| Mepkin Abbey is a community of Roman Catholic monks established in 1949 on the site of the historic Mepkin Plantation located on the Cooper River, north of Charleston, South Carolina. Founded by the monks of Gethsemani in Kentucky, the brothers of Mepkin belong to the worldwide Order of Cistercians of the Strict Observance popularly known as Trappist. Vegetarian meals
Retreats
Some men and women may wish to spend several nights in one of our Guest Houses for the purpose of a spiritual retreat. These retreats are scheduled from Monday afternoon to Friday morning and from Friday afternoon to Monday morning. Week-long retreats are available from Monday to Monday, or Friday to Friday.
Rooms provided include a bed, desk and reading chair. Most rooms have a private bath. Bed linens, towels, and soap are provided. Married couples can be accommodated.
Retreatants take their meals together in a dining facility adjacent to the monastic community’s refectory, with the same vegetarian diet and observing the same silence as the monks.
Retreatants may attend any and all prayer services in the Abbey Church and have a designated section in the monastic choir to accommodate them, if they so desire.
No retreat conferences are given, but sacramental reconciliation (Confession) is available upon request. The Clare Boothe Luce Library is open to retreatants at designated times.
Advance reservations are required as is prior notice of cancellation. Retreatants’ donations accepted. Nine people can be accommodated at any one time.
Monastic Guests
The monks of Mepkin Abbey offer an opportunity for men to have a longer experience of monastic life, or to take a sabbatical within the monastery. Participants in this program live in the monastic community for a period of thirty days. At the request of the participant, this period may be renewed following an evaluation by the monks. Monastic Guests are provided a room with private bath within the monastic community itself, and must participate in all the activities and obligations of the monks
Advance reservations with the Monastic Guest Master are required, along with a certificate of medical insurance and some form of recommendation from a pastor, employer, or colleague. There is no fee required since work compensates for the cost of room and board. Usually the number of Monastic Guests is limited to three at any one time. | 
