Celebrating the Dedication Day of Horaița Monastery

Located in the Village of Crăcăoani, 6 km away from the road between Piatra Neamţ and Tîrgu Neamţ, Horaiţa Monastery is higly frequented by believers, who come here for recovering and forming a sacred communion with God. The Monastery celebrates its Dedication Day on the 25th of March, the day of the Announciation (Romanian “Buna Vestire”).

The church is built exclusively of stone and has eight towers, a unique element of the Moldavian ecclesiastical architecture, which stands as a symbol of eternity. The number and configuration of the turrets also display influences of the Roman and Byzantine architecture, as well as Russian influences.

On the 25th of March, the Announciation Day, the pilgrims come in a very large number to join the service. This special day reminds of the announcement of the Incarnation by the Archangel Gabriel to Virgin Mary.
Visitors arriving in the area make a stop at Horăicioara Hermitage (Horaiţa Veche), which is situated just a few hundred meters away, on an uphill road. The hermitage, placed in a very picturesque area at an altitude of 900 meters, dates back to 1466. Later, in 1480, the first wooden church was built, with the Announcition as its Dedication Day. The one who ordered the erection of the church was Stephen the Great himself.

After more than 400 years, near the hermitage, a stone church was built in 1868. The stone church hosts a miraculous icon of Virgin Mary, to which the believers can come and pray. It is said that one of the miracles accomplished by the holy icon is the appearance of a spring just outside the church, the water of witch is wellknown for its curative properties, according to the testimonies of locals and monks. Horăicioara Hermitage’s Dedication Day is currently celebrated at the “Izvorul Tămăduirii” Holy Day, one week after Easter. The monks from the hermitage tell that many people have been cured from various diseases after having drunk the water of the miraculous spring. They also say that, every year, hundreds of faithful people, being in suffering, come at Horăicioara Hermitage to find relief.

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