About the retreat
The fasting and repentance retreat
The fasting and repentance retreat organised by the Therapeutic Fasting Association offers everyone the opportunity to keep a healing fast, to repent through confession and to pray together with other Christians who share the same values, in an organised spiritual setting in Romania.
The retreats are held at Neamț Monastery, in Neamț County, an area of deep spiritual significance, close to the monasteries of Secu, Sihăstria, Sihla, Vovidenia, Agapia and Văratec. They take place with the blessing of the hierarchs of the Church (His Eminence Teofan, Metropolitan of Moldavia and Bukovina), and the association’s work is recognised and encouraged by doctors, professors of theology, scientists and hierarchs.
Retreat prices
Prices for the fasting, repentance and health regeneration retreats. Participation includes accommodation and all the services needed for a complete experience.
Prices are valid until 1 September 2026. The euro amounts are approximate; prices are set in Romanian lei (RON).
What is included
The programme includes therapeutic massage, themed excursions, information materials, talks, medical and psychological support, spiritual guidance, and food adapted to the period of restoring and rebuilding the body.
- 10% discount for married couples
- 25% discount for a second consecutive retreat
The 10% discount is given once, to married people who attend as a couple (it does not apply to relatives or friends).
Accommodation
Accommodation is in recently renovated rooms at the Saint Paisius Centre at Neamț Monastery, all with a balcony and a peaceful view of the surroundings. In the warm season, it is also possible to stay inside Neamț Monastery, in monastic cells, in single, twin or triple rooms.
We encourage twin rooms, for the balance and support needed during the fast; single rooms are only for exceptional cases.
Longer stays: extended retreats (over 10 days) – details by phone on +40 332 802 834. Fasts of 21–40 days are available only during the Nativity Fast and Great Lent.
The accommodation – twin rooms
How to register
- Fill in the registration form on this website.
- You receive confirmation that you have been accepted.
- You pay the 500 lei deposit.
- You are added to the session’s WhatsApp group, where you receive information about preparation and the list of things to bring.
Payment
Asociația Postului Terapeutic – Raiffeisen Bank (SWIFT/BIC: RZBRROBU). We encourage payment in cash. Card payment (POS) is also accepted, and we accept Romanian holiday vouchers. An invoice and receipt can be requested.
How the retreat is organised
The “7 + 3” programme: the days of arrival and assessment, the actual fast and the days of refeeding.
- Day 1
Arrival
Participants arrive at the retreat on the day set by the organisers. On this day they are accommodated, make the payment and are shown around the complex.
- Day 2
Health assessment and the introductory talk
Health parameters are assessed: body weight, body fat percentage, blood pressure, blood sugar and other relevant indicators are measured. The medical staff prepare an individual record for each participant, and the recommended procedures are decided together with the doctor.
Afterwards, all participants attend workshops run by each department (exercise and manual therapies, internal detoxification and spiritual counselling), where the therapeutic procedures and how they work are explained.
In the afternoon there is the introductory talk on fasting, given by Cezar Elisei, president of the association. After 18:00, purgative solutions are given. From this day no solid food is eaten; vegetable soup and various therapeutic teas are offered.
- Days 3–8
The water fast
The third day is considered the first day of the actual water fast, when participants begin the compulsory or recommended programme of detoxification, fasting and repentance. The fast continues up to and including the eighth day.
- Day 9
Refeeding and final measurements
Teas and vegetable soup are taken to restart digestion gradually. On this day the experiences of the fast are discussed and the final measurements are taken. The medical records go into each participant’s personal folder, together with the medical recommendations.
- Day 10
Departure
In the morning, participants receive a meal for the journey and are told exactly which foods they may eat and what diet is recommended for the next two weeks. The food is prepared individually and is not bought in shops.
The retreat in pictures
The videos are in Romanian.
Moments from the retreat
The Russian clinic model
The daily programme broadly follows the model of the fasting clinic in Goryachinsk (Republic of Buryatia, Russian Federation).
Cleansing
Enemas are done every morning. Each participant does their enema daily in their room, with the option of help from the medical staff.
Massage
A massage session included in the price, given by professional massage therapists on a set schedule. Other types of massage are available on request, for a fee.
Walks
Long daily walks outdoors (at least 8 km, preferably 12 km), excursions, hikes and light household activities.
Talks
Talks on fasting, repentance and prayer, in a shared space. During the day, the Psalter is read.
Services and care at the retreat
Preparing for your stay at the fasting retreat
Preparation for the retreat begins at home. Your food choices in the period before the fast are important for the therapy with water to go smoothly. For this reason, it is recommended to reduce and adapt your diet gradually, starting about two weeks before you arrive at the retreat.
Antibiotics: antibiotics are not recommended for at least two weeks before the fast begins. If they have been used, probiotics must be taken to restore the gut flora.
Optimal preparation can also include cleansing the gallbladder and liver beforehand with the “Andreas Moritz procedure”.
Recommendations for the whole 14-day preparation period
- Alcohol: completely forbidden.
- Sweetened drinks (soft drinks): completely cut out.
- Hydration: at least 2–3 litres of water a day.
- Meals: no snacks between meals, ideally two meals a day.
- The last week: no overeating or “farewell meals”.
- Salads: use only good-quality olive oil.
Cut out: sugar, sweets, soft drinks, alcohol, ultra-processed products. Reduce coffee (max. 2 a day).
Cut out: bread, bakery products, pasta, pastries, biscuits, breakfast cereals.
Cut out: potatoes, rice, maize, polenta, dried beans, chickpeas, lentils, peas. Coffee: max. 1 a day.
Cut out sweet fruit (bananas, grapes, mango, dried fruit). Eat only: vegetables, salads, eggs, fish, lean meat, avocado, olives and a moderate amount of nuts and seeds.
Very light eating: raw or cooked vegetables, salads and, optionally, a little fish or eggs. No coffee.
A single light meal of salad and boiled vegetables (perhaps a little fish). After the meal, only water until the fast begins.
The logic of the protocol
Carbohydrate intake is reduced gradually, so that the body moves progressively from a glucose-based to a fat-based metabolism. In the first days, dependence on sugar and insulin levels are reduced; then glycogen reserves are gradually used up, the use of fatty acids as an energy source is stimulated, and the body enters ketosis quickly once the water fast begins.
Stepping away from everyday life
Fasting is a break from old eating habits and a conventional lifestyle: a kind of reset and an opening towards another way of living and of understanding food and spiritual life. That is why, at the retreat, a certain detachment is needed from everyday life, work obligations, stress, phone use and, above all, the influence of the people around you. Pressure from those around them is a common reason why many people have not yet tried a water-only fast, even though they felt the need.
Conditions, length and costs
- The fast at the monastery lasts 7 actual days with water.
- On days 2 and 9, juices and teas are taken, and on day 10, on departure, a packed meal is provided.
- Throughout the stay, participants are kept away from the kitchen, so as not to stimulate digestion.
- The price of a 10-day retreat starts at 2,400 lei per person. Payment can be made to the association’s account or on arrival.
- An invoice and receipt can be requested.
Other important details
- Only people who are water fasting may attend the retreat. Companions who are not fasting are not accommodated in the same complex.
- In cases of obesity, young people aged 16 to 18 may also be accepted, accompanied by their parents.
- Only registered and accepted participants attend the talks given by Cezar Elisei and/or his guests.
- Several fasting sessions are organised throughout the church year, especially during the fasting periods set by the Church.
Getting there
Neamț Monastery is near the town of Târgu Neamț, in north-eastern Romania. Participants come by car or by public transport to Târgu Neamț. The nearest airports are Suceava and Iași, roughly 1.5–2 hours away by car. For details about the journey and the possibility of travelling together with other participants, call +40 332 802 834.
Book a placeSession calendar
The retreats are held at Neamț Monastery, with the blessing of His Eminence Teofan, Metropolitan of Moldavia and Bukovina. Places are limited, so we recommend registering at least 2–3 months before the period you want.
After the retreat
- After a fast longer than 7 days, it is recommended to take probiotics daily for 30–45 days.
- A weekly enema at home and a colon hydrotherapy session every 6 months are recommended.
- Water fasting can be practised one day a week and for 7 consecutive days every 6 months.
Natural probiotics are beneficial live microorganisms — especially bacteria and yeasts — which, eaten in adequate amounts, can have positive effects on digestive, immune and general health. They are found mainly in traditional fermented foods.
A list of natural probiotics
Sessions 2026 – 2027
We recommend registering at least 2–3 months before the period you want.
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- Session Easter
- Session Easter
- Session Easter
- Session Easter
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This information is updated daily; please check availability by phone.
Book a placeQuestions about the retreat
At Neamț Monastery, Neamț County, Romania, with accommodation in recently renovated rooms at the Saint Paisius Centre.
Would you like to join a fasting retreat?
Fill in the registration questionnaire or call us to talk about the right time for you.