The most beautiful religious buildings Eastern Finland Province

Valamo is the name of the largest island in Lake Ladoga (now in Russia), where an Orthodox religious foundation was established in the 10th century. The monastery remained for a long time the oldest and most important in Finnish Karelia. At the height of its glory, it had more than 1,500 monks. The monastery has been home to priceless religious treasures and has attracted increasing numbers of pilgrims over the centuries. During the Winter War of 1940, when the USSR troops invaded the region, a few surviving monks found refuge in Heinävesi in an old manor house. Only the precious icons from the 18th century and a few sacred objects were thus saved from the advance of the Soviets. It is here, in Heinävesi, that they will build the new monastery of Valamo.

An Orthodox Institute of Free Studies is now open. At the same time, at the end of the 1980s, the University of Joensuu introduced a course in Orthodox theology. Uusi Valamo has become an active centre of the Orthodox cultural tradition, welcoming 100,000 visitors each year, whether they are pilgrims in search of meditation or simply tourists. Faithful to tradition, the community of men lives from farming, fishing and tourism. In addition to the church, completed in 1976 (beautiful icons in silver and gold, pearls and precious stones), there is a cultural centre and an inn. New Valamo also houses one of the richest Orthodox libraries (open to visitors staying in Valamo) and the best icon restoration workshop in Northern Europe.

This huge wooden church, whose construction was completed in 1848, can accommodate up to 5,000 worshippers (3,000 of whom are seated). It is the largest in the world, and the measurements of the building speak for themselves: 45 m long by 42 m wide and 27 m high under the dome. Why such a big church in such a small village? Legend has it that the architect got confused between feet and meters as a unit of measurement! Its construction required the collaboration of all the men of the village aged between 15 and 60 years old during 3 years.

The nuns make candles for the Orthodox churches in Finland and also keep sheep. Orthodox services are held here twice a day: at 6 am and 6 pm. From New Valamo, 18 km away, you can take a trip on the Sergei boat to the Lintula monastery via the Varistaipale canal (a difference in level of more than 14 m). In summer, you can also take a boat from Kuopio or Savonlinna to both monasteries. The beautiful lake district is ideal for this type of cruise.

Wooden church was built in 1891. Next to it there is a centre on the Orthodox religion and an Orthodox cemetery. At that time, Karelia was converted to Christianity through Orthodoxy in the 12th century. In some Orthodox villages in Karelia, after the mass on St. Peter's Day (June), a ram blessed by the priest is sacrificed before being shared by the faithful. Other communities do the same on St. Elijah's Day (July).

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The neoclassical Lutheran Cathedral - Tuomiokirkko - built between 1806 and 1815 in exposed granite stone, is the seat of the Kuopio Diocese. It is set in a beautiful park and dominates the whole area. A little further on, you can also admire a second Orthodox cathedral, dedicated to Saint Nicholas, with its beautiful red brick façade and green roof, which blends in perfectly with the nearby garden.