1000 km Walking Pilgrimage
A historic pilgrimage, without an echo? A culture of food or of survival?
In May, the Sibiu newspaper Tribuna reported on the pilgrimage without food that passed through Sibiu – a great challenge for the group led by the Iași journalist Cezar Elisei, president of the Therapeutic Fasting Association.
Few publications reported on the group that set out from Iași and walked 1,050 km – in 25 days, with water only, more than a million steps – a historic achievement, without seeking any public recognition.
Read the full article (Romanian)
Sibiu, a stage of a 1,000 km pilgrimage without food! An unofficial world record
On the feast of Saints Constantine and Helen, Sibiu was a stopping place for a unique pilgrimage. On 7 May, a group of pilgrims – led by the Iași writer and publisher Cezar Elisei (40), president of the Therapeutic Fasting Association – set out on the route Iași, Vatra Dornei, Bistrița, Cluj, Alba Iulia, Sibiu; so far they have walked 570 km without food, drinking only water! Covering about 40 km a day (an average of 50,000 steps a day), the group of five stops every 7 km, their only intake being water (about 3–4 litres a day).
The heroes of the pilgrimage are Cezar Elisei – group leader, Florina Kristo (retired accountant, Brașov, 69), Vasile Bârzu (retired master mechanic, Galați, 67), Iulian Crăciun (former officer, Giurgiu, 47) and Ion Gabriel Joița (tourism worker, Vâlcea, 47). Medical assistance is provided by Ștefan Petrea (massage therapist) and Gabriel Calistru (the association’s secretary), in a rented motorhome.
Read the full article (Romanian)A million steps for God
A walking pilgrimage of over 1,000 km without food
“But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.”Isaiah 40:31
In 2020, Cezar Elisei, president of the Therapeutic Fasting Association (APT), walked 420 km between Iași and Constanța, drinking only water, without food. For 9 days he walked along public roads to promote therapeutic fasting and to show that people are capable of remarkable physical and spiritual achievements when they discipline their will.
The experience showed that profound changes can take place during a fast:
- the will grows stronger
- the ability to go beyond one’s limits increases
- mental strength intensifies
- optimism appears
- concentration and clarity of thought improve
At the same time, fasting brings a person closer to God, and this spiritual relationship becomes a source of strength for overcoming life’s difficulties.
Therapeutic fasting relieves or treats many conditions. The will grows stronger, along with the ability to overcome any barrier; mental strength increases, and optimism, concentration and mental clarity appear. During a fast, a person draws closer to God and, through this relationship, finds the resources to solve any problem set before them.
Iași – Constanța, Cezar Elisei, without food, with water only.
Iași – Vatra Dornei – Bistrița – Cluj – Alba Iulia – Sibiu and beyond: a group of five pilgrims, with water only, over a million steps.
A new pilgrimage, together with a group of fasters.
“Two million steps for God and for people’s health”, 16 April – 25 May 2026.
Read more →A new challenge: 1,000 km without food
“Take one step towards God and He will take ten steps towards you.” — Tito Colliander
A special new event took place in May, when the Therapeutic Fasting Association organised a walking pilgrimage of over 1,000 km, without food, with water only.
Start: 7 May, 8:30 – Bucium Monastery, Iași. Over 23 days, until 29 May, a group of participants crossed the country on foot along the route:
- Iași
- Vatra Dornei
- Cluj
- Alba Iulia
- Curtea de Argeș
- Câmpulung Muscel
- Brașov
- Bucharest
The total route is about 1,020 km, the equivalent of more than a million steps.
The purpose of the pilgrimage
The pilgrimage has several spiritual and social aims:
- promoting water-only therapeutic fasting
- prayer for peace in the region
- raising public awareness of the value of sacrifice and spiritual discipline
- supporting the project to set up a therapeutic fasting recovery clinic
The participants wish to offer this experience as a personal sacrifice to God, for the good of people and for the relief of physical and spiritual suffering.
Cezar Elisei said: “We have nothing that we can truly sacrifice to God, because everything we have was received from those who came before us. The only real sacrifice is the sacrifice of our time and our will. Through this pilgrimage we want to ask God’s mercy for our country, that He may protect us from war and from all evil, and to draw attention to the power of water fasting.”
According to the participants’ experience, water-only fasting can help relieve many conditions and regenerate the body, and is beneficial for problems such as:
- digestive conditions
- skin problems
- joint recovery
- some respiratory or metabolic conditions
Previous experiences
This is not Cezar Elisei’s first experience of this kind. In 2020 he walked from Iași to Constanța (420 km) in 9 days, also without food.
After that journey, hundreds of people across the country began to learn about therapeutic fasting and its role in improving health and spiritual life.
A biblical inspiration
The organisers recall the biblical episode from the Book of Jonah, when the people of Nineveh turned to God through repentance and fasting, and the city was spared.
The participants hope that their sacrifice will bring good into the world and give people hope in difficult times.
An exceptional physical and spiritual effort
The pilgrimage is a major challenge. The participants prepared for a long time. It is estimated that over the 23 days each participant could lose up to 20 kg, because of the physical effort and the lack of food.
For their safety, the group is monitored at all times by a doctor and a massage therapist.
Similar journeys around the world
Similar undertakings have rarely taken place: in Sweden, a group of 11 doctors walked 540 km to promote water fasting; in France, a group of participants walked for 14 days on a similar pilgrimage.
Even so, the pilgrimage organised in Romania is considered one of the largest of its kind.
Participants’ testimonials
“I was impressed by the experience described in the book “Diary of a 40-day Therapeutic Water Fast”. For years I tried to fast and found it hard. Cezar’s experience showed me that fasting can be kept in a pleasant way and that it can have beneficial effects on health.”
“I am taking part for my health, for the forgiveness of sins and as a sacrifice for our country, for peace and for an end to the war.”
“I want these ideas and therapies to become known and to show the world the blessed effects of fasting on body and soul.”
The testimonials are personal experiences and do not replace medical advice.
The final programme of the pilgrimage
Start: 7 May – Bucium Monastery, Iași
Finish: 29 May – the People’s Salvation Cathedral, Bucharest
On arrival in Bucharest, the participants were welcomed by Father Ciprian Grădinaru for a prayer of thanksgiving. On 30 May there was a meeting with people interested in therapeutic fasting.
The launch of the APT website
On this occasion, the website of the Therapeutic Fasting Association, asociatiapostului.ro, was also launched, with information about the association’s work, indications and contraindications for water fasting and ways to support APT’s projects.
Images from the pilgrimage are published on the YouTube channel Cezar Elisei – Therapeutic water fasting.
A request to the faithful
The organisers invite all Christians to support the undertaking through prayer, fasting (at least one day) and moral or material support.
How you can take part or help
- Joining part of the pilgrimage (one day or a stretch of about 50 km)
- Fasting or praying for the success of the undertaking
- Financial support for the organisation and for the future therapeutic fasting clinic
APT phone: +40 332 802 834 · Email: tabaradepost@gmail.com
Accounts for donations
Asociația Postului Terapeutic – Raiffeisen Bank
Would you like to join a fasting retreat?
Fill in the registration questionnaire or call us to talk about the right time for you.