The monastery of Valamo is a Finnish Orthodox monastery. Its history dates back to the 12th century, when the original monastery was built on the island of Valamo on Lake Ladoga in Karelia, in present-day Russia. During the winter war this territory, then belonging to Finland, was occupied by the Red Army. The monks then moved further west, transporting the treasures contained in the old monastery. Today these treasures are located in the new monastery, while others are in the town of Kuopio. The two churches of the monastery have some priceless icons. The new church was completed in 1977, while the old one was built in 1940.
The small tsasouna (chapel) of St. Nicholas is located by the river, and the monks of Valamos produce their own wine, made from berries such as ursina grapes, raspberries, strawberries and blackberries.
