Every design for Ilomantsi

Ilomantsi is as far east as mainland Finland goes. Beyond Hattuvaara the forests and bogs run straight on into the Russian Republic of Karelia, and the easternmost point of the European Union's mainland lies inside the municipality.

Runonlaulajan pirtti, the rune singer's house, speaks for one inheritance: the Karelian song tradition, honoured too by Ilomantsin suurlaulajain muistomerkki. Ilomantsi is the oldest parish in its area, taxed from Novgorod as early as the fifteenth century, and for long a restless borderland. Slash-and-burn farming gave way to fields and cattle, and the Möhkö ironworks brought a spell of prosperity. Both the Winter War and the Continuation War were fought here, and the last battle of the Continuation War ended in a Finnish victory. The eastern villages were ceded, and many families lost their homes. Through it all the Orthodox community held on; its wooden church, dedicated to the prophet Elijah, is the largest in Finland.

Ilomantsin kirkkojen muistomerkki gathers that story into a single stone. Wearing Ilomantsi means carrying the border, the faith and the songs of the parish with you.