Churches

The church is the focal point of monastic life

Currently, the Monastery has three churches and four chapels. Guests are welcome to explore all of them.

The church buildings and their artifacts complement religious teaching in a very diverse way: in fact, all visible details in the church serve spoken and chanted prayer.

The majority of the icons and ecclesiastical items in the Monastery's churches originate from Ladoga Valamo. Ecclesiastical artifacts – such as church textiles – can be explored not only in the churches but also in the Monastery's museum.

Main Church - Church of the Transfiguration of Christ

The Monastery's main church is dedicated to the Transfiguration of Christ. Its temple feast is celebrated on the sixth day of August.

Old Church - Church of All Valamo Saints

All daily divine services of the monastery were held in the Old Church, built in 1940, until 1977. Nowadays, the church is only used in summer.

Winter Church - Church of Saints Sergius and Herman

Valamo Monastery's winter church is connected to the main church. The church is dedicated to the memory of the monastery's revered fathers, Sergius and Herman of Valamo.

Church Building

An Orthodox church building is always built in an east-west direction, so that the altar area is at the eastern end of the church.

Chapels

A tsasouna is a small sanctuary, which usually does not have an altar separated from the nave by an iconostasis. In Karelia, there were tsasounas in almost every village, and many lay services, called hourly services, were held in them.

Icons

Icons depict Christ, the Mother of God, holy people, angels, or ecclesiastical feasts.

Brotherhood's Refectory

The brotherhood dines together in their dining hall, which is called the brotherhood's refectory.

"We warmly welcome all guests to the Monastery and its Divine Services, regardless of their beliefs."

Warm regards,
The Brotherhood of Valamo

Contact information

Driving directions and transport connections

Invoicing addresses and bank details
Accessibility statement

Visiting hours

Valamo Monastery is open year-round. Services' visiting hours vary by season.

In the newsletter, we inform you about Valamo Monastery's current events, upcoming proceedings, and institute courses. Subscribe to the monastery's newsletter

Visitor feedback

How was your visit to Valamo Monastery? We would appreciate feedback on the services you used.

Thank you and welcome again!

Churches

The church is the focal point of monastic life

Main Church - Church of the Transfiguration of Christ