Course description

“The great elder Paisi Velitskovski also complained about the lack of instructors, but based on his spiritual experience, he urged us to consult with like-minded people, to discuss and study the writings of the holy fathers together. Therefore, your circle of meetings is also very useful, because that is where you exchange ideas with each other.” – Saint John of Valamolainen

“God is one, but the paths leading to Him are many.” – Saint John of Valamolainen

The course provides an opportunity to pause on one’s own spiritual journey to reflect on where I am going right now. Where do I come from and where am I being called? Together, as peers and fellow travelers, we will pause on the central themes of Christian life: what is humility? What about love? What prevents me from loving and being humble? The goal is to seek insights from the writings of the Holy Fathers and the tradition of contemplative Christianity, to develop self-knowledge and to share thoughts about what spirituality means in each person’s own life. Together we will explore some outlines of the stages of a spiritual journey and how we can face them. You can participate in the course with whatever faith and background you have at the moment. As Christians, we are all stumbling and imperfect. You can talk about your own incompleteness or faith in the course as much as you want – or not at all. The most important thing is the ability to respect others, their experience and spirituality. Working together is not based on giving advice or finding the right answer, but on sharing ideas in a gentle and accepting atmosphere. Each person has a unique calling and purpose reserved for them by God. We also cherish this uniqueness by treating others with respect. In this way, being together can support each person’s own spiritual journey. The course begins on September 4th, accommodation for the previous night is included in the course price. Any meals on September 3rd will be paid for at Trapesa at normal prices. The teacher is philosopher, theologian and non-fiction writer Samuel Salovuori.