronymites Monastery) a former monastery in Belem, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Belem, Lisbon Portugal, Europe

Choir, Former Cistercian Chorin Monastery, Brandenburg, Germany, Europe

Former Cistercian Chorin Monastery, Brandenburg, Germany, Europe

The Romanesque Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Paray-le-Monial and attached former monastery buildings, Paray le Monial, Saone-et-Loire, Burgundy, France, Europe

Catania panoramic view with traditional buildings, San Placido Roman Catholic Church, and former Benedictine Monastery, Catania, Sicily, Italy, Mediterranean, Europe

Catania panoramic view with traditional buildings, San Placido Roman Catholic Church, and former Benedictine Monastery, Catania, Sicily, Italy, Mediterranean, Europe

Former Cistercian Lehnin Monastery, St. Mary's Gothic Church and cloister courtyard, Brandenburg, Germany, Europe

View to the former monastery of San Domenico from the Greek Theatre, Mount Etna in background, Taormina, Messina, Sicily, Italy, Mediterranean, Europe

Former monastery in Durnstein, Wachau, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Austria, Europe

Former monastery in Durnstein, Wachau, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Austria, Europe

Iconostasis with goldwork and paintings in former monastery of Apostolos Varnavas, St. Barnabas, in North Cyprus, Europe

Hotel Dann Monasterio, former Saint Francis Monastery, Popayan, Cauca Department, Colombia, South America

Former monastery in Durnstein, Wachau, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Austria, Europe

Trulshig rinpoche, blesses. Tulshig rinpoche blesses. Tulshig rimpoche s followers believe that he, like many other lamas, reassumes a human body after death in order to return to disciples. previous incarnation of tulshig rimpoche spent several years at dzarongpu monastery (highest monastery in world located at 16,500’ within sight of northern side of mt everest) served as of ngawong tenzin teachers. He promised to return in next life, so at tulshig s death ngawong tenzin norbu sought found reincarnation. current tulshig rimpoche then came to monastery studied with ngawong tenzin norbu. relationship between teacher student, in which a teacher returns to study from former student, maintains lineage over generations. Bhutan

Macedonia (the former yugoslav republic of macedonia, fyrm) frescoes in the orthodox church of the monastery of saint naum. Lake ohrid

Macedonia (the former yugoslav republic of macedonia, fyrm) christ in majesty. Frescoes in the orthodox church of the monastery of saint naum. Lake ohrid

Macedonia (the former yugoslav republic of macedonia, fyrm) orthodox church of the monastery of saint naum. Lake ohrid

Macedonia (the former yugoslav republic of macedonia, fyrm) frescoes in the orthodox church of the monastery of saint naum. Lake ohrid

Macedonia (the former yugoslav republic of macedonia, fyrm) orthodox church of the monastery of saint naum. Lake ohrid

Macedonia (the former yugoslav republic of macedonia, fyrm) cyrilic bible, orthodox church of the monastery of saint naum. Lake ohrid

Macedonia (the former yugoslav republic of macedonia, fyrm) frescoes in the orthodox church of the monastery of saint naum. Lake ohrid

Macedonia (the former yugoslav republic of macedonia, fyrm) frescoes in the orthodox church of the monastery of saint naum. Lake ohrid

Macedonia (the former yugoslav republic of macedonia, fyrm) tomb of saint naum. Orthodox church of the monastery of saint naum. Lake ohrid

Macedonia (the former yugoslav republic of macedonia, fyrm) tomb of saint naum. Orthodox church of the monastery of saint naum. Lake ohrid

Macedonia (the former yugoslav republic of macedonia, fyrm) dome of orthodox church of the monastery of saint naum. Lake ohrid

Macedonia (the former yugoslav republic of macedonia, fyrm) frescoes in the orthodox church of the monastery of saint naum. Lake ohrid

Macedonia (the former yugoslav republic of macedonia, fyrm) orthodox church of the monastery of saint naum. Lake ohrid

Macedonia (the former yugoslav republic of macedonia, fyrm) saint john the baptist. Frescoes in the orthodox church of the monastery of saint naum. Lake ohrid

Macedonia (the former yugoslav republic of macedonia, fyrm) icon and detail. Orthodox church of the monastery of saint naum. Lake ohrid

Macedonia (the former yugoslav republic of macedonia, fyrm) frescoes in the orthodox church of the monastery of saint naum. Lake ohrid

Macedonia (the former yugoslav republic of macedonia, fyrm) frescoes in the orthodox church of the monastery of saint naum. Lake ohrid

Macedonia (the former yugoslav republic of macedonia, fyrm) saint naum fresco. Orthodox church of the monastery of saint naum. Lake ohrid

Macedonia (the former yugoslav republic of macedonia, fyrm) frescoes in the orthodox church of the monastery of saint naum. Lake ohrid

Macedonia (the former yugoslav republic of macedonia, fyrm) frescoes in the orthodox church of the monastery of saint naum. Lake ohrid

Former Benedictine monastery in the evening light, Villeroy & Boch, Erlebniszentrum Villeroy & Boch, Mettlach, Saarland, Germany, Europe

Evening in the old town of La-Charité-sur-Loire, Stone bridge over the Loire river, Church and former monastery Ste Croix Notre Dame, The Way of St. James, Chemins de Saint Jacques, Via Lemovicensis, La-Charité-sur-Loire, Dept. Nievre, Burgundy, France, Europe

Mevlevi Tekke, former dervish monastary, figures of dancing dervishes, whirling dervishes, museum, Lefkosia, Nicosia, Cyprus

outdoor photo, summer, Jerpoint Abbey, County Kilkenny, Ireland, Europe

Former monk, caretaker of the Songyue Temple Pagoda near Shaolin Monastery, the oldest pagoda in China, rare with twelve sides, Taoist Buddhist mountain, Song Shan, Henan province, China

Central arch of the Ebrach minster, a former cistercian monastery, Ebrach, Upper Franconia, Bavaria, Germany, Europe

Evening in the old town of La-Charité-sur-Loire, Stone bridge over the Loire river, Church and former monastery Ste Croix Notre Dame, The Way of St. James, Chemins de Saint Jacques, Via Lemovicensis, La-Charité-sur-Loire, Dept. Nievre, Burgundy, France, Europe

Early summer morning at a former Benedictine monastery with church, Santa MarÌa, Santa Cruz de la SerÛs, Huesca, Aragon, Spain

outdoor photo, summer, Jerpoint Abbey: sculptures at grave of Bishop O´Dulany, County Kilkenny, Ireland, Europe

Agios Varnavas, former St. Barnabas Monastery at night, museum, Salamis, North Cyprus, Cyprus

Parish church of St. Johannes Nepomuk, 18th century, Church of former monastery of Jesuits, Hadamar, Westerwald, Hesse, Germany, Europe

Interior view of abbey church of Benediktbeuern monastery, former Benedictine abbey, Benediktbeuern, Bavaria, Germany, Europe

Wall set in rock, former monastery, cloister from the 9th century, San Juan de la Pena, Huesca, Aragon, Spain

Anastasiakapelle at Benediktbeuern monastery, former Benedictine abbey, Benediktbeuern, Bavaria, Germany, Europe

Aerial view of Derneburg Castle, former monastery, once home to artist Georg Baselitz, Holle, Hildesheim, Lower Saxony, Germany

Wall set in rock, former monastery, cloister from the 9th century, San Juan de la Pena, Huesca, Aragon, Spain

Wall set in rock, former monastery, cloister from the 9th century, San Juan de la Pena, Huesca, Aragon, Spain

Graefinthal with rest of former Wilhelmiten monastery under thunder clouds, Mandelbachtal, Bliesgau, Saarland, Germany, Europe

Aerial of Derneburg Castle, former monastery, once home to artist Georg Baselitz, Holle, Hildesheim, Lower Saxony, Germany

Dining room in the former Cistercian monastery of Zlata Koruna, Cesky Krumlov, South Bohemian Region, Czech Republic

former Cistercian monastery of Zlata Koruna, Cesky Krumlov, South Bohemian Region, Czech Republic

Door rings, door, Former Monastery, Galata, Cyprus

Former monastery, Monasterio de Oia, Oia, RÃŒas Bajas, Galicia, Spain

Interior view of abbey church, Alpirsbach abbey, former Benedictine monastery, Alpirsbach, Baden-Wuerttemberg, Germany, Europe

Old town of La-Charité-sur-Loire, stone bridge over the Loire river, Church and former monastery Notre Dame in the background, The Way of St. James, Chemins de Saint Jacques, Via Lemovicensis, La-Charité-sur-Loire, Dept. Nievre, Burgundy, France, Europe

Former Minorite monastery of the Order of the Knights of the Cross with the red star, Cesky Krumlov, South Bohemian Region, Czech Republic

Cloister in the former Cistercian monastery Zlata Koruna, Cesky Krumlov, South Bohemian Region, Czech Republic

Ebrach minster, a former cistercian monastery, Ebrach, Upper Franconia, Bavaria, Germany, Europe

Saarburg on Saar, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany, Europe

Lobby and bar, Kruisheren Hotel, nave, former Kruisheren or Kreuzherren monastery, Crosier religious order, fifteenth-century church, Maastricht, Netherlands

Lobby and bar, Kruisheren Hotel, nave, former Kruisheren or Kreuzherren monastery, Crosier religious order, fifteenth-century church, Maastricht, Netherlands

Coat of arms on the former Mosteiro de Santa Clara monastery in Vila do Conde, Portugal, Europe

Rounded painting, Lorch Abbey, former Benedictine monastery, Baden Wuerttemberg, Germany, Europe

Art centre, Fundacion Antonio Perez, former monastery, convent, Convento de las Carmelitas, historic town centre, Cuenca, Castile-La Mancha, Spain, Europe

Holy statue on the facade of the Art centre, Fundacion Antonio Perez, former monastery, convent, Convento de las Carmelitas, historic town centre, Cuenca, Castile-La Mancha, Spain, Europe

Mosteiro dos Jeronimos, Jeronimos Monastery, 16th century, main entrance and facade of the western wings in Manueline style, the former dormitory is a museum today, Praca do Imperio, Belem, Lisbon, Portugal, Europe

Ettlinger Bach, creek in front of Polling Abbey, former Monastery of the Augustinian Canons Regular, Polling, Pfaffenwinkel, Upper Bavaria, Germany, Europe

Aerial photograph, Pius Church and former Kurhotel, Wedinghausen Abbey, Arnsberg, Sauerland, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, Europe

View of Porto city and Douro river and Dom Luis bridge I from famous tourist viewpoint Miradouro da Serra do Pilar on sunset. Porto, Vila Nova de Gaia, Portugal, Europe

View of illuminated Porto city and Douro river and Dom Luis bridge I from famous tourist viewpoint Miradouro da Serra do Pilar in evening twilight. Porto, Vila Nova de Gaia, Portugal, Europe

View of Porto city and Douro river and Dom Luis bridge I with metro tram from famous tourist viewpoint Miradouro da Serra do Pilar. Porto, Vila Nova de Gaia, Portugal, Europe

The second level stairs and entrance to the former fortress and monastery of Sigiriya rock, guarded by a pair of lion feet in Sri Lanka

Cloister in the enclosure, Claustro, of the Hieronymites Monastery, Mosteiro dos Jeronimos, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Manueline style, Portuguese late-Gothic, Belem, Lisbon, Portugal, Europe

Ornate arches in the two-storeyed cloister of the Hieronymites Monastery, Mosteiro dos Jeronimos, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Manueline style, Portuguese late-Gothic, Belem, Lisbon, Portugal, Europe

Two-storeyed cloister in the enclosure, Claustro, of the Hieronymites Monastery, Mosteiro dos Jeronimos, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Manueline style, Portuguese late-Gothic, Belem, Lisbon, Portugal, Europe

Two-storeyed cloister in the enclosure, Claustro, of the Hieronymites Monastery, Mosteiro dos Jeronimos, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Manueline style, Portuguese late-Gothic, Belem, Lisbon, Portugal, Europe

Two-storeyed cloister in the enclosure, Claustro, of the Hieronymites Monastery, Mosteiro dos Jeronimos, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Manueline style, Portuguese late-Gothic, Belem, Lisbon, Portugal, Europe

Choir in the Hieronymites Monastery, Mosteiro dos Jeronimos, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Manueline style, Portuguese late-Gothic, Belem, Lisbon, Portugal, Europe

Porto City, Douro River and Dom Luis Bridge I with Tram in Morning. View from Tourist Viewpoint Miradouro da Serra do Pilar. Portugal

Church do Mosteiro de Santo Agostinho da Serra do Pilar at Morning Twilight. Blue Hour. Porto, Vila Nova de Gaia, Portugal, Europe

Statue of the Virgin Mary, St. Nicholas' Church, formerly the church of Brauweiler Abbey, a former Benedictine monastery, Brauweiler, Pulheim, Rhineland, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, Europe

Marble window vaulted ceiling, stucco, colorful decorations, ornaments, church of the former Cistercian monastery Santa Maria de la Vall Digna, Simat de la Vall Digna, Simat, Vall Digna, Gandia, Costa Blanca, Alicante province, Spain, Europe

Vaulted ceiling, stucco, colorful decorations, ornaments, church of the former Cistercian monastery Santa Maria de la Vall Digna, Simat de la Vall Digna, Simat, Vall Digna, Gandia, Costa Blanca, Alicante province, Spain, Europe

Banz Abbey, a former Benedictine monastery, near Bad Staffelstein, Lichtenfels, Upper Franconia, Bavaria, Germany, Europe

Basilica of St. Lorenz, a former Benedictine abbey church of the Prince Abbot of Kempten, today the Parish Church of St. Lorenz, Diocese of Augsburg, Kempten, Lower Allgaeu, Allgaeu, Swabia, Bavaria, Germany, Europe

The Kloster Bergen monastery, a former Benedictine monastery, Bergen, Neuburg an der Donau, Diocese of Eichstaett, Bavaria, Germany, Europe

Basilica of St. Lorenz, a former Benedictine abbey church of the Prince Abbot of Kempten, today the Parish Church of St. Lorenz, Diocese of Augsburg, Kempten, Lower Allgaeu, Allgaeu, Swabia, Bavaria, Germany, Europe