Valaam Monastery

In pictures: Helsinki Uspenski Cathedral hosts episcopal consecration for first time in over 50 years

The former abbot of Valaam Monastery, Archimandrite Sergei Rayapolvi, became the first bishop ordained at Helsinki’s Dormition of the Theotokos Cathedral since 1969. The Divine Liturgy and the ordination were celebrated on Sunday, January 16, 2022, by Archbishop Leo of Helsinki and All Finland, Metropolitan Arseni of Kuopio and Karelia, and Metropolitan Elia of Oulu.…

Jan 26, 2022Aurelian Iftimiu

Monastic Pianist of Valaam Monastery plays music by Tchaikovsky

At the end of last year, Valaam Monastery posted a video with Monk Abel performing a part of Tchaikovsky’s Waltz of the Flowers. The video gathered over 7600 likes on Valaam Monastery’s Instagram account and was viewed more than 140,000 times on YouTube. The “Waltz of the Flowers” (1892) is a piece of orchestral music…

Jan 14, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

Saint Antipas of Calapodesti’s soul icon to be officially celebrated every year in Finland

The feast of the Tenderness or Sweet-Kissing icon of the Mother of God at Valaam Monastery will be celebrated every year in Finland on January 11, one day after the feast of Saint Antipas of Calapodesti, who brought the icon to the monastery in 1865. The new feast day was established following the decision of…

Aug 26, 2019Aurelian Iftimiu