Cultural Center

At Valamo Monastery, the diversity of culture is cherished.

The Cultural Centre offers exhibition spaces for the monastery's historical artifacts and rotating exhibitions, among other things. Valamo Monastery Library, specialized in Orthodox culture and theology, serves the brotherhood, researchers, and students, as well as all monastery guests.

Cultural activities have traditionally been practiced in Valamo Monastery. The old monastery was indeed known as a peasant monastery, but in the brotherhood's workshops, icons were painted, photography and bookbinding were practiced. Manuscripts were copied in the cells. Valamo Monastery began publishing printed books as early as the 1860s.

Valamo's cultural activities in Heinävesi began to flourish when the Cultural Centre building, designed by Antero Turkki, was completed and consecrated for use on 21–23 September 1984 during a ceremonial seminar convened by Archbishop Paavali.

Valamo Monastery Library and Archive also started operations in the Cultural Centre's premises. Image and word found their place under the same roof.

The Cultural Centre's meeting facilities bring together Orthodox believers and other communities who desire the peaceful setting provided by the monastery for their events. Read more about renting meeting facilities here.

Through Valamo Monastery's cultural activities, the Finnish Orthodox Church began to open up to society in the 1980s, and the monastery became known as an “Orthodoxy window”.

In 2006, an extension to the Cultural Centre was completed, which offers exhibition spaces for the monastery's historical artifacts and rotating exhibitions, among other things.

Valamo's Treasures - The Monastery's Historical Exhibition, Portraits of the Monastery's Leaders

Through Valamo Monastery's cultural activities, the Orthodox Church of Finland began to open up to society in the 1980s, and the monastery became known as a 'window into Orthodoxy'.

Contact information

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Invoicing addresses and bank details
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Visiting hours

Valamo Monastery is open all year round. Service visiting hours vary by season.

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