The current museum was founded following the evacuation of Karelian Orthodox parishes and the monasteries of Valamo, Konevsky and Pechenga during the Second World War, after which these regions were annexed by the Soviet Union.

[1] The evacuated artifacts form one of the most significant collections of Orthodox icons, ecclesiastical items and liturgical textiles in the Western world.

Some of the highlights from the collection include gifts from the Russian imperial family, a wooden ladle and pectoral cross that belonged to Saint Arseny of Konevsky[2] and a pair of Georgian-Byzantine gilded enamel miniatures from the 12th century.

In 2015, the space was opened refurbished with new basic exhibition, covering the entire arch from Byzantium to modern-day orthodoxes in Finland.

[6] Themes of the new displays include a chapel in Karelia, tradition of icon painting, Collection of Ancient Objects from Valamo, orthodox sacraments, calendar year of the church and resurrection.