The Valaam Monastery (aka Preobrazhensky) is located on the island of Valaam, in Lake Ladoga.
The monastery was founded by immigrants from Novgorod at the beginning of the 14th century. For many years the monastery served as a fortress, repeatedly repelling attacks by the warlike Swedes, but in 1611 it fell to the enemy. In 1715, the monastery was restored by decree of Peter the Great.
The Valaam Monastery has always been famous for its strict regulations. For some time it was even used as a prison. Also, farming, gardening, dairy farming, fishing and handicrafts have always been well organized here.
Today it is a functioning monastery. Tourists can visit it by pre-registering a tour package. Also in the monastery you can purchase audio recordings of the choir of the monastery brethren.
Valaam Island
Valaam is the largest island of the entire Valaam archipelago, which is located in the northern region of Ladoga Island. The island invariably attracts tourists with its pristine nature and protected shrines located here.
Valaam is located 22 kilometers from the mainland. About 200 people live here, most of them are monks. In summer, the island is crowded with tourists. Order on the island is maintained by church authorities. The monastery located here is subordinate to the patriarch. The main cathedral of the monastery is called the Holy Transfiguration of Valaam; it was completely rebuilt in the 19th century. Today you can hear the famous Valaam singing here.
The island got its name from the Finno-Ugric “valam”. what does mountainous, high land mean?
The monastery of Alexander Svirsky, 8 kilometers from the monastery, is interesting to see. In total, there are about 10 hermitages on the island.
Military history buffs will be attracted by the remains of the Mannerheim Line buildings.
What sights of Valaam did you like? Next to the photo there are icons, by clicking on which you can rate a particular place.
Gethsemane Monastery
The Gethsemane monastery, built in 1911 by Abbot Mauritius, is located on Mount Zion. In 1910, a gray granite cross with the symbolism of the Savior's suffering on the cross was installed here.
Its church, crowned with tents, is consecrated in the name of the Dormition of the Virgin Mary. The external interior of the church is richly decorated with carvings, and the interior decoration, in particular the iconostasis, was made of cypress, which today, unfortunately, is completely lost.
Restoration work is currently underway at the monastery.
Next to it there is a small wooden chapel, where you can see the “Prayer for the Cup” icon. Behind the church, between the fir trees, there are two cell buildings for the brethren, in which Finnish artillerymen lived in the 1930s.
Holy Island belongs to the Valaam archipelago. In the old days it was called differently: Püha Sara, Püha, Pühasaari. Pyukha is also translated as “holy”. The island also had a name "Sullen". A lonely island, absolutely deserted, rocks hanging gloomily over the water, it was always difficult to approach it by boat, it could simply be broken into pieces. Apparently this is where the “gloomy” name comes from.”
Traditions say that the Monk Alexander of Svirsky lived here for some time. Having settled on Valaam, he decided to completely seclude himself from people and settled on Holy Island. Prayers day and night did their job - the monk heard a voice, at whose call he returned home, to his homeland.
In the 18th century a monastery was erected here. A little later, a church was erected in honor of St. Alexander of Svirsky, as well as a cross near the church. You can also go to the cave where Alexander Svirsky lived, there is also a cross and an icon there.
Nikolsky Skete
Nikolsky monastery is one of the most beautiful monasteries on the island of Valaam. It is located one and a half kilometers from the Central estate of the monastery. You can get to it along a road built in the 18th century. First it passes through Valaam, and then along the picturesque wooden bridges that connect the islands.
St. Nicholas Monastery received its first monks in the 18th century. At that time, 12 monks lived here, who were engaged in fishing and customs inspection: the import of tobacco and alcoholic beverages to the island of Valaam was prohibited. At the very top of the hill is the restored tented church of St. Nicholas monastery. Previously, there was a small chapel with a lighthouse on this site, built at the beginning of the 19th century. The walls inside the temple were painted by monks living on its territory and the main theme of the painting was the life of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker.
At the pier, tourists can admire the granite worship cross erected in 1861 and a small wooden building that previously served as a customs point. The brethren lived in a cell building, the restoration of which was carried out in 1988.
Vladimir monastery
The Vladimir monastery on the island of Valaam is a relatively new building. The monastery was founded in 2002, construction was completed in 2007. The monastery project was developed by the Andrei Anisimov Workshop with the participation of architects Andrei Anisimov and Tatyana Efimova. The architects tried to realize their project in such a way that all the buildings of the monastery were connected by a single idea and formed a coherent ensemble.
At the Vladimir monastery, a temple was erected in honor of Equal-to-the-Apostles Vladimir, which was consecrated by Patriarch Alexy II in 2008. The temple has two chapels: in the name of the Holy Great Martyr Lyudmila and in the name of All Russian Saints. The temple was built purely in Russian style, but with modern elements.
The ground floor of the monastery is occupied by the Museum of the History of the Valaam Monastery. A separate room in the museum is dedicated to Patriarch Alexy II, who did a lot for the revival of the monastery on Valaam.
Elias Skete
In addition to its main monastery courtyard, the Valaam Monastery has several hermitages - small “pieces” of the monastery that are located in hard-to-reach places. There are usually several monks or novices living in hermitages.
Elias Monastery is located on the territory of the famous Valaam Monastery, located on the Valaam archipelago of Lake Ladoga. The history of the monastery goes back to the 19th century; it was founded by Abbot Damascus. The skete gave the name to the island - Ilyinsky. In the fifties of the 20th century, the monastery was completely destroyed. In 2006 it was completely restored.
Before this, the old church of the monastery was not very expressive. The architects tried to make the new church great. It was created in the northern pure Russian style with a tent covering.
Konevsky monastery
Hegumen Damascene founded the Konevsky monastery in 1870 on the site of his solitude and named it in honor of the Akathist (Konevskaya) icon.
Initially, a chapel was built in the Konevsky monastery, which was moved from Predtechensky Island in 1858. Then, according to the project of G. Karpov, a church was founded. The inhabitants of the Konevsky monastery strictly respected the rules and did not eat fish and dairy products on holidays - something that was found in abundance in the Konevsky (Igumensky) lakes.
Currently, there are no more than three people in the Konevsky monastery. The restored temple named after the Konevskaya Mother of God is considered the shrine of the monastery. Nearby is a cell in which the hermit and novices live. Tourists are allowed to visit the territory of the Konevsky monastery, but entry into the temple is prohibited. By prior arrangement, only pilgrims can enter the temple.
Resurrection Skete
The Resurrection Skete, also known as the Red Skete, was built in 1901-1906 by the Finnish diocesan architect V.I. Barankeev. It is located on the top of a hill above the Great Nikon Bay, 800 meters from the Gethsemane monastery.
It was built thanks to the pilgrim I.M. Sibiryakov, who suggested that Abbot Gabriel build it on the site where the monastery fishermen lived, and donated 10 thousand rubles. The center of the monastery is a two-story church, similar to the temple in Jerusalem.
The entrance to it is an open porch with four columns connected by arches. Below it is the entrance to the lower church, named after St. Andrew the First-Called. In it you can see the “edicule” - a grotto made of gray marble, where a piece of the “true Holy Sepulcher” was kept.
In the summer, small concerts of spiritual singing are held in the upper church. The monastery complex includes two cell buildings and a refectory where pilgrims and tourists are fed.
Skirt trees of Valaam
Valaam is the largest island of a beautiful archipelago of more than 50 islands in the northwestern part of Lake Ladoga in Karelia.
Completely overgrown with forest, replete with numerous bays, bays, straits and internal lakes, Valaam stands out from hundreds of other Ladoga islands. Everything here is unusual: huge masses of granite overgrown with mosses, mighty pine trees whose roots, like hands, cling to completely bare stones, ridges of boulders...
Also on Valaam you can find an unusual-looking spruce with a thick crown descending to the very ground - the famous spruce trees in “skirts”, which were planted by the monks of the Valaam Monastery.
The most popular attractions on Valaam with descriptions and photographs for every taste. Choose the best places to visit the famous places of Valaam on our website.
Valaam is an island in the northern part of Lake Ladoga, the largest in the Valaam archipelago. On the island there is the village of Valaam and a monument of Russian architecture - the Valaam Spaso-Preobrazhensky Stavropegic Monastery.
Valaam is located twenty-two kilometers from the mainland. Mostly the brethren of the monastery live on the island. In summer, the island is crowded with tourists. Order on the island is maintained by church authorities. The monastery located here is subordinate to the Patriarch of All Rus'.
Entirely overgrown with forest, replete with numerous bays, bays, straits and inland lakes, Valaam stands out from hundreds of other Ladoga islands. Everything here is unusual: huge masses of granite overgrown with mosses, mighty pine trees whose roots, like hands, cling to completely bare stones, ridges of boulders. Also on Valaam you can find an unusual-looking spruce with a thick crown that goes down to the ground - the famous spruce trees in “skirts”, which were planted by the monks of the Valaam Monastery.
History of Valaam
History of Valaam Island
According to legend, back in the 1st century AD, Andrew the First-Called visited the island and installed a stone cross on it. But only in the 10th century the first inhabitants appeared on the island - Finno-Ugric tribes.
The history of the name of the island gives room for imagination. The name can be translated from the Finno-Ugric “valamo” as “high land,” but no less likely is the translation “land of light” or “land of oath.” Some compare it with the name of Baal - according to Old Norse mythology, the son of Odin, as well as with the Slavic god Veles, to whom the pagans made sacrifices here. It is also curious that one of the biblical soothsayers about Christ was called Balaam.
There were many “owners” of the island, and everyone created something of their own here. At the beginning of the 17th century, the island of Valaam was captured by the Swedes and almost completely destroyed the monastery and monks, however, Peter the Great recaptured the island and returned it to Russia.
From 1918 to 1940 the island belonged to Finland. Fortification work was carried out on the island; the remains of the Mannerheim Line can still be seen today. Valaam was repeatedly bombed. As a result of the Soviet-Finnish war, Karelia, including Valaam, again ceded to the USSR.
History of the Valaam Monastery
Some historians consider the year 960 to be the date of establishment of the Monastery. There is another opinion, according to which the Monastery was built here somewhere on the border of the 13th and 14th centuries, when the islands belonged to Novgorod for more than 200 years.
The founders of the monastery on Valaam are considered to be the Venerables Sergius and Herman, but the years of their lives vary in different sources, hence the different dates for the establishment of the Valaam monastery. Saints Sergius and Herman, according to church tradition, were Greek monks who came to the possessions of Veliky Novgorod in the 10th century along with the first Orthodox missionaries. This is evidenced by the ancient lives of St. Abraham of Rostov, which tell of his stay on Valaam and the existence of an Orthodox monastery here in the 10th century. According to other sources, Saints Sergius and Herman settled on Valaam Island in 1329. It is possible that this date is erroneous due to inaccurate recalculation in chronology.
During its history, the Valaam Islands were repeatedly raided by Swedish troops. The monastery also served as a defensive fortress. At the beginning of the 17th century, the Swedes besieged northwestern Rus'. The Monastery appeared on their way. The Swedish regiments ravaged and practically wiped out the monastery on Valaam from the face of the earth, and almost all the brethren perished. In 1617, the islands came into the possession of the Swedes for almost a hundred years.
Only in 1715, after another war with the Swedes, by decree of Peter the Great, the restoration of the monastery began. Then a wooden Transfiguration Church, a bell tower and outbuildings were built.
In the mid-18th century, the Valaam Monastery burned down twice, and then its lands were transferred to the state treasury. As a result, the Monastery fell into decay. For twenty years the Valaam Monastery stood in oblivion, until in 1785, it was decided to revive it. This time he was supposed to turn into stone. The land was returned to the monastery, and by 1801 the central estate had already been built. Soon a stone monastery building was built, and by the end of the 19th century - a monastery church.
The 19th century is considered the heyday of the Valaam Monastery. In many ways, this was facilitated by the appointment of Father Damascene to the post of rector. He came to the Monastery as a simple novice, managed to prove himself and was soon appointed abbot. Damascene led the Monastery for 42 years. He carried out some reforms, in particular, he abolished hermitage. Under him, 18 chapels were erected, fish and stud farms, piers were founded, and 126 km of roads were laid. Under Father Damascene, almost all the work in the Monastery was carried out by the monks themselves. With their own hands they grew fruits, vegetables, even watermelons on the infertile lands of Valaam. During the reign of Father Damascene, magnificent orchards were laid out, which can still be admired to this day. By the 20th century, the island had approximately 1,000 permanent residents.
Valaam experienced new trials in the 20th century. After the revolution of 1917, in 1918, the Valaam Islands became part of Finland, and in 1918–1940 Valaam belonged to Finland. The monastery was included in the number of church minorities because the main religion in Finland is Lutheranism. At the same time, units of the Finnish army were stationed on the island, and in 1925, services in Finnish began to be held in the Monastery. The islands, and with them the Monastery, were transferred to Russia (at that time the USSR) only in 1940, following the results of the Soviet-Finnish War of 1939-1940. Soviet troops defeated the Finns, they left the island, and at the same time the monks left with them, taking with them all the most valuable things from the Monastery. The fugitive brothers acquired an estate in Finland and founded the New Valaam Orthodox monastery in it, which after the Great Patriotic War joined the Russian Orthodox Church, although territorially and economically it continued to belong to Finland.
But on the island of Valaam, after joining the USSR, a completely different life began - without bell ringing and services. There was a school for cabin boys, a state farm and a boarding school for the disabled and elderly were created. Churches were used as warehouses and shops, and wooden buildings served as fuel. It was only in 1979 that restoration work began and monastic life resumed.
Sights of Valaam
Of course, to get around all the sights of the island of Valaam, you need more than one day. After all, this is a whole ensemble of many churches, chapels, crosses and other structures combined with amazing nature. And some monasteries can only be reached by water.
The main attraction of the island of Valaam is, of course, the male Spaso-Preobrazhensky Monastery with the cathedral of the same name. The Holy Transfiguration Valaam Cathedral was completely rebuilt in the 19th century. It is located on a hill, reached by a staircase starting near the pier of Monastyrskaya Bay. Entrance to the territory follows all the rules of Orthodoxy, so women need to wear a skirt and cover their heads. Short sleeves are also not acceptable. Skirts and scarves can be taken at the entrance. This is strictly monitored.
There are no painted walls or ceilings inside the cathedral. During Soviet times, a boatswain school was organized in the monastery buildings, and a club was opened in the cathedral itself. The murals were painted over. Later there was a vegetable store here. Gradually the temple was destroyed. When monastic life was revived here again, the walls were simply covered with white paint in order to resume prayers as quickly as possible. In addition to prayers, you can hear monastic chants here.
There is also a local history museum on Valaam, where everyday objects of the local population are presented. There is also a souvenir shop and a pilgrimage service. Military history buffs will be attracted by the remains of the Mannerheim Line buildings.
Hermitages of Valaam
A special feature of Valaam are also the monasteries. To get to them from the monastery, you need to follow the main monastery road to the southwest of the island. And if you arrive in Nikon Bay, then it’s better to start sightseeing from the monasteries. In general, many people wonder what a monastery is. This is a place where monks live in small groups, that is, they lead a more solitary lifestyle. As a rule, a monastery has its own charter and temple. In total, there are about 10 hermitages on the island.
Resurrection Skete
The first one on your way will be the Resurrection Monastery. (photo 4) According to legend, it was here that St. Andrew the First-Called put up the cross. The peculiarity of the monastery is that it consists of an upper and lower church. The lower one is designed like a cave in the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem.
It’s unusual to see not a dome above your head, but a flat surface.
Gethsemane Monastery
Unlike the mighty Resurrection skete, built of red brick and surrounded by a fence, Gethsemane, on the contrary, is light (photo 5). The church in light colors is made of wood, and opposite it is a chapel in the same style.
The Gethsemane monastery, built in 1911 by Abbot Mauritius, is located on Mount Zion. In 1910, a gray granite cross with the symbolism of the Savior's suffering on the cross was installed here. Its church, crowned with tents, is consecrated in the name of the Dormition of the Virgin Mary. The external interior of the church is richly decorated with carvings, and the interior decoration, in particular the iconostasis, was made of cypress, which today, unfortunately, has been completely lost. Next to it there is a small wooden chapel, where you can see the “Prayer for the Cup” icon. Behind the church, between the fir trees, there are two cell buildings for the brethren, in which Finnish artillerymen lived in the 1930s.
Konevsky monastery
A little further from the main monastery road is the Konevsky monastery (photo 6). Wooden, surrounded by forest, it stands on the shore of the lake and seems very cozy. The restored temple named after the Konevskaya Mother of God is considered the shrine of the monastery. Nearby is a cell in which the hermit and novices live. Tourists are allowed to visit the territory of the Konevsky monastery, but entry into the temple is prohibited.
Vladimir monastery
The newest, built in the 21st century (construction completed in 2007), is the Vladimir Skete. It is the residence of His Holiness the Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus'. The building is very different from other buildings with its interesting shape and resembles the architecture of Novgorod. (photo 7)
At the Vladimir monastery, a temple was erected in honor of Equal-to-the-Apostles Vladimir, which was consecrated by Patriarch Alexy II in 2008. The temple has two chapels: in the name of the Holy Great Martyr Lyudmila and in the name of All Russian Saints. The ground floor of the monastery is occupied by the Museum of the History of the Valaam Monastery. A separate room in the museum is dedicated to Patriarch Alexy II, who did a lot for the revival of the monastery on Valaam.
Nikolsky Skete
Nikolsky monastery is one of the most beautiful monasteries on the island of Valaam (photo 8). It is located one and a half kilometers from the Central Estate of the monastery. You can get to it along a road built in the 18th century. First it passes through Valaam, and then along the picturesque wooden bridges that connect the islands.
St. Nicholas Monastery received its first monks in the 18th century. At that time, 12 monks lived here, who were engaged in fishing and customs inspection: the import of tobacco and alcoholic beverages was prohibited on the island of Valaam. At the very top of the hill is the restored tented church of St. Nicholas Skete. Previously, there was a small chapel with a lighthouse on this site, built in the early 19th century. The walls inside the temple were painted by monks living on its territory and the main theme of the painting was the life of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker.
At the pier, tourists can admire the granite worship cross erected in 1861 and a small wooden building that previously served as a customs point. The brethren lived in a cell building, the restoration of which was carried out in 1988.
The ancient monasteries of Vsekhovyatsky, Predtechensky, Nikolsky, Svyatoostrovsky and Sergievsky are being restored and inhabited.
How to get to Valaam
Currently, tens of thousands of Russian and foreign pilgrims and tourists visit Valaam every year. Travel companies offer various tours around Valaam, and a special pilgrimage service even offers a long stay on the island and work for the benefit of the monastery. There is even a hotel for tourists on Valaam. Also in the monastery you can purchase audio recordings of the choir of the monastery brethren. You can get to the island on your own. During the summer months, several ships go there every day.
Pilgrimage to Valaam
For an Orthodox person, the Valaam monastery, with a host of holy ascetics and elders, with farmsteads, hermitages and deserts, unusually beautiful nature, separated from the world by the Ladoga waters, is a real “Russian Northern Athos”.
Therefore, for pilgrims, the main thing in their journey, no matter how many days it lasts, is becoming familiar with the Valaam spiritual tradition. First of all, this is possible through liturgical prayer together with the brethren and participation in the sacraments. Worship is at the heart of all pilgrimage programs.
Pilgrims live in monastery hotels and eat in the refectory according to the monastery charter. For 2-4 days spent on the island, guests are offered an expanded excursion program, including visits to remote monasteries - All Saints (the oldest on Valaam, open only to male pilgrims) and Smolensk.
For pilgrims who want to become more closely acquainted with monastic life, work on obediences, or simply walk in solitude on the islands of the archipelago, the “Week” and “Two Weeks in the Monastery” programs have been developed.
Read more about the pilgrimage to Valaam on the website http://vp.valaam.ru
We will tell you how to get to the famous island, what it is famous for and what places you can see on Valaam. Read before your trip.
It is impossible to imagine a trip to Karelia without visiting Valaam - a unique place where pilgrims and ordinary tourists constantly come. This is the largest of the group of northwestern islands of Lake Ladoga. It is shrouded in secrets and legends, incredibly beautiful and has preserved extraordinary natural virginity.
Choose a tour to Valaam
When visiting such a sacred place as Valaam, it is important to focus on emotions and impressions. The guys from Alem-Tur will help you with this; we recommend them as a reliable partner. They have been holidaying in Karelia since 2002. They organize both regular trips to Valaam and trips for pilgrims. Transfer, accommodation and excursions included.
Take a look at what tours they have for you https://www.alem-tour.ru/tours/excursionnye-letnie-toury/
Historical reference
Not all the secrets of the island have been solved yet. It is believed that its patron was Apostle Andrew the First-Called, who was the first to visit this land. The island passed from hand to hand: from the 7th century to the 17th century - the time of Novgorod ownership, then the Swedes occupied it for 100 years, and from the 18th century it again became Russian. Immediately after the October Revolution, the Finns took the island for themselves, and the final return to Russia took place in 1940.
Now it is a popular museum-reserve, open to tourists since 1979.
How to get there
In winter, travelers will not be able to visit the island, since the connection between the small local population and the mainland is only minimal. You can get to the island by water in the warm season. If you want to come to the island on your own, then it is better to leave from Priozersk or Sortavala.
From Priozersk on your own
The train from St. Petersburg takes 3 hours to Priozersk. From there you need to take a ticket to Valaam on the meteor, which will take an hour and a quarter on the way.
From above you can admire the majestic Ladoga and enjoy the speed. If you take a ticket for a slow-moving ship, the journey will last 3 and a half hours. Place of arrival: Monastyrskaya Bay. It is better to take care of your return ticket immediately.
From Sortavala on your own
From Ladozhsky station from St. Petersburg you need to take a ticket for the train “St. Petersburg - Kostomuksha” to Sortavala. The journey takes 6 hours, you can buy seats in a seated carriage. The train does not run every day, so it is better to purchase tickets in advance. You can also get there by bus from the Northern Station, which is located near the Devyatkino metro station. From Sortavala you need to take a ticket for the meteor, seats for which must be pre-booked. Travel time is less than an hour.
With excursion
The most reliable way to safely visit the island is to arrange your trip through a tourism organization. Prices depend on the chosen route. A trip from Sortavala will cost 1000 rubles per person less than from Priozersk. Children under 7 years old can visit the island for free, and children under 12 years old receive a 50% discount. You can order excursions directly at the pier in the offices or at the administration of Valaam by phone (location is the local history museum).
From Saint-Petersburg
The best way to enjoy your holiday on a boat and admire Lake Ladoga is as part of an excursion group from St. Petersburg, booking one of the cruises. Then you won’t have to worry about tickets, accommodation and food. Motor ships stop at Bolshaya Nikonovskaya Bay.
Accommodation on the island
Hotels on the island are usually provided to pilgrims. You can independently book places in the “Igumenskaya” or on the ship “Admiral Kuznetsov”, which is specially designed for overnight stays for tourists and is located in Monastyrskaya Bay.
Recently it has been allowed to pitch tents at tourist sites. One of the sites is called “Rocky Shore”. The place is amazingly beautiful, with a burning lighthouse and a romantic atmosphere. You need to pay 100 rubles per day. The coupon will serve the forester as proof of legal stay at the parking lot.
You can safely leave your things, there are no thieves on the island. It is convenient to move around the territory on a rented bicycle. But walking along it is much more interesting and useful. For relaxation, there are wooden gazebos with benches on the island. They are surrounded by trees where squirrels frolic. They are not afraid of guests, and if you are lucky, you can even feed them.
Main attractions
It is unrealistic to visit all the interesting places on the island in one day. Valaam is an ensemble of churches and chapels, rich in nature and unique structures. Some of them have been preserved in their original form: the Transfiguration Cathedral, the gate church of Saints Peter and Paul, the stable house, the water supply house, the Assumption Church and the premises of the White and Red monasteries. What should you see first?
Spaso-Preobrazhensky Monastery
From Monastyrskaya Bay you can easily take steps to get to the territory of the monastery, where the cathedral of the same name is located. Photography is not allowed inside. The cathedral does not have the expected paintings on the walls and ceiling. They were painted over in Soviet times, when there was a club for boatswains who studied and lived in the monastery buildings.
The monastery itself is surrounded by a red brick wall, and the cathedral amazes with its beauty and grandeur. Against this backdrop, you can take wonderful pictures as a keepsake.
Resurrection Skete
A skete is a place where hermits (monks) live in small groups. They have their own temple and charter. It is believed that on the site of the Resurrection Skete, Andrew the First-Called put up a cross, thereby marking the first holy land. The peculiarity of the Resurrection Skete is the presence of two churches: lower and upper.
The lower one is a kind of copy of the Cave of the Holy Sepulcher, which is located in Jerusalem. There is no usual dome overhead, everything is modest, without frills. The icons of the upper church were painted by monks who lived on Valaam. The beautiful gilded dome of the temple is a landmark for arriving ships.
Travelers are usually offered lunch in the refectory of the monastery. The food is simple but very tasty.
Gethsemane Monastery
Hegumen Mauritius decided to create a “Russian Jerusalem” on the island. Thus, at the beginning of the 20th century, the Garden of Gethsemane and other places appeared, repeating the shrines of Jerusalem. The monastery is located at the foot of the Mount of Olives. The church and chapel are decorated with skillful wooden carvings, and the cell buildings are surrounded by beautiful fir trees. The place is famous for the fact that the confessor of the “old style” Timon lived here. Travelers are not allowed inside.
Konevsky monastery
At a distance from the main road, on the shore of the lake, there is a cozy wooden building called the Konevsky monastery, where elders and hermits lived at different times. Inside there is an icon of the Mother of God. Asking her for a wish to come true is the dream of many island guests. People are not always allowed there; more often, access is only open to pilgrims and sometimes to excursion groups.
Monastery Farm
Near the Konevsky monastery there is a local farm with buildings and a cowshed. The small population of the island feeds on what is produced on it. Travelers here are treated to milk and home-baked bread. Cheese made here is now popular, even supplied to stores in St. Petersburg.
Beautiful apples and grapes grow on the island. And watermelons and melons are grown in greenhouses. Complex cultivation techniques are not used. Guests get the impression that they are entering the age of subsistence farming.
Museum of Life
The Historical and Art Museum near the Church of Peter and Paul contains exhibits that can trace the history of the island, and paintings by Russian artists inspired by the landscapes of this amazing place. Fans of the works of I. Shishkin and A. Kuindzhi, P. Balashov and F. Vasilyev will be able to see famous paintings.
There are a lot of interesting places on the island that cannot be seen at once. That's why I come here again and again.
What souvenirs to bring
What can you bring as a souvenir of your trip? The souvenir market offers products and crafts from local artisans.
- Icons that were painted by monastery monks.
- Beautiful porcelain cups designed to hold holy water.
- Pillows filled with juniper shavings. They are considered medicinal because when heated they begin to release healing essential oils.
- Painted shawls and stoles from local craftswomen.
- Smoked and dried fish from Valaam places can be bought to eat on the spot, or brought home.
- Traditional magnets, plates, wooden pipes, bast shoes and other products of talented people of this region.
Most often, travelers choose a one-day tour for an excursion, but this is not enough if you want to fully enjoy the local nature and find inspiration. In any case, do not forget:
- Any time you visit the island, you should take a warm jacket with you. It's cool near the water, it often rains lightly - an umbrella will also come in handy.
- There will be a long walk ahead, so the shoes should be comfortable, preferably closed ones.
- Temples offer cape skirts and headdresses to women. Those who do not like to use other people's things should take them with them from home.
- Smoking and alcohol are not allowed on the island.
It includes: the Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, the Ascension Chapel on Mount Eleon, cell buildings and a small chapel “Prayer for the Chalice”. The main building of the monastery is the Church of the Assumption of Our Lady. In 1906, a chapel was erected here, which after reconstruction in 1911 was turned into a church. The church belongs to the cage type, widespread in the Russian North. Adjacent to the western part of the church is a two-tier bell tower, topped with an octagonal tent with an onion dome. On September 12, 1998, the church was re-consecrated. Opposite the Assumption Church there is a small wooden chapel “Prayer for the Chalice”, behind it is the picturesque Nikon Lake. To the west of the Gethsemane monastery there is one of the calmest on Valaam, Malaya Nikon Bay. The difference between the left and right banks of the bay is striking. The left bank is flat and overgrown with dense forest. And the right one rises with a cliff up to 40 meters high, from the crevice of which rare trunks of pine trees rise. The rock was named by the monks Mount of Olives. At its foot there was a road that led to the pier that used to be in this place. A gray granite worship cross was built here, visible from afar. The cross is a monument of material culture of the early twentieth century.
On Mount Olivet, at its highest point, a wooden Ascension Chapel was built in 1912, part of the ensemble of the Gethsemane monastery. From Malaya Nikonovskaya Bay it is visible simultaneously with the worship cross. The chapel has a five-domed end, cut into a paw and lined with planks. The porch of the chapel is very beautiful. The architectural design of the Ascension Chapel is identical to that of the Assumption Church. From the top of Mount Eleon, where several observation platforms are equipped, a stunning view of Malaya Nikonovskaya Bay opens up, behind which is the expanse of Lake Ladoga. One of the most amazing views on Valaam is a small island located in the middle of the strait separating Malaya Nikon Bay from the lake.
From Mount Eleon you can walk along a forest path to the Konevsky (Igumensky) lakes. The lakes are connected to each other by small channels. The reservoirs got their name from the monastery with a church built here in 1870 in the name of the Konevskaya Icon of the Mother of God. Each of the lakes has its own name: the largest is Igumenskoe, the smaller is Mustojärvi, and, finally, the smallest is Lake Ossievo. In the northern part of Lake Igumenskoye there is a whole grove of Siberian larch, numbering more than fifty trees. At the foot of the rock are the remains of the foundation of the cell of Damascus, who lived here during his hermitage.
Behind the wooden bridge is a recently restored monastery in the name of the Konevskaya Icon of the Mother of God. In 1858, the chapel was moved here from Predtechensky Island. There were two hut-cells nearby. In the mid-50s of the twentieth century, the buildings of the monastery were dismantled down to the foundations. In 2003, the reconstruction of the Konevsky monastery began. In 2005, the consecration of the temple in the name of the Konevskaya Icon of the Mother of God took place. A cell building appeared nearby.