Schitul Băița

In the Metaliferi Mountains, between Deva and Brad, there is a land where natural beauty contrasts sharply with the industrial footprint of the cement factory in Chișcădaga. For almost half a century, this factory has covered the places with ash, affecting people's homes and health, but not their souls. The locals, accustomed to hardships, have preserved their faith, praying in churches and finding solace in spirituality. Among these places, the Băița Monastery stands out, located on the edge of a forest, in a wonderful landscape, like a bride waiting to meet her groom.

The monastery's location is loaded with symbolism and legend. It is told of a little girl who, after having a dream in which the Mother of God appeared to her, left the clearing where she was playing and never returned. The Mother of God had asked her, in a dream, that that clearing be respected, as it was Her home. This dream was taken seriously by the community, and the monastery’s patron saint became “The Covering of the Mother of God”.

The Băița Monastery was built in 2005, in just four months, on the initiative of a businessman from Deva. At first, it was supported by a small number of monks and priests, and the monastic community gradually stabilized. The abbess of the monastery, Mother Nectaria, speaks about the importance of prayer in everyday life, considering it the foundation of any fulfillment. She firmly believes that if man does the things of the soul, God will take care of the things of the body. Although the administrative problems are great, she does not let herself be overwhelmed, having the conviction that God works in favor of those who pray.

In the church, the painting is still in progress. For now, only the icon of the Annunciation is placed on the wall, but the rest of the saints are expected to be painted and enliven the interior. Nevertheless, the monastery attracts many believers from different corners of Transylvania, who seek peace of mind. Mother Nectaria believes that this is one of the fundamental roles of monasteries today: to offer peace and rest to the weary souls of people.

Mother Nectaria grew up in Mărginimea Sibiului, in Jina, where she was educated in the spirit of faith by her grandmother, a pious woman who respected all the fasts, despite her frail nature. Her grandmother personally knew Father Arsenie Boca and witnessed some events that she perceived as miraculous. This connection with Father Arsenie profoundly influenced Mother Nectaria's spiritual path.

In 2019, she and eleven other nuns were ordained by God to settle at the Băița Monastery, after spending the first years of their monastic life in Banat. Here, she feels a special peace, and the local community is much closer to the church than in other regions. She says that when she left Banat, she did not think that she was leaving her family far away, but that she was moving away from Father Arsenie – but God ordained that the new monastery be close to Prislop.

Referring to the Orthodox fast, Mother Nectaria emphasizes that its difficulty comes from the lack of habit and models. She believes that fasting is essential for cleansing from passions and strengthening the will. Fasting is not just about abstaining from food, but about sincerely drawing closer to God, about prayer and about fighting personal weaknesses, which become more evident during the fast.

Father Teodor Hotea, the confessor and priest of the monastery, originally from the Jiu Valley, followed a unique spiritual path. Although he initially attended a technical faculty, his calling to monastic life was strong. After becoming a monk, he sought fulfillment in several monasteries, including Mount Athos. The experience there marked him deeply, offering him a model of simplicity and authentic living. Returning to the country, he was sent by Bishop Gurie to the Băița Monastery, where he continued to spiritually guide the community and the faithful who come for confession and prayer.

Father Hotea draws attention to the fact that peace and hope come only from God and that only through a pure heart can we receive this peace. In turbulent times, such as the context of the war in Ukraine, he emphasizes that the only antidote to fear is closeness to God, and monasteries offer precisely this spiritual refuge.

Sursa: www.formula-as.ro