List of Christian monasteries in Finland

This is an incomplete list of Christian monasteries and religious houses, both extant and dissolved, in Finland, for both men and women.

## Catholic

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### Dissolved

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* Dominican Priory, Turku (Turun dominikaanikonventti, Pyhän Olavin dominikaanikonventti), dedicated to Saint Olaf; founded by Swedish Dominicans in 1249; closed in the Reformation in 1529, and destroyed by fire in 1537[1]
* Dominican Priory, Vyborg (Viipurin dominikaanikonventti);[2][3] founded 1392; dissolved in the Reformation in the late 1530s[4]
* Franciscan Friary, Vyborg[3] (Viipurin fransiskaanikonventti); Franciscan friary, first mentioned in 1403; dissolved in the Reformation in the late 1530s[4]
* Franciscan Friary, Rauma (Rauman fransiskaanikonventti), Rauma, Satakunta; founded probably in the 14th century but first recorded in 1449; dissolved during the Reformation in 1538[5]
* Franciscan Friary, Kökar (Kökarin fransiskaanikonventti), Hamnö island, Kökar, Åland; founded in the 14th or 15th century but first recorded in 1472, dissolved during the Reformation by 1539[6]
* Nådendal Abbey (Naantalin luostari; Swedish: Nådendals kloster), Naantali, Southwest Finland; Bridgettine abbey (the first religious house for women in Finland) founded in 1438; dissolved in the Reformation but not finally wound up until 1591[7][8]
* Monastery of Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Finland (Jumalanäidin karmeliittaluostari), Espoo; Carmelite nunnery founded in 1988; closed in 2021[9]

### Extant

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* Bridgettine monastery, Turku (Turun birgittalaisluostari); Bridgettine nunnery founded in 1986[10]

## Eastern Orthodox

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### Old Believers

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* Pahkalammi Monastery (Pahkalammen luostari) in Pahkalammi, Vuottoniemi, in Ilomantsi, North Karelia; founded 1798 by Marki Alexandrov for monks and also later nuns of the Old Believers fleeing persecution in Russia; abandoned by 1880[11]
* Megrijärvi Monastery, also Megri (Megrijärven luostari), in Ilomantsi, North Karelia, on the Russian border; founded c.1800 by Onefrei for Old Believers fleeing persecution in Russia, initially for monks, but from 1850 also for nuns; the state acquired the property in 1914 and the last resident, a nun, left in 1919[12]
* Pyötikö Monastery (Pyötikön luostari) in Vuokko, Juuka, North Karelia; founded in 1847 for monks of the Old Believers fleeing persecution in Russia; closed 1890[13]
* Tavajärvi Monastery (Tavajärven luostari) in Tavajärvi, Kuusamo; founded in the 1850s for monks of the Old Believers fleeing persecution in Russia after the destruction of the monastery at Tuoppajärvi in 1852; the last monks died in the 1920s[14]

### Finnish Orthodox

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* New Valamo Monastery (Valamon luostari or Uusi-Valamo), Pappiniemi, Heinävesi, North Karelia; monastery of the Finnish Orthodox Church; founded after 1940 by refugee monks from the original Valaam Monastery (on the island of Valaam, now in Russia)[15]
* Lintula Holy Trinity Convent (Lintulan Pyhän Kolminaisuuden luostari or Lintulan luostari), Heinävesi, North Karelia; nunnery of the Finnish Orthodox Church; founded 1895 in Kivennapa (now in Russia); refounded in Heinävesi in 1946[16]
* Pokrova Community (Pokrovan yhteisö), Kirkkonummi, Uusimaa; monastic community (without the formal status of a monastery) of the Finnish Orthodox Church; founded 1995 in the former Dannedbrog farm by the monk Hariton Tuukkanen[17]

## Lutheran

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* Monastic Community of Enonkoski (Enonkosken luostari), Ihamaniemi, South Savo; Lutheran monastic community / retreat centre founded in 1994[18]

## See also

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* List of Christian monasteries in Denmark
* List of Christian monasteries in Norway
* List of Christian monasteries in Sweden

## References

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1. ^ Studium.fi: Dominicans in Finland
2. ^ not to be confused with the Dominican Priory, Viborg, which is in Denmark
3. ^ a b Finnish: Viipuri; captured by Russia in 1944
4. ^ a b ISKOS 21, 2016: The Early Stages of the History of Vyborg: The Results of Archaeological Research 1998–2012, Aleksandr I. Saksa
5. ^ Raumanseurakunta.fi: Historiaa
6. ^ Tietosanakirja, vol. 5 Kulttuurisana-Mandingo, pp. 339-340, Helsinki 1913 (digital version, Project Runeberg)
7. ^ Nordisk familjebok, vol. 20 Norrsken - Paprocki, pp. 301-302, Uggleupplagan 1914 (digital version, Project Runeberg)
8. ^ The abbey was founded in 1438 in Masku, moved to Perniö in 1441 and finally to Naantali in 1443.
9. ^ Karmel Finland
10. ^ Turku Bridgettines' official website
11. ^ Kuolismaan Kettuset 3 (2014), Ensio Kettunen
12. ^ Kuolismaan Kettuset 1 (2003), Ensio Kettunen
13. ^ Historia: Luostarit: Vanhauskoiset Yle uutiset Pohjois-Karjala 28 April 2013: Vuokon kylä on historiaa ja maaseutuestetiikkaa
14. ^ Kuusamo.fi: Historia: Ortodoksiset Erakkomunkit Kuusamossa
15. ^ Valamo.fi: official monastery website
16. ^ Lintulanluostari.fi: official nunnery website
17. ^ Ortodoksi.net: Pokrovan yhteisö
18. ^ Enonkosken luostariyhteisö - community website

## Further reading

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* Salomies, Ilmari, 1962: Suomen kirkon historia ["History of the Church in Finland"], 3 vols., Helsinki: Otava