The Church of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul in Borca

The Church of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul in Borca is the place of worship of the local parish, situated in the commune of Borca, in the northern part of Neamț County, along the Valea Bistriței, in the mountainous region near the Ceahlău massif. The parish belongs to the Ceahlău Deanery, within the Archdiocese of Iași (the Metropolis of Moldavia and Bukovina), and its patron feast is the Feast of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul, celebrated on 29 June. The locality of Borca was first documented in the second half of the 16th century, its name being linked, according to tradition, to the mineral water springs in the area. At the beginning of the 19th century, the villages of Borca, Poiana, and Soci had not yet been organised as an independent parish, due to the small number of faithful, and services were held on a temporary basis by priests from Mănăstirea Slatina, on whose estate the settlements were located. Over time, as the community grew, the parish was established and built its own place of worship. The church is situated in an area of outstanding natural beauty, characteristic of the Eastern Carpathians, near the largest reservoir on a river in Romania — Lacul Izvorul Muntelui (Bicaz) — and the many tourist attractions in the Ceahlău area, serving as a spiritual landmark for the community of the Valea Bistriței.