The Korean Diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church has announced plans to expand the country’s first Orthodox monastery, marking a new stage in the development of Orthodox monastic life in South Korea.

According to the diocese, a plot of land has been selected on Yeongjongdo Island, near the city of Incheon and close to Incheon International Airport. Monastic life has already been taking shape on the island for about two years. At present, daily services are held in a small chapel arranged inside a converted maritime container, where worship follows a rule close to the traditional monastic order despite the limited conditions.

Church officials describe the creation of a full-scale monastery as a key step for the Korean Diocese. All of its clergy are monastics, making a permanent monastery essential for the proper organization of church life, spiritual formation, and education. The future monastery is expected to serve not only its residents but also local parishioners and pilgrims as a place of prayer and spiritual support.

The missionary monastery in Incheon was founded in January 2024, when Archbishop Theophan of Korea and Hierodeacon Nektary established a monastic community in a rented house. A container chapel dedicated to St. Anthony the Great was installed nearby, and the first divine service was celebrated on the eve of the Feast of Theophany.

The Korean Diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church was established in 2018 as part of the Patriarchal Exarchate of Southeast Asia. Archbishop Theophan recently spoke about the diocese’s missionary work during a meeting held within the framework of the Christmas Educational Readings.