CHURCH OF S. BIAGIO AND MONASTERY, FORMER COLLEGE OF MARIA, Vittoria, Ragusa, Sicily, Italy

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Former Cistercian Chorin Monastery, Brandenburg, Germany, 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) christ in majesty. Frescoes in the 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) 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) 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) frescoes in the 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) 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) 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

Macedonia (the former yugoslav republic of macedonia, fyrm) icon and detail. 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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Aerial view 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

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

Door rings, door, Former Monastery, Galata, Cyprus

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

View of Vila Nova de Gaia city with Mosteiro da Serra do Pilar monastery and Douro river on sunset. Porto, Vila Nova de Gaia, Portugal, 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 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

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

Gate to the Iglesia Conventual de San Buenaventura, Convento de Buenaventura, former Franciscan monastery, Betancuria, Fuerteventura, Canary Islands, Spain, Europe

Ducal Bavarian brewery, Braeustueberl Tegernsee tavern, a former Benedictine monastery, Tegernsee lake, Upper Bavaria, Bavaria, Germany, Europe

Chapel of St. Kevin's Kitchen and cemetery, former monastery Glendalough, Wicklow Mountains, County Wicklow, Republic of Ireland, British Isles, Europe

Herzoglich Bayerisches Brauhaus, brewery on Tegernsee Lake, a former Benedictine monastery, Tegernsee, Upper Bavaria, Bavaria, Germany, Europe

Church and medieval cloister of the Abbaye de Fontevraud abbey, Aquitaine Romanesque, built from 1105 to 1160, Fontevraud-líAbbaye, Loire Valley near Saumur, Maine-et-Loire, France, Europe

Medieval cloister, Abbaye de Fontevraud abbey, Aquitaine Romanesque, built from 1105 to 1160, Fontevraud-líAbbaye, Loire Valley near Saumur, Maine-et-Loire, France, Europe

Muenster Schwarzach minster, former Romanesque monastery church of St. Peter and Paul, southwest view, Benedictine abbey Schwarzach, Rheinmuenster, Baden-Wuerttemberg, Germany, Europe

View in side compartment from the medieval cloister, Abbaye de Fontevraud abbey, Aquitaine Romanesque, built from 1105 to 1160, Fontevraud-líAbbaye, Loire Valley near Saumur, Maine-et-Loire, France, Europe

Baptism relief, John raising his right hand over Jesus standing in the Jordan, Romanesque baptismal font from 1129 in the former collegiate church of St Boniface, Freckenhorst, Warendorf district, Baden-Wuerttemberg, Germany, Europe

Aerial view of Banz Monastery, former Benedictine monastery, southern German baroque, near Bad Staffelstein, Lichtenfels district, Franconian Switzerland, Franconian Alps, Upper Franconia, Franconia, Bavaria, Germany, Europe

Gothic chapel in the choir ambulatory with statue of the Virgin Mary, former Benedictine abbey church Eglise Saint-Trophime, Arles, Bouches-du-Rhone department, Provence Alpes Cote d'Azur region, France, Mediterranean Sea, Europe

Former monastery church of Antifonitis, 12th century interior, frescoes and wall painting on the columns, North Cyprus

Former Franciscan convent

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

Romanesque baptismal font from 1129 in the former collegiate church of St. Boniface, Freckenhorst, Warendorf district, Baden-Wuerttemberg, 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

Former monastery church of Antifonitis, 12th century interior, frescoes and wall painting, Northern Cyprus