Difference between revisions of "Valaam Monastery"

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The '''Valaam Monastery''', or Valamo Monastery is the Orthodox monastery in Karelia, which used to be a part of territory contended between Soviet Union and Finland.
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[[Image:Valaam Monastery - Karelia (Russia).jpg|right|thumb|View of Valaam Monastery.]]
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{{monastery|
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name=Valaam Monastery<br>of the Transfiguration of the Savior|
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jurisdiction=[[Church of Russia]]<br>([[Stavropegial]])|
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type=Male Monastery|
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founded=before 1600|
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superior=Abbot<br> [[Archimandrite|Archim.]] Pankraty (Zherdev)||
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size=~200 monks|
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hq=Valaam Island|
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language=Slavonic|
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music=Russian Chant|
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calendar=[[Julian Calendar|Julian]]|
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feasts=unknown|
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website=[http://www.valaam.ru/en/ Official website]
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}}
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'''Valaam Monastery of the Transfiguration of the Savior''', more popularly '''Valaam Monastery''' is a [[monastery]] of the [[Church of Russia]] located in Karelia in northwestern Russia on the island of Valaam in Lake Ladoga. The monastery was an outpost of evangelism in the north of Russia. In the 1790s the monastery provided the group of eight missionaries that was sent to Alaska in the North American northwest to evangelize the natives for Orthodox Christianity. This group of [[monasticism|monastics]] included [[Herman of Alaska|St Herman]] and [[Juvenaly of Alaska|St Juvenaly]].
  
It is not clear when they founded a monastery on Valaam, the largest island in Lake Ladoga, itself being the largest lake in Europe. As the cloister is not mentioned in documents before the 16th century, different dates - from 10th to 15th centuries - have been expounded. Whatever the truth may be, the Valaam monastery was a western outpost of Eastern Orthodoxy against the heathens and, later, against the Catholic Christianity of Tavastia, Savonia and (Swedish) Karelia.
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==History==
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The origins of Valaam Monastery are not clear. Situated in the frontier of civilization the monastery was often attacked and burned as the area was contested by both Russians and Swedes. As the monastery is not mentioned in documents before the 16th century, different dates - from the 10th to 15th centuries - have been proposed for its founding. In Church tradition the founding of the Holy Transfiguration Valaam Monastery has been attributed to [http://www.ortodoksi.net/index.php/Sergius_and_Herman_of_Valaam Ss. Sergius and Herman] who were among the first missionaries to the city of [[Novgorod]] in the tenth century and created a monastery on Valaam Island in Lake Ladoga, north of Novgorod.
  
The power struggle between Russians and Swedes pushed the border eastwards in the 16th century; in 1578 monks and novices were beaten to death by the (then) Lutheran Swedes. The monastery was desolate between 1611 and 1715 after another attack, the buildings being burnt to the ground and the Karelian border between Russia and Sweden being drawn through the Lake. In the 18th century the monastery was magnificently restored, and in 1812 it came under the Russian Grand Duchy of Finland.
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In the sixteenth century, Karelia became the battleground between Swedish and Russian forces as the Swedes pushed their borders eastward. Situated in Lake Ladoga, Valaam Monastery was in the midst of these struggles. In 1578, [[monk]]s and [[novice]]s were beaten to death by the (then) Lutheran Swedes. After another attack, the monastery was depopulated between 1611 and 1715. The buildings were burnt to the ground, and the Karelian border between Russia and Sweden was drawn through the lake. As the eighteenth century continued, the monastery recovered. Buildings were restored and built as the monastery prospered. By the beginning of the twentieth century the monastery had become very wealthy with about twenty smaller sketes under its control.  
  
In 1917 Finland became independent, and the Finnish Orthodox Church became autonomous under the Orthodox Church of Constantinople, as previously it had been a part of the Russian Orthodox Church. Valaam was the most important monastery of the Finnish Orthodox Church. The liturgic language was changed from Church Slavonic to Finnish, and the liturgic calendar from the Julian to the Gregorian calendar. These changes led to bitter decade-long disputes in the monastic community of Valaam.
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In 1793, the [[abbot]] of Valaam Monastery, Nazarius, was tasked by Catherine II with recruiting missionaries for the Russian colony in Alaska. A group of eight monks was assembled and departed Valaam on [[December 25]], 1793 for Alaska. After a long journey through the length of Siberia the group arrived in Kodiak, Alaska on [[September 24]], 1794.  
  
The monastery was again evacuated in 1940, due to the Winter War, but it was able to resume its normal life at its present site in Heinävesi (New Valaam) in Finland later the same year. From 1941 to 1944, during the Continuation War, an attempt was made to restore the buildings. In 1989 monastic life on the Old Valaam was resumed.
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In 1809, Sweden ceded Finland to Russia, which became an autonomous Grand Duchy. As the monastery was located in the Grand Duchy of Finland, when Finland gained its independence in 1917 Valaam became part of the [[Church of Finland]]. The Finnish Church became autonomous under the [[Church of Constantinople]]. During the Winter War between Finland and the Soviet Union in 1940, the [[monk]]s from the monastery were evacuated to Heinavesi, Finland. With the end of the war the border was moved westward so that all of Lake Ladoga was within the Soviet Union. Having lost their former home, the monks who had moved to Finland formed the [[New Valamo|New Valaam Monastery]] at Heinavesi. It is the only monastery in the Finnish Church.  
  
In the late 1990s, the Valaam Monastery, having gained significant legal power over the island under the Patriarch Alexey II, in a push to return to a state of spiritual seclusion and enticed by the prospect of monopolized profits from the vast tourism industry on the Valaam island, has forced many longtime residents to move out to the mainland, often employing illegal actions in the process, ranging from denying residents vital services to forcible eviction from their homes. After years of fruitless legal proceedings, many residents of the island chose to leave, rather than continue the fight, though a few still remain.
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With the loss of its monastic community and the inclusion of Lake Ladoga in the Soviet Union the buildings of the original monastery on Valaam Island remained unused as a secular population moved on to the island. In time the island became a Soviet military base. As restrictions on the Orthodox Church in the Soviet Union eased during the 1980s, the original monastery was reactivated in 1989 and the facilities restored over the years.
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In the late 1990s, Valaam Monastery gained significant legal power over the island under the Patriarch [[Alexei II (Ridiger) of Moscow|Alexei II]]. In an effort to return to a state of spiritual seclusion and enticed by the prospect of monopolizing the vast tourism industry on the island, the monastery forced many longtime residents to move out to the mainland. After years of fruitless legal proceedings, many residents of the island chose to leave rather than continue the fight, though a few still remain.
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==2016 Fire==
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On [[May 1]], 2016, the day of [[Pascha]], a massive fire broke out in the historic "Winter Hotel" next to the main chapel.  Although there are no casualties reported, between 50 and 70 people reportedly had to be evacuated, and an emergency fire-fighting helicopter needed to be deployed from St. Petersburg to fight the blaze.  The hotel building dated back to the 1850s and was considered a national heritage site. 
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This was the same date on which [[St. Sava Cathedral (New York, New York)|St. Sava Serbian Orthodox Cathedral in New York City, USA]] burned as well as two more Orthodox Churches in Australia.
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==External links==
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*[http://www.valaam.ru/en/ Official site: The Valaam Monastery]
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*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valaam_Monastery Wikipedia: Valaam Monastery]
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*[http://www.valaam.ru/en/history/ Valaam Monastery: Cloister History]
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*[http://nordictravel.ru/page/valaam.html Map of Valaam Island]
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*[http://www.ortodoksi.net/index.php/Sergius_and_Herman_of_Valaam Ss. Sergius and Herman of Valaam / Ortodoksi.net]
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*[https://www.rt.com/news/341548-valaam-monastery-fire-helicopter/ Fire rages at Russia’s revered Valaam monastery] Russia Today; May 1, 2016
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*[http://www.cbsnews.com/news/fires-orthodox-easter-3-orthodox-churches-3-cities-trinity-chapel-complex/ Fires around Orthodox Easter torch 3 churches in 3 cities] CBS News; 2 May 2016
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[[Category:Monasteries]]
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[[Category:Russian Monasteries]]
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[[ro:Mănăstirea Valaam (Rusia)]]

Latest revision as of 19:16, May 2, 2016

View of Valaam Monastery.
Valaam Monastery
of the Transfiguration of the Savior
Jurisdiction Church of Russia
(Stavropegial)
Type Male Monastery
Founded before 1600
Superior Abbot
Archim. Pankraty (Zherdev)
Approx. size ~200 monks
Location Valaam Island
Liturgical language(s) Slavonic
Music used Russian Chant
Calendar Julian
Feastdays celebrated unknown
Official website Official website

Valaam Monastery of the Transfiguration of the Savior, more popularly Valaam Monastery is a monastery of the Church of Russia located in Karelia in northwestern Russia on the island of Valaam in Lake Ladoga. The monastery was an outpost of evangelism in the north of Russia. In the 1790s the monastery provided the group of eight missionaries that was sent to Alaska in the North American northwest to evangelize the natives for Orthodox Christianity. This group of monastics included St Herman and St Juvenaly.

History

The origins of Valaam Monastery are not clear. Situated in the frontier of civilization the monastery was often attacked and burned as the area was contested by both Russians and Swedes. As the monastery is not mentioned in documents before the 16th century, different dates - from the 10th to 15th centuries - have been proposed for its founding. In Church tradition the founding of the Holy Transfiguration Valaam Monastery has been attributed to Ss. Sergius and Herman who were among the first missionaries to the city of Novgorod in the tenth century and created a monastery on Valaam Island in Lake Ladoga, north of Novgorod.

In the sixteenth century, Karelia became the battleground between Swedish and Russian forces as the Swedes pushed their borders eastward. Situated in Lake Ladoga, Valaam Monastery was in the midst of these struggles. In 1578, monks and novices were beaten to death by the (then) Lutheran Swedes. After another attack, the monastery was depopulated between 1611 and 1715. The buildings were burnt to the ground, and the Karelian border between Russia and Sweden was drawn through the lake. As the eighteenth century continued, the monastery recovered. Buildings were restored and built as the monastery prospered. By the beginning of the twentieth century the monastery had become very wealthy with about twenty smaller sketes under its control.

In 1793, the abbot of Valaam Monastery, Nazarius, was tasked by Catherine II with recruiting missionaries for the Russian colony in Alaska. A group of eight monks was assembled and departed Valaam on December 25, 1793 for Alaska. After a long journey through the length of Siberia the group arrived in Kodiak, Alaska on September 24, 1794.

In 1809, Sweden ceded Finland to Russia, which became an autonomous Grand Duchy. As the monastery was located in the Grand Duchy of Finland, when Finland gained its independence in 1917 Valaam became part of the Church of Finland. The Finnish Church became autonomous under the Church of Constantinople. During the Winter War between Finland and the Soviet Union in 1940, the monks from the monastery were evacuated to Heinavesi, Finland. With the end of the war the border was moved westward so that all of Lake Ladoga was within the Soviet Union. Having lost their former home, the monks who had moved to Finland formed the New Valaam Monastery at Heinavesi. It is the only monastery in the Finnish Church.

With the loss of its monastic community and the inclusion of Lake Ladoga in the Soviet Union the buildings of the original monastery on Valaam Island remained unused as a secular population moved on to the island. In time the island became a Soviet military base. As restrictions on the Orthodox Church in the Soviet Union eased during the 1980s, the original monastery was reactivated in 1989 and the facilities restored over the years.

In the late 1990s, Valaam Monastery gained significant legal power over the island under the Patriarch Alexei II. In an effort to return to a state of spiritual seclusion and enticed by the prospect of monopolizing the vast tourism industry on the island, the monastery forced many longtime residents to move out to the mainland. After years of fruitless legal proceedings, many residents of the island chose to leave rather than continue the fight, though a few still remain.

2016 Fire

On May 1, 2016, the day of Pascha, a massive fire broke out in the historic "Winter Hotel" next to the main chapel. Although there are no casualties reported, between 50 and 70 people reportedly had to be evacuated, and an emergency fire-fighting helicopter needed to be deployed from St. Petersburg to fight the blaze. The hotel building dated back to the 1850s and was considered a national heritage site.

This was the same date on which St. Sava Serbian Orthodox Cathedral in New York City, USA burned as well as two more Orthodox Churches in Australia.

External links