Valamo College

Valamo College – on the verge of encounter, silence and realization

Valamo College is an Orthodox folk high school open to all, which organizes short courses in the Valamo Monastery

Valamo College was founded in 1986. Education and learning are a natural part of the monastery environment. There was also a school in Old Valamo before it was moved to Heinävesi.

In the college's short courses, you will learn things about the Orthodox faith and way of life, and you will also become familiar with various information and skills related to culture and crafts.

Icon painting is an important part of the college's course activities. We are the only educational institution in Finland where you can study icon painting in a goal-oriented and in-depth manner and progress in your studies from beginners to master level.

Valamo Monastery is a unique learning environment for our course participants. In addition to learning, in Valamo you can get to know the everyday life of the monastery and church life, or even spend time in the surrounding nature!

Valamo College is open to everyone, regardless of age, gender, place of residence, cultural background or belief.

Explore our course offerings

You can also register for courses by phone 017 570 1810 or by email myyntipalvelu@valamo.fi

Smartum and the Epassi mobile application are used as payment methods for the manual skills courses.

Valamo College is an Orthodox folk high school that organizes short courses at the Valamo Monastery

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General information about the courses

You can register for the courses:

  • directly from the course website
  • by email myyntipalvelu@valamo.fi 
  • by phone 017 5701 810 
General terms and conditions

Valamo College contact information

The contact information for the school staff can be foundhere.

 

 

Contact information

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The board of directors of Valamo College for the period 2025-2027 is composed of:

CEO, Rector Juha-Petri Niiranen, Chairman of the Board

Archimandrite Mikael, Director and Treasurer of the Monastery, Vice Chairman

Professor Pekka Metso

Professor, Archimandrite Serafim Seppälä

University Researcher Anna-Katriina Salmikangas

Conservator Antti Narmala, Teacher of Icon Painting, Leading Conservator of the Church

The speaker and secretary is Sirpa Koriala, Rector of Valamo College

"Valamo College is a public college open to everyone, operating in a unique monastery environment. The college offers a wide variety of short courses in different areas of life throughout the year. Studying at Valamo is an opportunity for spiritual and communal learning and growth in particular."