#Exhibit of the Month

The Chișinău Diocesan Girls' School opened its doors on May 3, 1864, addressing a pressing need: in Bessarabia there were no institutions dedicated to the education of clergy's daughters. According to the 1864 circular, teaching was conducted in the Romanian language, a provision applied throughout the diocese. The school's first headmistress was Anastasia Rizo, of noble origin, invited by Archbishop Antonie.

The curriculum, approved by the Ministry of Public Education and the Chișinău Diocese, combined theoretical subjects with practical training. Students studied religion, reading and writing in Romanian, Slavonic, and Russian, arithmetic and exercises in calculation, world history and geography. The program was complemented by church singing and practical skills such as sewing, embroidery, knitting, as well as household management - baking bread and prosphora, preparing meals and preserves, caring for livestock, and cultivating gardens.

The composite, taken in 1911 at the studio of Z. N. Sumovski in Chișinău, depicts 29 graduates and 13 teachers. At the center are portraits of Bishop Serafim (Ciciagov), headmistress N. R. Mihelson, teacher V. E. Bejerian, and priests F. Ghiliarov and P. Jurikas. Among the teaching staff was Paraskovia Vasilievna Cuciurenko, a calligraphy teacher for 37 years, who in 1911 became senior educator and assistant headmistress. For her dedication, she was awarded the gold medal "For Long Service."

On the reverse of the vignette is a label from the store and workshop of frames, paintings, mirrors, and window glass owned by A. D. Kon'gova, Chișinău, Gogol Street no. 37, near the State Bank.

This graduation composite was donated at the end of 2025 to the National Museum of History of Moldova by the Dadiștian family from Drochia.

Virtual Tour

Exhibitions

“Burning Candela of Faith”

May 16 - September 15, 2015

The Exhibition "Burning Candela of Faith" is organized by the Sector of Medieval History and Numismatics, coordinator A. Chiroșca, for the promotion of the collection of marial icons from the museum's collections. It gathers around 90 icons painted in tempera and oil on wood, which are representative by the multitude of marial types, different styles and painting techniques.

Dated from the end of sixteenth century until mid twentieth century, the icons come from Bessarabia and Russia illustrating famous models - Mother of God of the Three Hands, Mother of God „of the Sign", Mother of God of Vladimir, Mother of God of Kazan, Mother of God of Hârbovăț, and the rare copies - Mother of God „Areovindus", Mother of God „the Three Joys", Mother of God „the Blessed Whomb".

The icons are systematized in several compartments: icons evoking fragments from the life of the Virgin, general types of marial iconography, fragments of iconostases and icons representing churches that they were once part of. In the exhibition were included icons with double painting, with partial painting or on thin layer, also icons stamped on wood and metal.

The exhibition presents as well a series of icons cast in bronze, some gold and silver medallions, cult objects, lampads, candelas and pectoral crosses.

#Exhibit of the Month

Vignette of Graduates and Teachers of the Chișinău Diocesan Girls’ School, 1911

“Burning Candela of Faith”

May 16 - September 15, 2015

#Exhibit of the Month