Valaam Monastery
At the seminary, Yrjö worked with the student choir and as deputy director of the Sortavala Cathedral choir. He also began adapting the Slavic language vocal music of the church for use with Finnish. In late 1937, Yrjö joined the Valaam Monastery on Lake Lodoga, which at the time was within the borders of Finland. In 1938 at the age of twenty three, Yrjö was tonsured a monk with the name Paavali (Finnish form of "Paul") and entered Holy Orders. Paavali taught at the monastery school and directed a choir of Finnish speaking novices.