We find ourselves in the month of April, as we prepare to celebrate Easter-a moveable religious holiday rich in festive rituals and ceremonial activities that place this event at the very heart of Christian spiritual life. The spirit of the Resurrection is beautifully complemented by ten Easter-themed postcards from the heritage of the National Museum of History of Moldova, printed a century ago. These pieces were added to the museum's postcard collection over a decade ago following a successful acquisition; as the fund for Easter-themed illustrations is modest, we are in a constant search for new additions.
These postcards are "extraordinary" in terms of their postal, typographical, and chromatic effects-the primary reason for revisiting this genre of greetings. Unlike "classic" postcards, these are smaller in size (6.5 cm x 11 cm), made of cardboard (with the exception of one piece made of photographic paper in black and white), and feature "vivid" colors. Printed in Romania and Germany, they bear the marks of having been sent and circulated through the post.
The name of the holiday originates from the verb persach, meaning "to pass," a term adopted by the Jews from the Egyptians. It entered the Romanian language through the Byzantine-Latin form Paschae, signifying the "passage through death to life, the victory of life, and liberation from the bondage of sin." Easter is a holiday of tolerance and forgiveness, representing a bridge between the present and the past. The significance of this celebration is conveyed through its symbols, which are also featured on these postcards: Hand-painted eggs, the Easter Bunny and the Lamb, traditional sweet breads (cozonac and pască), biblical scenes related to the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
The Easter table also features pască-a ritual food reminiscent of ancient, bloodless "reconciliation" sacrifices. Its preparation is the exclusive task of women, the givers of life, as the leavened dough is considered "alive."
The most significant component of the Easter holiday, however, is the Light. The Ceremony of the Holy Light is associated with the miracle of the light appearing on Easter Sunday at Christ's Tomb in Jerusalem. The candle, often depicted in these images, carries a powerful message; it is with the Resurrection candle that we return home after the midnight religious service. Furthermore, the Easter Bunny represents the rebirth of nature, so eagerly awaited after a harsh winter.
Unlike Christmas, when the announcement and ritual integration of the community into sacred time was the duty of caroling groups, at Easter, "one does not go from house to house." Instead, the ritual meal is organized within each family, symbolizing a direct communion with God.
School of exact science activity in Chișinău in period of 1873-1918
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. IV [XIX], nr. 2, Istorie. Muzeologie
In Russian system of education schools of exact science were founded in 1872 as a result of lyceums of exact science abolition. These lyceums had 6-7 years of schooling. In high schools there were taught applied (sciences) subjects. Senior classes graduates of these educational institutions continued their education at technical, business and industrial high schools (colleges). They could not continue their education at universities. From 1888 schools of exact science were reorganized into comprehensive schools. The graduates could continue their education at universities, but only at the department of mathematics, physics and medicine.
Archive records give us the possibility to follow the school of exact science development in Chișinău from its foundation till the first decade of the 20th century. The school of exact science was opened the 6th of December 1873 in Chișinău. At the moment of its opening the school had three forms (3rd, 4th, 5th). During the following two years there were also opened two senior classes. During the school year of 1885/86, thanks to a tutor’s application of Odessa district of education, there were opened the 1st and the 2nd forms, but in 1888 there was opened the 7th form with technical-mechanic specialization. Besides this class the school of exact science had also the classes of physics, chemistry, metrology, natural sciences, history, geography, etc. Maintenance of this educational institution was realized from money of state budget, of Bessarabian zemstvo, of town council and from money saved up for the process of education (annual payment for the education was 50 rubles, it proves that not all the social classes could afford their children study at these educational institutions). As a result of archive source analysis we can observe that at the moment of these educational institutions opening the contingent of pupils was composed from 101 children, in 1883 – 160 children, and in 1918 – 312 children. Thus we can observe that the number of pupils was always in growth. Although the information concerning the activity of this educational institution, placed in the fund of National Archives of the Republic of Moldova, does not give the possibility to follow the ethnic structure of the pupils’ contingent, researching their religious appearance, however we can observe the predominance of the Orthodox and a number more or less constant (ca 15%) of the Jews (as for example: in 1893, from the total number of 229 pupils, 171 (74,7%) were the Orthodox, 13 (5,7%) – the Catholics, 8 (3,5%) – the Protestants, 3 (1,3%) – belonged to other religious communions and 34 (14,8%) – the Jews), which shows us the diversity of the ethnic colour. The sources of archives analysis allows us to conclude that the biggest part of children that studied at this educational institution were the children of noblemen (the fact that testifies its predominance), of small bourgeoisie (townsmen) and only partially of children that came from the countryside.
Tatiana Chicaroș
L’évolution de l’enseignement de lycée en Bessarabie sous la domination tsariste (1833-1917)
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. II [XVII], nr. 2, Istorie. Muzeologie
Tatiana Chicaroș
Development of secondary education in Bessarabia in 1833-1871
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. VIII [XXIII], nr. 2, Istorie. Muzeologie
Tatiana Chicaroș
The role of Bessarabian private schools in the educational system of the Russian Empire in the second half of the 19th - early 20th century
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. VI [XXI], nr. 2, Istorie. Muzeologie
Tatiana Chicaroș
Some considerations on the evolution of secular and religious education in Bessarabia in the 19th century - beginning of the 20th century
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. III [XVIII], nr. 2, Istorie. Muzeologie
Tatiana Chicaroș
From the history of a private school for girls in Bălți
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. VII [XXII], nr. 2, Istorie. Muzeologie
We find ourselves in the month of April, as we prepare to celebrate Easter-a moveable religious holiday rich in festive rituals and ceremonial activities that place this event at the very heart of Christian spiritual life...
The National Museum of History of Moldova takes place among the most significant museum institutions of the Republic of Moldova, in terms of both its collection and scientific reputation.
The National Museum of History of Moldova takes place among the most significant museum institutions of the Republic of Moldova, in terms of both its collection and scientific reputation.
The National Museum of History of Moldova takes place among the most significant museum institutions of the Republic of Moldova, in terms of both its collection and scientific reputation.
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31 August 1989 St., 121 A, MD 2012, Chisinau, Republic of Moldova
