Sihla Monastery

Location of Sihla Monastery
Sihla Monastery, in the Neamt County, is located in the north-east of the Stanisoara Mountains, on Obcina Sihlei, a region also known locally as Sihla Mountains. read more...

Historical data
- The beginnings of the hermitage at Sihla are lost in the mists of history, before 1200.
- The first written mention of a hermitage at Sihla dates back to 1326. read more...

Saint Theodora’s Life
In the second half of the XVIIth century and at the beginning of the XVIIIth century, at Sihla there lived, for about 40 years, the Pious Saint Theodora of Sihla. Born in the first half of the XVIIth century, in the Vanatori–Neamt village, as the daughter of Stefan Joldea, the governor of the Neamt Fortress, Saint Theodora will be even since childhood a model of holiness. She will attend the monasteries in the Neamt region and especially the “Saint Nicholas” Church in the Neamt Fortress. Her parents, against her will, decide to marry her off to a young believer from Ismail. Nevertheless, her wish to follow a monastic life was very strong and, with the approval of her good husband, she will go to the Nifon Hermitage (Varzaresti) in the Vrancea region. About 2 years afterwards, she will enter the venerable monasticism. A Turkish invasion will destroy the hermitage and thus the nuns will scatter.
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Father Paisie Olaru Known in the whole monastic world and by the believers by the name of Father Paisie of Sihla, will be the most well-known and sought confessor in the entire country. In 1984, being ill, he goes to the Sihastria Monastery for good, where he will pass to God on 18 October 1990. He has been proposed for canonization.