The Monastery of Awhum and the Virgin Mother of Divine Grace

Awhum · State of Enugu · Nigeria · Grotto, bark and miracles

In the hills of Awhum, in the south-east of Nigeria, the Benedictine monastery of Our Lady Mother of Divine Grace houses a natural grotto with a waterfall that the faithful consider miraculous. The sanctuary is one of the most visited in the igbo region.

Awhum: a monastery in the igbo hills

The Awhum monastery is located in a forest-like setting in the State of Enugu, in the heart of the igbo territory of Southeast Nigeria. The Benedictine established the monastery as a center of prayer, retreat and manual work, following the rule of St. Benedict adapted to the African context.

The most unique element of the monastery is its natural grotto with a waterfall. The water of the rock is considered miraculous by the faithful: the testimonies of healing and graces received after drinking the water or bathing in it have accumulated for decades.

The Virgin Mother of Divine Grace

The Marian advocation of the monastery - Our Lady Mother of Divine Grace - underlines the Benedictine character of the foundation: divine grace, received through prayer and work, is the center of Benedictine spirituality. The image of the Virgin venerated in the grotto is a statue of Mary with the Child, of African features, which the Benedictine expressly commissioned for the sanctuary.

Pilgrimage and testimonies

The Awhum shrine receives pilgrims from all over Southeast Nigeria, especially from the Dioceses of Enugu, Awka and Onitsha. The days of greatest influx are the feast of the Immaculate Conception (December 8) and the month of May (Mary's month). The faithful come with intentions of healing, spiritual liberation and gratitude.