One of the brethren has already been to Italy for training, and cheese-making equipment has been purchased, says Valaam, one of Russia's most famous monasteries.

A spokesman for the island monastery told the BBC that it expects production to start in December, using milk from cows at its own farm to make the cheeses. The initial plan is for them to be consumed at the monastery, but eventually Valaam hopes to produce up to 350 kg of cheese a week, at which point they will go on sale at less remote religious communities in Russia.