You can reach “Inaltarea Sfintei Cruci” Hermitage (“Inaltarea Sfintei Cruci” can be translated as “The Rising of the Holy Cross”) by car or by foot. The hermitage is also known as “Poiana lui Ioan” Hermitage (“Poiana lui Ioan” can be translated as Ioan’s Plane) and it’s located at 26 km of Targu Neamt and 3 km from Sihastria Monastery which is also the religious administrator of this hermitage. The road from Sihastria Monastery to “Inaltarea Sfintei Cruci” Hermitage is called The Road of the Cross and it’s marked with crucifixes with icons that tell the story of the last days of Jesus on Earth.

The hermitage is located on the upper part of Secu Creek’s valley in a large plane where over time many monks came to live a secluded life. The hermitage represents an old wish of a great priest and monk: father Paisie Olaru (a close friend of Elder Cleopa from Sihastria Monastery).

Photos of “Poiana lui Ioan” Hermitage, Neamt County

In 1993 on the place also known as “Valea Sihastrilor” (The Valley of Monks) took place the religious service that marked the beginning of a true hermitage in this area. The wish of father Paisie was coming true. Between 1995 and 2000 they managed to build the church of “Inaltarea Sfintei Cruci” Hermitage, a church made out of wood.

The interior paintings of the church were made by a group of monks from Sihastria Monastery under the close supervision of Abbot Bartolomeu Florea. Beside the church of the hermitage the monks also build cellars and a guest house for pilgrims that want to spend the night at the hermitage.

The construction of the hermitage lasted until 2009 and on September 8, with the celebration of the Birth of St Mary, took place the sanctification religious service of the hermitage. At the religious service participated Father Daniel, the Patriarh of the Romanian Orthodox Church, Father Teofan, Mitropolit of Moldova and Bucovina and other priests.

“Poiana lui Ioan” Hermitage received the patron of “Inaltarea Sfintei Cruci” (the name “Poiana lui Ioan” comes from a monk called Ioan that lived here). Today, at this hermitage live and pray 5 monks.