Transilvania - tururi private si transport obiective turistice Brașov la Mânăstirea Caraiman.

The "Exaltation of the Holy Cross" Monastery - Caraiman was founded in 1998, at the initiative of the Most Reverend Father Gherontie Puiu. It is located in the Prahova Valley in the town of Bușteni, at the foot of the Bucegi Mountains, in a clearing that has a fir tree with a special shape in the middle. The Caraiman Monastery is located at an altitude of approx. 900 m, being among the highest altitudes at which a place of worship has been built in our country. The founder of the Caraiman Monastery, Father Gherontie Puiu, at the time when he was sick and hospitalized, following a stroke, had a dream in which he saw the Mother of God who told him: "You will find a fir tree with six branches, next to a flowing water, on a place where you can see the great Cross. There you can build the monastery!". Following this dream, Father Gherontie Puiu, with the help of the Mother of God, found the place indicated by Her in this wonderful area of Romania in the Prahova Valley. The mountains dressed in the sincere green of the fir trees are like a fortification that protects the clearing where the monastery will be built. The serene color of the sky induces a state of peace, and the Cross at the top of Caraiman is like a messenger of faith looking into the sunny clearing. In October 1998, the Archdiocese of Bucharest received, through a Decision of the Local Council of the city of Bușteni, a land area of 13,000 square meters, in order to build a monastery. On June 29, 2000, the blessed Patriarch Teoctist Arăpașu approved the establishment of the Caraiman Hermitage with the patron saint of the "Exaltation of the Holy Cross". The place was consecrated by His Eminence Teodosie Snagoveanu, at that time the Vicar Bishop of the Archdiocese of Bucharest, currently the Archbishop of Tomis. Later, the land area was supplemented by 4,500 square meters in 2001 and 6,000 square meters in 2002, totaling a total area of 23,500 square meters, with a legal concession status.

Between 2000-2001, the wooden church dedicated to the "Covering of the Virgin Mary", an agiasmatar and a body of cells were built. On October 21, 2001, the wooden church dedicated to the "Covering of the Virgin Mary" was consecrated by His Eminence Sebastian Ilfoveanu, Vicar Bishop of the Archdiocese of Bucharest, and at the same time the foundation stone was laid for the construction of a new, brick church dedicated to the "Exaltation of the Holy Cross". Between 2002-2007, the large church dedicated to the "Exaltation of the Holy Cross and the Resurrection of the Lord", the bell tower, the refectory, and one of the bodies of the archondaric were built. In the fall of 2007, the construction of the cells began. Between 2007 and 2010, the construction works of the cell block were completed, as well as the second block of the abbot's house. On July 1, 2008, the Caraiman Hermitage, dedicated to the "Exaltation of the Holy Cross", was elevated to the rank of a monastery. The personality who stood out in the minds of those who visited the Caraiman Monastery was, without a doubt, Father Protosinghel Gherontie Puiu. From the first day of his birth, Father Gherontie was constantly under the protection of the Mother of God, who chose him, he says, to fulfill a holy mission, namely, to build a monastery, far from the tumult of human vanities. His entire destiny resembles a martyrdom, but his unwavering faith and prayer helped him to accomplish good deeds, as an intermediary between Christians in need and the Mother of God. Starting with July 10, 2010, Father Gherontie Puiu was replaced as abbot of the monastery, due to health problems that were quite serious and no longer allowed him to take care of all the works and activities that were taking place at that time in the monastery. Thus, Father Ierom was appointed as abbot of the Caraiman Monastery. David Petrovici came from the Crasna Monastery - Prahova, to help Father Gherontie Puiu complete the construction of the monastery.

Between 2011-2012, the works on the arrangement of the second building of the archondaric were completed and the Tabor I building was built, within which the activity of the Social-Pastoral Center "Holy Cross" is carried out. In 2012, a chiriarchal chapel was arranged in the bell tower with the patron saints "Saint Prophet Elijah the Tesvitean" and "The Transfiguration". On July 20, 2012, on the occasion of the feast of the Holy Prophet Elijah the Tesvitean, the chiriarchal chapel and the Social-Pastoral Center "Holy Cross" were consecrated. The service was performed by His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel, surrounded by a council of priests and deacons. On the occasion of the monastery's patron saint, "The Exaltation of the Holy Cross", in 2012, the worthiness and many efforts of Father Proinstareț Gherontie Puiu were appreciated by His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel, granting him the rank of protosinghel, as a sign of appreciation and blessing. On August 4, 2013, His Beatitude Father Daniel, Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church celebrated the Holy Liturgy at the Caraiman Monastery together with His Eminence Galaction, Bishop of Alexandria and Teleorman, and with His Eminence Timotei, Romanian Orthodox Bishop of Spain and Portugal, surrounded by a council of priests and deacons. The Patriarch of Romania ordained Father David Petrovici, abbot of the Caraiman Monastery and exarch of the mountain monasteries of the Archdiocese of Bucharest, as archimandrite. In May 2014, the monastery went through a difficult ordeal as the protosinghel Father Gherontie Puiu was called to the Lord at the age of 81, leaving behind a beautiful monastery and a community that will continue the work begun.

"Protosinghel Gherontie Puiu did not only build churches from the wall, cell blocks, the bell tower and other dependencies of the monastery, but he also built, with fatherly love and much spiritual labor, the church from the souls of many monks and numerous pilgrims who came to him for the absolution of sins, for a word of instruction, and some for material help. Thus, Father Gherontie Puiu carried out a missionary activity illuminated by faith and prayer, proving himself a good and faithful servant, who multiplied the talents received from God" (Message of Condolences of His Beatitude Patriarch DANIEL, at the funeral service of Father Protosinghel Gherontie Puiu, May 24, 2014). With the help of God, with the support of the faithful pilgrims and with the efforts of the living fathers of this monastery, in September 2014 the works on the large church of the monastery were completed. On September 14, 2014, when the feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross is celebrated, the consecration service of the large church with the theme “The Exaltation of the Holy Cross” took place. The service was officiated by His Beatitude Patriarch DANIEL, surrounded by an impressive council of hierarchs, priests and deacons. This event was attended by all the abbots and abbesses of the Archdiocese of Bucharest as well as a large number of believers from all over the country. On this occasion, the large church of the monastery also received the second theme “The Resurrection of the Lord”.

The place where the monastery was built is a place blessed by God, an ideal place for detachment from the worries of everyday life. The believers who have arrived here are overcome by a special thrill, a state of tranquility and peace. This place is the most suitable to meditate on the words of the apostle John who says in the Revelation: "And there will be no more night; and they will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever" (Revelation 22:5). Since 2011, with the blessing of His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel, the Social-Pastoral Center "Holy Cross" began to function and carry out its activity within the Caraiman Monastery. Conferences, trainings and other cultural and educational events can be organized within this center. The center consists of: two building blocks (Horeb I and Horeb II) - accommodation spaces; one building block (Tabor) - accommodation spaces, conference room, seminar room, dining room and kitchen, a sports hall for recreational activities.