Language: English, Russian is welcome
Location: Project takes place on the fantastic island of Valaam - one of the most picturesque places and beautiful monasteries in the Northwest of Russia. It is sometimes called "Mount Athos of the North". Valaam, surrounded by the archipelago of more than 50 beautiful small islands, is situated in Lake Ladoga.
During its centuries-old history, the Monastery has suffered from devastation and desolation several times. But, by God's mercy, every time it revived. Last time it recovered in atheistic Soviet Union on December 14, 1989, when a ship with six monks moored in the harbor. Since that day, the new history of Valaam began. A lot of monks live here today; some of them renovate old churches, other work in the fields. People come to help them to save cultural heritage, and due to them a lot of churches of Valaam are already renovated. A lot of pilgrims come every summer to visit Holy Earth and to help in renovation works.
Work: International volunteers will be integrated into a group of 20-30 Russian volunteers and will work, eat and live all together. We will help monks in harvesting and cleaning the fields, grass cutting, preparing firewood and working in the garden.
Volunteer should be ready to work hard. The work usually takes 6-7 hours a day.
Accommodation: In the dormitory (4-20 persons per room). Monastery provides beds with blankets, pillows etc. You should take working boots, gloves and clothes with you, raincoat and long skirts & kerchief for girls. The monastery provides ordinary (with meat) or vegetarian food. Breakfast, lunch and dinner will be served in a monastery canteen. There is one shop on the island, so you can do shopping. There is only cold water in the dormitory; shower is available 3 times per week.
Free time activities: During the free time you will have a chance to enjoy walking, swimming in the lake, visiting churches and temples situated in Valaam and learning about Russian orthodox culture. You can see photos of Valaam at www.valaam.ru
Requirements: Volunteers should be patient to orthodox religion, follow dress code – for girls it is long skits, which should cover their knee, their heads should be covered by kerchief or something like this. Boys shouldn’t wear T-shirts and shorts in the monastery – more details about dress code you will find in the infosheet.
We can invite only volunteers with the good health conditions, because monastery is quite isolated and it is hard to get to a hospital in case of emergency.
Transportation: The nearest terminal is in Saint-Petersburg. Participants will gather in Saint-Petersburg on 1st of September in early morning. Then they will be taken by train to Priozersk (about 2-3 hours) and after than by ferry to the island (ferry is provided by the monastery).