#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.

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Exhibitions

“Diplomacy Across Generations. 35 Years of Dialogue, Trust, and Cooperation”

Photography and Archival Documents Exhibition of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

August 25 to September 25, 2026

Thirty five years after the proclamation of independence, the diplomacy of the Republic of Moldova stands as an essential part of its statehood and its affirmation in the world. Over three and a half decades, through dialogue, responsibility, and consistency, the Republic of Moldova has made its voice heard, built partnerships, and transformed international cooperation into a tool for development, security, and the prosperity of its citizens.

From the first steps toward international recognition and the raising of the Moldovan flag at the UN headquarters to the path of European integration, diplomacy has accompanied the country's journey and contributed to its affirmation as an active, responsible, and trustworthy partner.

The exhibition invites the public on a journey through 35 years of diplomacy, through photographs, archival documents, and testimonies that capture moments, decisions, and relationships which have shaped the foreign policy of the Republic of Moldova.

At the heart of this history are people - diplomats, ambassadors, negotiators, and representatives of the country who, across generations, have promoted national interests, built bridges of trust, and opened new avenues of cooperation.

Looking to the past, we celebrate the legacy of Moldovan diplomacy. Looking to the future, we reaffirm the same conviction: dialogue brings us closer, trust unites us, and cooperation opens new paths.

The exhibition "Diplomacy through Generations. 35 Years of Dialogue, Trust and Cooperation" is organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Moldova and hosted by the National Museum of History of Moldova from August 25 to September 25, 2026.