Pearls of Spiritual Wisdom 8/2027

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.

Teacher

Salovuori Samuel

I am Samuel Salovuori, a philosopher, theologian, and non-fiction writer by background. I worked for a long time at Mieli ry in various expert roles. I train, lecture, and hold various courses on themes that I have found personally meaningful in my own life. My personality is humorous, gentle, enthusiastic, and I enjoy shared reflections. I gain strength from encounters and discussions where everyone has the opportunity to pause and reflect on their own experiences and path. Building a warm and benevolent atmosphere is important to me. There's no need to feel pressured about prior knowledge. The most important things are curiosity, a desire to pause, and the ability to listen to oneself and others. Even in a few days, one can gain insights and discover new things in one's life. Something that makes one look at everyday life and oneself in a new way.

More information about the teacher: www.samuelsalovuori.fi, Kirkko ja kaupunki's profile