The Valaam Archipelago. Where is the Valaam Archipelago located

Valaam - a large, rocky, covered with greenery archipelago in Lake Ladoga. Its territory is occupied by one of the 2 Russian "monastic republics". The population of the archipelago is monks, foresters and fishermen.

In this article, we will dwell in more detail on what Valaam and the Valaam archipelago are.

General description of the archipelago

The Valaam archipelago is the main attraction of the Northern Ladoga.

Formally, this territory is under the jurisdiction of Sortavala (Republic of Karelia).

Total area - 36 square meters. Km, coastal length - more than 150 km, the height of the islands reach up to 70 meters above sea level. Strongly cut by bays (or skerries) the banks are covered with trees (mostly coniferous), hayfields and fields.

There are more than 50 islands here (Crosses, Bayevs, Moscow, Nikonovsky, Skitsky, Predtechensky, Defensive, Brave, Naked, Emelyanov, Granite, Rocky, Zosima, Rzhanoy, Ovsyany, Lukovy, Nikolsky, etc.), among which their more impressive sizes Valaam is allocated (the area is 28 square kilometers). On it there is a village with the same name and a magnificent Valaam Spaso-Preobrazhensky monastery.

There are sketes on some islands: Predtechensky, Nikolsky and Svyatoostrovsky on the same islands; Smolensky and All Saints on about. Skitsky; Avramy of Rostov (the island Emelyanov). Many of the islands are connected with each other and with the largest bridge of Balaam.

Where is the Valaam Archipelago located?

The archipelago is located in the northern part of the great Ladoga Lake. Most often the whole archipelago is called Valaam. The island is located 22 kilometers from the mainland.

This territory is amazing and unique historically. Magnificent in these places and nature: beautiful mossy rocks on the shores of Lake Ladoga, ever green coniferous forests and majestic blue domes of the main Savior Transfiguration Cathedral. This region attracts many tourists not only from Russia, but also from countries all over the world. The nature of the Valaam archipelago is amazing.

In Brief History

The settlement of the islands began to occur in the 10th century. From the 12th century they belonged to Novgorod.

The main monastery, which served as a defensive fortress, has existed since the 14th century. The Swedes ravaged the islands in 1611, and destroyed the monastery. It was restored only in 1715.

As part of Finland, the archipelago lasted from 1918 to 1940, since 1940 these lands belong to Russia.

The Valaam archipelago, in particular the Valaam Monastery, stood at the very roots of the birth of Orthodoxy around the world.

There is a tradition that tells that Andrew the First-Called (apostle) reached the far north (Father Valaam) with the preaching of the gospel, where he established a stone cross. And the founders of the monastic brotherhood recognized Reverend Herman and Sergius - monks, who came to the lands of Ladoga in the 10th century from Greece.

It should be noted that Valaam was once one of the largest book printing centers in Russia. The most difficult times were moved by the monastery from the historical year 1917.

In the 1950s, invalids of the war, mentally retarded and sick with tuberculosis were occupied in the buildings of the monastery and hermitages. In 1984, the House of Disabled was closed, and in the 90's the monastery was assigned to the Russian Orthodox Church. Now it is a monument of world significance.

Valaam Island: attractions, features

The waterway to the island along the Ladoga opens the splendor of the local nature: soft waves of the lake, a breeze, numerous seagulls, granite banks with pine groves. Here you can find a real spiritual refuge.

The Valaam archipelago is almost all an amazing historical and natural landmark. Most tourists come here as pilgrims or as part of tourist groups. There are also independent travelers.

On Valaam permanent residents a little more than 200 people, with most of them - monks.

In addition to the monastery, there is also a village of Valaam and a small military base. For some reason, the relationship between monks and secular islanders is complex, as in Solovki. On the island, orders are established by the church authorities.

In the cathedral there is an opportunity to hear the famous church Valaam singing, actively reviving in recent times.

The most impressive and oldest sight - the monastery of A. Svirsky on about. Holy is 8 kilometers from the monastery. Almost all the monasteries on the islands attract the attention of tourists with their diversity.

There are places for those interested in military history. In the south, Fr. Valaam preserved the remains of the military installations of the Mannerheim Line.

Rest on the Valaam archipelago is one of the most beautiful, calm and romantic.

Origin of the name of the island

Most likely, the name of the island comes from the Finno-Ugric language "Valamo", which means "high, mountainous land." And this corresponds to the appearance of the numerous islands of the archipelago.

Russian monks considered this name consonant with the name of one of the biblical prophets of Valaam.

Conclusion

Over the course of many centuries, when the monastery was the only master, the Valaam archipelago gradually turned into a large unified architectural and natural complex.

Throughout its history, chapels, churches, monasteries and various farm buildings were built here. Roads have been laid, bridges between the islands have been built, beautiful gardens and trees have been planted.

Valaam is one of the 4 "monastic republics" in the world (2 of them are Meteora and Athos in Greece and 2 in Russia are Solovki and Valaam). But unlike Solovetsky, whose owner is the museum-reserve, on about. Valaam tradition of the monastic revived in almost full.