The Joy of Friendship Day at Valamo Monastery Saturday 14.2.2026
The Valamo Monastery invites you to celebrate the Joy of Friendship Day. The day is open to both those arriving with friends and those arriving alone, who long for connection, meaningful encounters and peaceful togetherness.
The prayerful atmosphere of the monastery offers a space for silence, listening and presence. During the day, literature, theology and icon art open up as perspectives on love and friendship that carry us through different stages of life.
For many, loneliness is a real experience. On this day, we are gently reminded that no one has to walk alone. Let us meet each other with respect and an open mind.
Program:
12.00 Moleben, opportunity to participate in a prayer service in the monastery's main church
A short moment of prayer for friends and loved ones. Ignite the flame of the miraculous icons.
12.30 Opening remarks of the day – Valamo Monastery Librarian Virva Suvitie
After the opening
Guest author Ann-Christin Antell
The theme of friendship and love in her popular novels
Ann-Christin Antell's new historical trilogy tells the story of the talented daughters of Amos and Matilda Adel. The first part of the series, The White Lily (2025), takes readers to Naantali and Florence in the early 1910s.
Antell became a favorite with readers with his Cotton Mill series. The series has sold over 200,000 copies and been translated into several languages. The series includes the works In the Shadow of Cotton Mill (2021), The Heir of Cotton Mill (2022) and The Rival of Cotton Mill (2023). The series culminates in the collection of short stories Christmas Stories from the Cotton Mill (2024), which includes three independent Christmas stories: Christmas at the Örndahl Ironworks, Christmas in Loviisa and Christmas at Falke Castle.
14.00 Lunch (self-published), restaurant Trapesa
15.00 Theology of Friendship and Love -
"Agape: God's Love and Its Reflection in Human Relationships" - monastery director Archimandrite Mikael
15.45 “Your name shall be my beloved” - love and friendship in icon art - icon conservator and icon painting teacher Antti Narmala
16.30 Valamo tea table, restaurant Trapesan red hall
Thinking over a cup of tea and Valamo delicacies
The tea table includes: tea and raspberry jam, pickles with sour cream and honey, salmon pie, cabbage pie, dry cake, cookies, sweets and fruit.
18.00 Opportunity to participate in the vigil service in the main church of the monastery
The event will be held at the Valamo Cultural Center
Representatives of the Heinävesi branch of the Finnish Red Cross will also be there to talk about the Finnish Red Cross's friend activities.
The day's program: 25 €/ person includes the program and a tea table
Registration 8.2.2026 by: myyntipalvelu@valamo.fi or 017 570 1810
Warmly welcome!
Accommodation offer for participants of the Joy of Friendship Day from 13.-15.2.2026
Monastery Hotel 2 for a single price of 72.50 €/room/day
College Hotel 2 for a single price of 62.50 €/room/day
Monastery Hotel 1hh for a special price of 80 €/day
Prices include monastery breakfasts
For those arriving with a pet friend, there are a limited number of pet rooms available at the monastery hotel. Pet supplement €20.
Additional elements during the day:
Valamo Library books on display in the Cultural Center hall in connection with the day's theme
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Friendship Path: A self-guided walking tour in the monastery area, where you can stop to think about the meaning of friendship and love. At each stop there is a short thought or prayer. A map is available for the trail from the Cultural Center hall.
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Message and photo challenge:
Send a letter, card or message to a friend or a lonely person from the Valamo Monastery
Take a photo with a friend in the beautiful surroundings of Valamo
