FINLAND, New Valamo, a Living Monastic Tradition in Finland. The Finnish monastery of the Transfiguration of Christ has been located at Papinniemi, between Kopio and Joensuu, since 1940. The monastery has its centuries old roots in the island of Valamo in Lake Ladoga, in the territories ceded to the Soviet Union after the Second World War. A believer lighting candles during the vespers on Paramony, the eve of Epiphany. © 2008 Peter Williams Back