Sihastria Monastery - History and Culture, Neamt, Romania

Sihastria Monastery - History and Culture, Neamt, Romania
Sihastria Monastery is an Orthodox monastery of monks, dedicated to the "The birth of Mary the Virgin", located in the northern county of Neamt, 22 km from the town of Targu Neamt, on the road leading to Pipirig-Wah.
The first church building was held in 1655 by the monk Athanasios along with seven of his apprentices.
Hard times that followed have led to the ruin of the church and therefore, in 1734, Bishop of Roman Gideon bilt a new church of stone, the place of the old.
The building is built in classic moldavian style.
The tumultuous history of these places has influenced the development of the monastery, which has suffered greatly over time. After the devastation of 1821, when it was burned by the Turks, it was remade in 1824 with the support of Metropolitan Veniamin Costache.
In 1837 is constructed of wood, for the religious service in winter, a chapel dedicated to the Holy Fathers Joachim and Anna and, further, two other bodies of cells, in the east and north.
In the summer of 1941 a fire burned the wooden chapel and part of Sihastria houses, that's why many monks went to other monasteries. Father Abbot Ioanichie being old and ill, in 1942 is chosen, as the post of Deputy Abbot, Father Cleopa.
The first concern of the new Abbot was to recover the enclosure and hermitages.
With the help of Neamt monastery, until 1944 they built two bodies of cells with over 20 rooms. Overcoming the difficulties brought about by war and drought, leaded by Father Cleophas congregation spiritually hardens, numerical increase and, with great effort, manages to build a new chapel in 1946.
It is worth mentioned here and miracle-working icon of "The birth of Mary the Virgin" brought to the Sihastria monastery in the early twentieth century.
After 1947, the Hermitage, a small hermitage hermits, became a missionary monastery, wanted by many pilgrims.
But especially after 1989, when the congregation greatly increased in numbers, reaching in 1994 to nearly 140 priests and brothers, and faithful thirsty for the word of God, come in large numbers to the monastery, it felt more the need to build a bigger church.
Such a desire came to fruition older parent Abbot, Archimandrite. Victorin Oanele, it waited only once best opportunities for achieving a large church, roomy.
Construction filed very quickly, because the congregation sacrificed how long it could, hundreds and thousands of believers come on a pilgrimage to the monastery have given each what and how able and not a few hearty people with financial possibilities, contributed materials and money .
In 1999 the church building was completed, and in 2004 was finished interior painting, fresco, painted only remaining niches around the church.
The monastery has attracted visitors from all over Romania who came to Archimandrite Cleopa, who was one of the most appreciated priests at the time. He died in 1998, was to remain 16 volumes of teachings in a collection entitled "It tells Father Cleopa". What can be visited at Sihastria Monastery is the monastery cemetery, and the hermitage of Saint Cleopa. Visitors can stay overnight in sleeping room and they can serve meals in the Dinner Room.
Those who wish can confess to a priest near the church entrance.