The Silence Retreat 12/2026

The Silence Retreat 12/2026


Event date 2.12.- 6.12.2026
Event location
Registration ends: 19.11.2026 00:00
Event prices. 440,00 €/College Hotel single room, incl. accommodation, teaching, meals, 420,00 €/College Hotel single room, incl. accommodation, teaching, meals

The Silence Retreat offers peace and quiet, a place where you can turn your gaze inward and consciously strive to find the power of silence. By minimizing typical everyday stimuli and descending into silence, we create a space where prayer and inner peace begin to unfold. The monastery's church services create a space for prayer and spiritual renewal. During the retreat, you can also have confidential discussions with a priest, and those who belong to the Orthodox Church can also participate in the Sacrament of Repentance and Communion. Don't let the noise of everyday life silence your inner voice. Join the Silence Retreat and discover a new way to experience the world. The Silence Retreat is guided by Father Risto Käyhkö and Dr. Juha Riikonen.

December special price 400 €/OH1 incl. teaching, accommodation, and meals according to the program. The language of instruction is Finnish.

Teacher

Riikonen Juha

I am TT Juha Riikonen, a permanent teacher at Valamo College. I teach theological subjects. My main courses are related to the Orthodox way of life, such as “Get to Know Orthodoxy” and “Should I Become Orthodox?”. I also teach retreat courses. My special expertise lies in church history. By profession, I am also a historian. My doctoral research focused on the canonical, or church administrative, dispute between the Finnish Orthodox Archdiocese and the Moscow Patriarchate in 1945–1957. The topic is very timely again, as the political situation in Europe has escalated with the war in Ukraine. My home region Ilomantsi and Karelian identity are an important part of my identity.