The cave of St Teodora is a local religious attraction for pilgrims and tourists that come here to see the place where Teodora lived a religious life. The cave is located in a remote place and can be reached only by foot.

St Teodora cave Sihla 2011, Neamt County

From Sihla Hermitage you can reach the cave on a trail that goes near the old cellar of father Paisie Olaru and near the church made from the wood of one tree. The second trail starts before reaching Sihla Hermitage and goes near a rock from where St Teodora took the water for drinking and daily use.

The Holy Relics of St Teodora remained in the cave for over 100 years and represent the reason for the existence of Sihla Hermitage. St Teodora became a saint in 1992 at August 7. On her icon is written: “With all my heart I searched for you my God and when I found you my soul rested in your love”. The Holy Relics of St Teodora are in Kiev, at Lavra Pecerska.

The monastery is located at the foot of Horaiciorul Mountain, near the east side of Stanisoara Mountain. The religious settlement is beautifully painted in a neo-Byzantine style, on a reddish background. The iconostasis was made in Wien and sculpted in the baroque style.

The most important event that is organized at Horaita Monastery is known as the procession held with the occasion of “The Healing Spring” Holiday.

This procession is organized around the religious icon of St Mary Mother of Jesus and it takes placed in the week called by Orthodox “The Lighted Week”, when pilgrims from all over the country come here to be a part of this holiday. The procession involves carrying the icon from Horaita Monastery to Horaicioara Hermitage in the sound of bells and followed by pilgrims and priests.

Pilgrims that participate to this religious event walk on a 3km road to Horaicioara Hermitage from where they take some holy water from The Healing Spring. The story says that a long time ago, a monk from Horaicioara Hermitage was walking through the forest when he heard the voice of St Mary. The monk was guided to the place where today you’ll find the Healing Spring.

Sihastria Monastery is located in a place that impresses the pilgrim by the natural beauty of nature and the surrounding forest. This is also the place where some of the most well known monks lived and prayed: Father Ilie Cleopa, Father Paisie Olaru, Father Irineu Protcenco and Father Ioanichie Balan.

The monastery administrates four hermitages in Neamt County and several others in other counties. Pilgrims can visit these hermitages that were built in places where many monks have lived, prayed and eventually died.

Sihla Hermitage is located at about 8 km from Sihastria Monastery and the access is made on a dirt road. The church of the hermitage was made from wood in a classic architectural style with one tower. The small interior is divided between the altar and the nave. In 1763, above the hermitage, under a big block of stone was build a small church made with the wood from one single pine tree. Near the hermitage pilgrims and tourists can also visit St Teodora’s Cave, which is also the reason for which Sihla Hermitage exists.

Daniil Sihastrul Hermitage is located at about 2 km from Sihla Hermitage, near a big gap called “Rapa lui Coroi”. The hermitage can be accessed only by foot. That is why the construction of the church and the few buildings was made with the help of people that carried construction materials on their back.

“Poiana lui Ioan” Hermitage is located at 3 km from Sihastria Monastery in a plane where a monk by his name Ioan lived and prayed in the XVII century. The hermitage was built at the request of Father Paisie Olaru. The dirt road that goes to the hermitage is called “The Road of the Cross” and depicts images from the last days on Earth of Jesus.

“St Mina” Hermitage from Targu Neamt dates from 1933. The present day church of the hermitage was built after 1990 together with new cellars, a small chapel made out of brick and few other small buildings. In 2003 the monks began building a new church dedicated to “St Pantelimon the Healer”.

In the last years Sihastria Monastery, together with its hermitages became more and more visited by pilgrims and tourists in search of moments of peace or historical and architectural wonders.

The monasteries from Neamt County are visited in this period especially by those that wish to acquire a calm state of mind in the peaceful oasis offered by these religious settlements. Many monasteries from Neamt County have their own accommodation facilities where pilgrims can pray and live like the monks, attending to all religious services.

These monasteries are located in a breath taking natural scenery that sends to a calm atmosphere and prayer. Here is some information about some of the most well known monasteries from Neamt County where pilgrims can accommodate and from where they can also discover a small piece of Neamt County.

Neamt Monastery is the oldest and the most important monastery from Moldova region and it’s also known as “The Jerusalem of the Romanian Orthodoxy”. Visitors can see here the religious icon called Lidianca, the oldest library that belongs to a monastery with over 18.000 books and also an impressive museum.

Secu Monastery is a religious settlement representative for the local architecture where visitors can also see the religious icon called Cirpiota. Here there is also the tomb of its builder, Nestor Ureche and an impressive museum.

Sihastria Monastery is well known especially for the tombs of Father Cleopa and Father Paisie Olaru. Near this monastery you can also accommodate at Sihla Hermitage where pilgrims can also visit the Cave of St Teodora.

Agapia Monastery is a real architectural jewel that was painted by one of our greatest painters: Nicolae Grigorescu. You can also visit here a medieval art collection and a library with old books and manuscripts. In the museum of the monastery you’ll also see other paintings made by Nicoale Grigorescu during his staying at the monastery.

At Varatec Monastery pilgrims can visit the religious collection and the tomb of Veronica Micle that is located in the inner yard of the church from the monastic village. Bistrita Monastery has a great historical and archeological value mainly because this is one of the oldest monasteries from Moldova region. Also here there is the religious icon of St Ana and the tomb of ruler Alexandru cel Bun.

Petru Voda Monastery is well known because of Father Iustin Parvu and is a place of peace and solitude among the monasteries of Neamt County. The old church from Pangarati Monastery has a unique architecture with two churches built on top of each other in the same building. Durau Monastery was painted by Nicolae Tonitza and his apprentices, among which was also Corneliu Baba.

Visiting these old monasteries from Neamt County during this time of year will offer to pilgrims the chance to understand and feel the spirituality of the Orthodox Church from Moldova region and also from Neamt County.

The road to the cell begins right at the entrance in the monastery. You go near the old church from Sihastria Monastery and follow a sign that points pilgrims to Father Cleopa’s cell. In the cell you’ll find objects that belong to father Cleopa: icons, religious books, the small chair used for praying, his shoes, clothes and so much more.

Although father Cleopa Ilie is no longer present in his cell to welcome the visitors a special feeling surrounds you. For a moment you stop talking and in the silence you try to hear something that it’s not there. And then you realize that what father Cleopa said his entire life was true: “Patience, patience, patience!”.

The cell of Father Cleopa from the steep hill where is located at Sihastria Monastery represents a testimony of his life, his beliefs and his love for people and it represents a small comfort for those that visit it.

The benches from the front of the cell where Father Cleopa spoke to pilgrims are now empty. The words are now present only in books or videos of Father Cleopa but that special voice, that special way of talking, that tone is still present in everything connected to Father Cleopa.

He used to welcome anyone that visit him with the words “Manca-v-ar raiul sa va manance!” which in an approximate translation means “May Heaven eat you!”. Of course that he was spiking metaphorically but the raw power of those words impress generations over generations and will still impress anyone that will hear it!

If you visit the cell of Father Cleopa Ilie don’t forget that before you go to light a candle in the cemetery from Sihastria Monastery, at his tomb. Right near his tomb you’ll also see the tomb of Father Paisie Olaru that was a friend of father Cleopa Ilie. Now they’re side by side in the small cemetery from Sihastria Monastery.

You can also see photos of Sihastria Monastery and a video presentation.

Sihla Hermitage was built in 1725 as a tribute to St Teodora that lived for almost 40 years in a simple cave nearby. After we take one more look to the valley where Sihla Hermitage is located we start our pilgrimage: the trail twist itself between big boulders and reaches St Teodora Cave. We stop for a minute to say a prayer. After that our journey continues on the dirt road that goes to Sihastria Monastery.

Google Maps description of the route

We walk about 2 km before we see the sign that lets us know that it’s time to go back into the forest. The hike of 1,5 km to Daniil Sihastrul Hermitage begins with crossing a small bridge. This is the only way to reach this place: by foot. White crosses, carved into the trees by monks, guide our steps to the hermitage.
The trail is easy to follow and is well marked and organized with wooden benches. Towards the end the vegetation turns into an incredible sight. We reach a place where everything from boulders, roots, trees and even the trail is covered in moss of an incredible fresh green.

After that the trail descents to a spring called “the Healing Spring” (“Izvorul Tamaduirii” locally) where you can drink fresh water. From here we can see the entrance into the hermitage. A last effort and we are there. This remote hermitage was built with the help of believers that carried the construction materials with their hands.

Even now the food is carried with the help of a small donkey. At Daniil Sihastrul Hermitage live and pray 5 monks. Life in this remote place, accessible only by foot, it’s not easy. That is why when you come to visit this place respect the forest and these people that are always happy to receive visitors and also offer you a place at their table.