Welcome to Panagia, Lammi!
Panagia is a place dedicated to the Most Holy Theotokos, and it is situated in the village of Ronni, Lammi (Hämeenlinna), Finland. It houses the Foundation of the Heritage of All the Saints of Mount Athos which has as its final purpose to establish on the ground of Panagia two separate and independent monasteries rooted in the Athonite tradition, one for men and other for women.
Here You will find information about the area and buildings in Panagia.
If You wish to know more about our history, which began with the blessing of Archimandrite Ephraim of the Skete of Saint Andrew (Holy Mountain Athos), You can read about it: HERE.
And if You are interested in learning about the project regarding Churches, You can read about it: HERE.
Panagia - the area
The size of the estate which was bought from the municipality of Hämeenlinna is 34 hectares and in the area there are several buildings, many of them quite spacious. Panagia has quite large shore area with the lake called “Pääjärvi”.
The Foundation rented with a single upfront payment from the municipality of Hämeenlinna a forest area of 34 m2 for 50 years and the municipality gave to Athos Foundation the permission to use also one area of 17 hectares which has a common border with the forest area.
The municipality promised in the contract of sale to give to Athos Foundation the right to purchase both the rented forest and the area given to be used in the case that the place will become a monastic community. In the aforementioned case the municipality will give from the forest areas free of charge the needed land both for the monastery of men and women; in this case Athos Foundation is obligated to buy the rest of the surrounding forest areas in the normal price of the district.
In the case of monastic community the municipality will give from the forest area a place for the cemetery free of charge.
As an area Panagia is really peaceful and ideal to monastic life, but with its size it can also house conferences and bigger events.
In Panagia
Most activities are centered in the main building, named after "Karyes" of the Holy Mountain Athos. The building is large (3.780 m2) and in it one finds a chapel dedicated and consecrated by Metropolitan of Helsinki, Ambrosius (2017), to the Annunciation (Evangelismos) of the Theotokos, where the daily (lay) services are being held twice a day - every morning and every evening.
The building also houses an ongoing church-project "Saint Basil the Great" and a small Orthodox Christian Bookstore named Filokalia. It also has exhibition spaces (9 rooms), synodicon for official meetings, a big meeting room, office rooms, a wing for women with the aim of monastic life and in a separate wing rooms for accommodation of female volunteers and course participants.
In the trapeza (refectory)-building there is a chapel dedicated to Saint Cosmas of Aetolia and consecrated by Metropolitan of Helsinki, Ambrosius (2014), a big kitchen and trapeza and auditorium. There one also finds the Cafeteria "Eulogeite!" which is usually open during events in Panagia and - God willing - also during the summer month of July.
Next to the trapeza is located a second hand shop (open on Wednesdays and Saturdays) and a building housing the icon painting studio and an ongoing church-project "Saint Herman of Alaska".
One building (1100 m2) in the depth of the area is meant for men with the aim of monastic life and for male visitors.
The old mansion building consisting of five rooms connected between each other is used for exhibitions and being nicely furnished it can be used also for meetings (space at least for 50 people).
In one part of the area there are also three row houses and a block of flats; two of the row houses we have sold for apartments to people who want to live in Panagia; the block of flats has 30 apartments about for 50 people - but is in need of renovation.
To Panagia
Panagia lies in the middle point of the inhabited Finland, i.e. using this place as the centre point of a circle with radius of 150 kilometers it encloses four million people inside it, more than any other point of circle in our country. Panagia in Lammi is quite easy to reach by car from several nearby cities, e.g. from Hämeenlinna (40 km), Lahti (40 km), Tampere (90 km), Helsinki (140 km), Jyväskylä (160 km), Turku (180 km). Being near the Capital city (Helsinki) it is approachable also to people from abroad both by air and sea.
The postal address of the Foundation of the Heritage of All the Saints of Mount Athos in Lammi of Hämeenlinna is:
Panagian puistotie 39 A
16900 LAMMI
FINLAND
via route 12 (when arriving from Lahti)
On the map You see the driving instructions when arriving to the Foundation from the direction of Lahti. The route goes through the centre of Lammi which is circa 6 kms from the Foundation.
More information to pilgrims and guests >>> HERE.