Wellcoming tourists in a corner of heaven in Neamț: Horăicioara Hermitage

Horăicioara hermitage is located in the crack of a cliff at an altitude of 900 m, only 1 km away from Horaita Monastery. Here you can arrive either by walking on foot from Horaiţa Monastery or by car. From DN 15C (Piatra Neamţ – Târgu Neamţ) in Dobreni commune  you turn left and then go about 15 km on the road 156A, passing through the villages Negreşti and Poiana. After you reach Horaiţa Monastery there is a side road that goes to the hermitage.

Address: commune Crăcăoani, Neamţ County

E-mail: [email protected]

Web: http://horaita.mmb.ro/

The Patron of Horăicioara Hermitage: “Buna Vestire” and “Izvorul Tămăduirii” (celebrated in the first Friday after Easter)

Year of construction: the hermitage was built in 1466 by Archimandrite Chiriac (Archimandrite is a religious title)

Horăicioara Hermitage or Horaiţa Veche (Old Horaiţa) was built in the second half of the XV century. The hermitage dates from 1466 and in 1480 by order of Stefan cel Mare, a wooden church is built here by Arhimandrit Chiriac. On the place of the holly table from the altar there is a big stone.

The present day church was built in 1868 by Archimandrite Ermoghen Buhus. Architecturally the church is made out of stone and it has one tower. The wall that separates the altar from the rest of the church is built in gothic style of small sizes. The church and the surrounded cells were restored over time from different donations.

Horaicioara hermitage – Neamt County: photos

In the church of the hermitage there is an icon of Mother Mary that people believe to have healing powers. The belief originates because of the miraculous healings that took place over time, when a wellspring broke out of a rock 50 m away from the hermitage, after people got together and prayed for a water source. Every year, in the springtime, thousands of pilgrims arrive to drink from the holy water of the wellspring.

Horăicioara Hermitage along with Horaiţa Monastery continues the tradition of the Orthodox Church. Pilgrims in search for a place to meditate, to pray or simply a place where they can find peace, can come and spend a few days in this beautiful natural place.