#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

"Rașcov – Through Centuries and History"

November 22 – December 6, 2024

The National Museum of History of Moldova, in partnership with the Belarusian Cultural Center in Moldova and the Agency for Interethnic Relations, invites you to the opening of the exhibition "Rașcov - Through Centuries and History" on November 22 at 3:00 PM, in the upper-level hall of the museum.

This exhibition offers an artistic and historical perspective on a village located on the banks of the Nistru River, boasting a cultural heritage spanning over 900 years.

The first documented mention of Rașcov dates back to the 14th century, a period when the lands on the left bank of the Nistru were part of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. In 1402, the fortress "Kalaur" was listed among the cities and castles of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, near which the settlement of Rașcov developed. By the 17th century, Rașcov had become an important commercial hub.

Over the centuries, Rașcov witnessed the harmonious coexistence of various ethnic and religious communities, each contributing to the town's economic and cultural development. At different times, Moldovans, Russians, Ukrainians, Jews, Poles, and Armenians called Rașcov home.

The exhibition features the works of artist Veaceslav Ignatenco, a member of the Union of Plastic Artists of Moldova and the Union of Designers of the USSR. Ignatenco, a recipient of the Francis Skaryna Medal (2015) and the honorary title Master of Arts (2019), draws inspiration from Rașcov's landscapes and history. His creations vividly depict the interplay between nature, architecture, and the region's cultural diversity. Each piece reflects the deep connection between humanity and its environment, as well as the indelible mark of history on this unique place.

The works, created by the artist over the years, highlight various significant historical landmarks, such as St. Cajetan Church (1749), one of the oldest Catholic churches in Moldova, The Orthodox Church of the Protection of the Mother of God (1740), The Holy Trinity Church (1779), and the impressive Red Rock, a symbol of the region.

The exhibition "Rașcov - Through Centuries and History" will be open to visitors from November 22 to December 6, 2024, at the National Museum of History of Moldova, Chișinău, 31 August 1989 Street, No. 121A.