About Monastery of the Holy Cross [Ukrainian Catholic] · Washington, District of Columbia
The Monastery of the Holy Cross is a Ukrainian Catholic monastic-oratory of the Byzantine Rite, tucked into the residential Brookland ('Little Rome') neighborhood of Northeast Washington, DC. It belongs to the Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Philadelphia and is led by Rev. Archimandrite Joseph Lee. The community gathers weekly for the Sunday Divine Liturgy at 10:00 AM, with confession heard half an hour before the service. Together with the Ukrainian Catholic National Shrine of the Holy Family on Harewood Road, it is one of two Ukrainian Catholic worship sites within the District of Columbia.
- Established
- 1946
- Patron
- Holy Cross
- Rector
- Rev. Archimandrite Joseph Lee
- Diocese
- Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Philadelphia
Why belong here
This is one of only two Ukrainian Catholic sites in Washington, DC, making it a spiritual home for Byzantine-rite Catholics who want the Ukrainian liturgical tradition in the nation's capital. The small, close-knit community gathers every Sunday for the 10:00 AM Divine Liturgy, with confession available a half hour before, and visitors are warmly welcomed — including to share coffee after the service. Being minutes from Catholic University in Brookland, the monastery sits in the heart of 'Little Rome,' surrounded by other Catholic institutions, monasteries, and shrines.
Mass times at Monastery of the Holy Cross [Ukrainian Catholic]
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Sunday — half an hour before the Divine Liturgy (i.e., beginning around 9:30 AM)
About the Monastery of the Holy Cross
The Monastery of the Holy Cross is a Ukrainian Catholic monastic community of the Byzantine Rite in the Brookland neighborhood of Northeast Washington, DC. It operates as an oratory-type parish under the Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Philadelphia, offering the Divine Liturgy and the sacrament of Confession on Sundays. The community is led by Rev. Archimandrite Joseph Lee.
History
The monastery has been federally recognized as a religious nonprofit since 1946 and is part of the broader Ukrainian Catholic monastic presence drawn to Brookland by The Catholic University of America. As one of just two Ukrainian Catholic sites in the District, it has sustained regular Byzantine-rite worship in Washington for decades.
- Founded / federally recognized: 1946 (IRS 501(c)(3) public charity)
- Jurisdiction: Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Philadelphia
- Location tradition: Brookland 'Little Rome' Catholic cluster near Catholic University
Clergy & Staff
The community is led by a single senior monk-priest who holds the title of Archimandrite.
- Rev. Archimandrite Joseph Lee — priest-monk in charge (contact: [email protected])
Liturgy & Sacraments
Public worship follows the Byzantine-Ukrainian tradition. The community celebrates the Divine Liturgy once a week, on Sunday morning, and Confession is heard before the service.
- Sunday Divine Liturgy — 10:00 AM
- Confession — half an hour before the Divine Liturgy on Sunday
- Liturgy celebrated in the Byzantine/Ukrainian rite, with both English and Ukrainian used
Worship Schedule
- Sunday Mass / Divine Liturgy: 10:00 AM
Parish Life & Hospitality
Visitors describe the monastery as a small, intimate worship site where the regular congregation is about a dozen strong and visitors are warmly received. After the Sunday Divine Liturgy, attendees traditionally share coffee together — a simple but meaningful sign of community for a parish of this size.
- Sunday morning parish community
- Post-Liturgy coffee hour
Location & Neighborhood
The monastery sits on Quincy Street NE in Brookland, the DC neighborhood Catholic University calls 'Little Rome' because of the high concentration of monasteries, seminaries, and the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. The Ukrainian Catholic National Shrine of the Holy Family on Harewood Road is also nearby.
- Address: 1302 Quincy Street NE, Washington, DC 20017-2614
- Near Brookland-CUA Metro (Red Line)
- Near The Catholic University of America and the Basilica of the National Shrine
Diocese & Canonical Status
The monastery belongs to the Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Philadelphia, one of the Eastern-Catholic (Byzantine-rite) jurisdictions of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church that is in full communion with Rome.
- Diocese: Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Philadelphia
- Rite: Byzantine (Ukrainian)
- Parish type: Ukrainian Catholic monastic-oratory
Contact & Practical Information
- Address: 1302 Quincy Street NE, Washington, DC 20017-2614
- Phone: 202-832-8519
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: https://ukrcatholic.org/parish/monastery-of-the-holy-cross-ne-washington