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. The Blessing of Waters is normally done twice: once on Paramony, the eve of Epiphany inside the church, and then again on the day of the feast, outdoors at a body of water. © 2008 Peter Williams Back