VALAMO LAY ACADEMY
- A BRIDGE BETWEEN DAILY LIFE AND HOLINESS

Valamo Lay Academy is quite an exceptional centre in Finland and all Western Europe. It is a boarding school, open to all, offering education in general and vocational subjects, arts and practical skills. Located at the Orthodox monastery of New Valamo, it provides a unique living opportunity to get acquainted with Orthodox culture and monastic lifestyle. Merely staying at the monastery and attending the daily services in its beautiful church is, for many visitors, an impressive experience that is intensified by the stillness and beauty of the surrounding nature.

The Orthodox notion of man and life constitutes the foundation for our educational programme that seeks to promote local, national as well as global cooperation and fellowship. In true Orthodox spirit, we aim at fostering integrated and tolerant humanity.

If you wish to make a retreat for some days, you may attend a short course of ours. The subjects include Orthodox faith, spirituality and culture, various arts and practical skills etc.

The Lay Academy also provides longer courses, the lengths varying from to five days to two months depending on the subjects that range from icon painting to various aspects of Orthodox culture and tradition.

Valamo Lay Academy is in close cooperation with many national and international organisations and arranges annually conferences on various current topics. Through OIKOSNET Europe(the Ecumenical Association of Academies and Laity Centres in Europe, EAALCE) we are linked to a worldwide network of educational institutes of our kind.

Our language of tuition is principally Finnish, but every year we offer courses e.g. in Swedish, English and Russian.

When ordered, we readily arrange tailor-made courses, seminars and conferences also in English: the schedule is designed and teachers engaged according to the wishes of the customer.
The Lay Academy building, next to the main church of Valamo, houses eight lecture rooms and craft workshops.

For the accommodation of students, our own modern dormitory offers comfortable single and double rooms with private bathroom, shower and telephone. The Lay Academy provides linens and towels. In the basement there is a sauna department, gym and laundrette.

Trapesa, the cafe-restaurant of the monastery renowned for its delicacies, caters also for our students.

Updated on 04/16/2008 02:34 PM by sirpa