Icons

Icons are an unseparable part of Orthodox christianity. They are stilicized pictures of Christ, Mother of God Mary, holy people (saints), angels or church feasts.

The iconographic faces do not show changing human emotions, but the faces shine divine peace and tranquility.

An icon is a medium of prayer: like a window into the church triumphant of the saints, a window into eternity. Icons are not worshipped, but through the icons it is possible to show reverence to the saints depicted in them. The Orthodox ecclesiastical art has remained relatively unchanged throughout the time. The task of an iconographer (icon painter) is not to underline his own work, but to continue an ancient tradition through his own hand to the glory of God.

Jumalansynnyttäjän Konevitsalainen ikoni

Wonderworking icons

Many people have experienced that their prayers have been answered in a special way when they have prayed in front of a particular icon: for example healing from sickness.

Venerating icons has nothing to do with magic, the icon itself does not do any miracles, but for some reason it is able to act as a medium of God's grace and becomes an object of reverence and veneration by the faithful.

The most well-known wonderworking icons in Valamo monastery are the icon of the Mother of God of Konevitsa (Konevets), the icon of the Mother of God of Valamo (Valaam) and the icon of Mother of God called the Sweet kissing (Glykofylousa).

Icons in monastery restaurant Trapesa

At the east end of the main hall of Trapesa there is a large icon of Saints Serge and Herman of Valamo, holding the Feodorov icon of Mother of God between them. In the upper part of the icon, there is also an icon of the Transfiguration of Christ.

The icon was painted during the years 1914-1915 and originates from the Smolensk skete, one of the sketes of the Valamo monastery on Lake Ladoga. Next to the icon of Saints Serge and Herman, there is an icon of the Mother of God of the Sign. The icons on the long wall of the main hall depict more than thirty saints: martyrs, holy monks and wonderworkers. The icons originate from the Valamo monastery on Lake Ladoga. The icons have been painted during the period 1895-1914. Young novices were used as models for female saints. Members of the brotherhood were used as models also for other icons in the main hall.

In the corner of the Emperor's Cabinet there is an icon of the Mother of God of Tolga. The paintings on the walls of the Emperor's cabinet depict the Russian emperors Peter the Great, Paul I, Alexander I, Nicholas I, Nicholas II and the crown prince Alexey. The room also has two paintings of visits paid by the imperial family to the Valamo monastery on Lake Ladoga in 1819 and 1858.

In the icon corner of the Red Cabinet there is an icon the Mother of God of Valamo.

Contacts

Valamo Monastery
Valamontie 42
79850 Uusi-Valamo
Tel. +358 17 570 111

Valamo Lay Academy
Valamontie 42
79850 Uusi-Valamo
Tel. +358 17 570 1810

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How to find us

Visits & accomodation

Online reservations for individual bookings available 24/7

Group reservations and further information

Tel. +358 17 570 1810
myyntipalvelu@valamo.fi

Other connections

Orthodox Church of Finland

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