The community of Discalced Carmelites settled in Antalieptė in the early 18th c. They were invited here by the count family of Strutinskai. In 1734 they made two large donations, thus securing the material basis for the establishment of the monastery. The monastery was also given a plot of land. The arrangement of the monastery and the entire territory was dictated by the location of the old wooden church, because these two buildings had to be connected. The construction of the monastery and its outbuildings was managed by the monks. They arranged agreements and procured construction materials. The monastery of the Discalced Carmelites was completed in 1734. Until 1756 Antalieptė monastery was referred to as a residence, which shows that the number of monks living there at that time was no more than 5. As of 1760 it was already referred to as a monastery (convention). In the late 18th c. it decayed and became unsuitable to live, thus the larger part of it was dismantled, making place for a new building.
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The building that we can see today was built in 1804-1830. Although without any peculiar stylistic details, the monastery is nevertheless valuable for the composition of its arrangement and volumes, designed at the time of the late classicism in Lithuania. In the early 20th c. the monastery was expanded by building a small two-storey wing, attached to the eastern façade. The interior was very modest, with a slightly statelier apartment of the prior and the large refectory, featuring a massive wooden table with a marble table top, as well as paintings of famous Carmelites and saints on the walls. The corridor was decorated with a clock, made by Vilnius’ craftsmen. The cells of the monks were very ascetic, featuring only the most necessary equipment. The monastery was connected to the church by an underground tunnel. It used to house about 9 monks, the majority of whom studied at Vilnius University. Due to their peculiar world-view and private way of life, the monks did not engage in educative activity, but were more inclined to charity. According to a 19th c. document, monks taught several children. In 1832 the monastery was closed and given to the army. In 1893 the building became an Orthodox nunnery, featuring a school, which later was reorganised into a two-year parish school. In 1920 it was taken over by the Women’s Cultural Society, which later turned into the congregation of the nuns of the Holy Heart of Jesus. The nuns did exemplary work in managing the farm. They founded a novitiate, a school of agriculture, a progymnasium, a crafts school, a kindergarten, an orphanage and a private elementary school. The nunnery became famous as a rich recreational place. As of 1938 it hosted the annual retreats and social courses or priests, which used to attract about 80 priests. During 1958-1976 the monastery was given to Antalieptė Technical School of Agriculture and later hosted an interschool industrial training factory. In 1991 the monastery has been given back to the religious community of Antalieptė’s catholics.
