Feast Day of the Karelian Saints and Enlighteners and Day of Evacuee Stories Sat 31.10.2026

Article image: above, icon of Saints Sergei and Herman (Valamo Monastery), below "Evacuation journey from Karelia has begun" (Museovirasto, Finna)

Feast Day of the Karelian Saints and Enlighteners and Day of Evacuation Stories in Valamo, Sat 31.10.2026

On Saturday, October 31, 2026, Valamo Monastery will celebrate a versatile feast day, combining the spiritual heritage of Karelia, history, and moving evacuation stories.

The day is dedicated to commemorating the Karelian Saints and Enlighteners and preserving the memory of the evacuation. The program offers participants an opportunity for contemplation, culture, and pausing at the threshold of history in a unique monastery environment.

Program for the Day

09:00 Opportunity to participate in the Liturgy, which will be partly conducted in Karelian

11:00 Lunch, 16 € (self-funded)

12:00 Opportunity to participate in a prayer service for the Karelian Saints and Enlighteners

12:30 Opening of the Day and Theme of the Ecclesiastical Feast Day: The Abbot of the Monastery, Archimandrite Mikael

13:00 "Juuli of Old Valamo" - musical monologue, Jonna Ortju

14:00 Valamo Tea Table and opportunity to shop in the stores

15:30 Evacuated Monks in Heinävesi - PhD Elsi Takala

16:30 "The Icy Evacuation of the Valamo Monks" - documentary film

18:00 Opportunity to participate in Vigil

Divine Services in the main church of the monastery, program in the Cultural Center Hall, lunch and tea table available at Restaurant Trapesa

Program for the day 25 €/ person, incl. program and tea table.

Registrations by 23.10.2026:

Valamo Sales Service, salesservice@valamo.fi, tel. 017 570 1810

Also ask about accommodation.

WELCOME!