Information about the area

Clear lake Pyhäjärvi surrounds this paradisiacal promontory in Uukuniemi village, Parikkala municipality, right on the border. There was a tsasouna in the deserted village next to the area in the 16th century, maybe even earlier. Beauty ideals in Papinniemi have become permanent, and those looking for peace and beauty have found the place again and again. What could be nicer than building a sandcastle on the beach or watching the sunset from the pier. You can rent a boat and row to the side of the island to catch a perch. Uukuniemi offers good hiking opportunities, you can explore the ice age trail or paddle for a coffee with soot on the rock of Vahasaari.

The stone is said to have been a place of sacrifice for fishermen in the hope of a better catch, and the stone has also been used to thank Ahti for good fishing luck. The network stone was found in the beach sand when digging a water pipe 40 years ago. Hidden in the sand, the stone has been well preserved. The knots of the net have been sacrificial cups into which the fisherman has sacrificed the eye of the fish from the previous day's catch when leaving with his nets to the back of the lake. The fisherman had polished the knot of the net with his own hands sometime during the Iron Age in memory of his father, an excellent fisherman.

The stones were mainly carved in the Iron Age and it is difficult to determine their age. Possibly the stones were hidden during the religious reformation when the Orthodox and Lutherans suppressed pagan religions.

The stone is better known locally as kouraisukivi, but is also known as lylytyskivi. Papinniemi used to be along an important and sometimes dangerous trade route. The travelers used to grab luck on their way from the holes in the rock and when they returned, they returned the luck that had been loaned to the earth and thanked them for the loan.

Lyli means secret power and lylit means worshiping and fantasizing. Lyyltytning also refers to making sacrifices to the gods of the forest and obtaining hunting luck.

By chanting, you can ask the gods, spirits and possessors for what is lacking at any time. Lyyling can also be used to show gratitude for the luck received, protection and protection can also be lylytled. When lyling, the hands are placed in the holes in the stone. The hands disappear as if into another reality, almost up to the wrists. The rock of Papinniemi has been lyled all year round, in winter it has been hoped that the lake will carry ice. In the summer, a calm lake surface and big catches of fish are hoped for. According to tradition, the shepherds have also used rocks to find shelter for themselves and their cattle in the pasture.

At the stones, ancient peoples have paid respect to natural forces, gods, spirits and the spirits of superiors and inferiors. People in the past have worshiped these forces and sought help from them and strongly believed that they would get it.

As for the local population, it has its own story. We Karelian people are naturally people-loving. We have ways and means, and many, by which we go through, for example, the famous gray stone. Not all of them can necessarily be said to be reasonable, but in retrospect you can at least say that everything was tried. Its benevolence can sometimes get it into trouble, but it gets out of them with a witty Karelian humor.

We are often called benevolent fools by those who don't understand the matter, and especially by those who understand the matter. If you don't believe it, come visit us. Happy with every cell in us, we find a lot of good even in bad. We really put ourselves into things, we want to know how to run a campsite and learn to be even better. Now that we got up to speed, it must be said that Karelian women are indeed beautiful, true epitome of fertility. The glow that comes out of them can be seen for miles.

The importance of Lake Pyhäjärvi in Karelia has been very important for the entire region. Without this, the area wouldn't have been inhabited hundreds of years ago, and without the lake there can't even be a cape. Lake Pyhäjärvi provides food in the form of fish, and many people consider the lake's fish to be the best delicacy. The water also gives rest to the soul, rowing on the lake removes stress and recharges the batteries. Thanks to its natural values, Pyhäjärvi is a Natura 2000 site.

We want to spread the love of Pyhäjärvi to you too. We want to take care of the state of the water body for our part.

Uukuniemi's church village is home to Papinniemi's historic period archaeological site, which is extensive and archaeologically diverse. The Orthodox main church of Uukuniemi, the cemetery connected to it, and a residence have been located on the site. The settlement of the area has formed an entire Orthodox village, which has been permanently deserted already in the 17th century. The area has found e.g. money treasure and Russian tip money.