The souvenir shop Tuohus

It is also possible to do a bit of shopping at Valamo Monastery. This is not so surprising when one considers that pilgrims and other travellers have always had the desire to bring home a keepsake reminding them of their monastery visit. Some were even said to take rocks from the monastery grounds if they were short on money. The original Valamo Monastery on Lake Lagoda founded a souvenir shop relatively early on, selling handicrafts and icons made by the resident monks.

The souvenir shop of Valamo Monastery is known by the name Tuohus and serves visitors daily from morning until night. The shelves of the little shop contain an extensive selection of products associated with Orthodox traditions: including hand painted icons, icon prints, oil lamps, prayer ribbons, postcards, cross and icon jewellery, beeswax church candles made at the monestary, monastery tea and many other treasures – like charming gifts and decorations.

Tuohus is also one of the country’s most well-stocked Orthodox book stores. In addition to the publication of Valamo Monastery, the shop sells a wide range of literature on the Orthodox religion and its different aspects. People interested in the music of the Orthodox Church will also be thrilled by the wide selection on the subject available at Tuohus.