Valamo College offers short courses open to everyone every year on a variety of topics, from icon painting to life skills. The courses are a great place to learn new things with expert teachers, meet others interested in the same things, or just focus on things that are important to you in a unique environment.
For Markku Kailaheimo, who takes philosophy courses at Valamo College, the best thing about Valamo is the discussions.
Many people say they come to Valamo to find peace, but Kailaheimo also reminds us of the other dimension of the courses: meeting people who are interested in the same things, discussing them, and exchanging ideas.
- The courses create an interaction that you can't get with a book.
The philosophy courses cover topics such as love, death, the good life, and the philosophy of being human. Especially in the summer, discussions can be held in nature while walking in the beautiful surroundings of Valamo.
For Kailaheimo, practicing philosophy was a counterbalance to physical work. He worked as a painter in the municipality of Kontiolahti.
– Nowadays, life revolves around superficial things, money for example. Everything is measured by benefit. It makes you think.
Course participants from diverse backgrounds
Kailaheimo participated in Valamo courses for the first time in 2006 and has attended courses almost annually since then.
At first, Kailaheimo was nervous about how an atheist would be received in Valamo. Everyone is welcome to the courses, regardless of their beliefs, although the course program is designed so that everyone has the opportunity to participate in church services, and sometimes these may have a significant impact on the course schedule.
– We are almost anonymous, discussing our own everyday experiences.
“There is no need to worry about worldly things”
Säde Tuovinen, who lives in Karttula, Kuopi, began her icon painting hobby in the 1990s. After retiring, Tuovinen became a volunteer assistant for the Valamo icon painting courses.
What attracts Tuovinen to icons is above all their beauty, spiritual dimension and meticulous technical work. Painting at Valamo is completely unique.
– The most rewarding thing about the Valamo icon painting courses is the peace of work and the monastery environment. At Valamo, you don't have to worry about worldly things. You can just focus on the icons.
Tuovinen also praises Valamo's expert teachers, high-quality materials and supplies, the library and open church, and the proximity to nature. In addition to learning icon painting techniques during the courses, Tuovinen considers the teacher's expertise important.
– Through icon theology, you can understand more deeply why an icon is exactly the way it is.
Explore the course offerings at Valamo Opisto
