Valamo Folk High School annually offers short courses open to everyone on many different topics, from icon painting to life skills. The courses are a good place to learn new things with the guidance of expert teachers, to meet others interested in the same things, or just to focus on matters important to oneself in a unique environment.
For Markku Kailaheimo, who attends philosophy courses at Valamo Folk High School, the best part of Valamo is the discussions.
Many say they come to Valamo to find peace, but Kailaheimo also reminds of another dimension of the courses: meeting, discussing, and exchanging ideas with people interested in the same things.
– On a course, such interaction arises that doesn't happen when you're alone with a book.
Philosophy courses deal with, for example, love, death, the good life, and the philosophy of being human. Especially in summer, discussions can take place while walking in nature in Valamo's beautiful surroundings.
For Kailaheimo, practicing philosophy was a counterbalance to physical work. He worked as a painter for the municipality of Kontiolahti.
– Nowadays, life revolves around superficial things, money for example. Everything is measured by utility. It makes you think.
Students from diverse backgrounds
Kailaheimo participated in Valamo courses for the first time in 2006 and has attended courses almost annually ever since.
At first, Kailaheimo was nervous about how an atheist would be received in Valamo. Everyone is welcome to the courses regardless of their conviction, although the course program is designed so that everyone has the opportunity to participate in Divine Services, and sometimes these may significantly affect the course schedule.
– We are, as it were, anonymously discussing our everyday experiences on the matter.
“No need to worry about worldly things”
Säde Tuovinen, who lives in Karttula, Kuopio, started her icon painting hobby already in the 1990s. After retiring, Tuovinen became a volunteer assistant for Valamo's icon painting courses.
Tuovinen is primarily attracted to icons by their beauty, spiritual dimension, and meticulous technical work. Painting in Valamo is unique.
– The most rewarding aspects of Valamo's icon painting courses are the peace of work and the monastery as an environment. In Valamo, there's no need to worry about worldly things. You can focus solely on icons.
Tuovinen also commends Valamo's expert teachers, high-quality materials and supplies, the library, and the open church, as well as the proximity to nature. In addition to learning icon painting techniques on the courses, Tuovinen emphasizes the importance of the teacher's expertise.
– Through icon theology, one understands more deeply why a particular icon is exactly as it is.
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