1,484
edits
Changes
info about fire
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.
==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 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.
==External links==
*[http://nordictravel.ru/page/valaam.html Map of Valaam Island]
*[http://www.ortodoksi.net/index.php/Sergius_and_Herman_of_Valaam Ss. Sergius and Herman of Valaam / Ortodoksi.net]
*[https://www.rt.com/news/341548-valaam-monastery-fire-helicopter/ Fire rages at Russia’s revered Valaam monastery] Russia Today; May 1, 2016
*[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
[[Category:Monasteries]]
