Valamo Monastery

The monastic community of Valamo had lived on islands in Lake Ladoga for centuries, and in 1940 the monks moved west with what they could carry and re-established themselves at a farm at Heinavesi in eastern Finland. New Valamo has grown there since: a main church built in the 1970s in a Karelian manner, an older wooden church, a library and conservation institute that restores icons and church textiles for the whole Orthodox Church of Finland, a guest house, a restaurant and a winery making berry wines and liqueurs. It is a working monastery with a small brotherhood, and services are open to visitors. Boats connect it to Lintula convent in summer.

What you actually see

• Icons brought from Ladoga - objects carried west by the community in 1940.
• The conservation institute - icon and textile restoration for the whole church.
• Sung Orthodox services - the liturgy open to visitors.
• The monastery winery - berry wines and liqueurs made on site.

When to go

May to September for the fullest programme and the lake boats; it is open year round with reduced services. Half a day. Guided tours run to a schedule.

Honest expectations

It is a working monastery, and services take precedence over visitors. Photography is restricted in the churches. The site is modern rather than historic, which surprises some. It is remote and public transport is limited.

Nearby

Lintula convent is south; Heinavesi lies north-west.