#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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Event honoring the cultural worker Ion Ungureanu

August 2nd, 2017

On August 2, in the Blue Hall of the National Museum of History of Moldova, was held an event to homage actor and director, Ion Ungureanu, deputy in the First Parliament of the Republic of Moldova, minister of culture in 1990-1994, People's Artist, Laureate of the National Award. The event was organized by the Department of Culture of Chișinău City Hall, in collaboration with the National Museum of History of Moldova, on the day when the renowned cultural worker would have turned 82 years old.

The program of the event included: the release of the CD „Cine m-a strigat" (Who called me?) - poems by Grigore Vieru in Ion Ungureanu's reading; musical recital performed by soprano Mariana Bulicanu (National Opera) and violinist Ionel Manciu (Guildhall Music Academy, London), accompanied by Rodica Caraulan.

The emotions during the show were most intense, and the ceremony enjoyed the presence of numerous audiences: cultural workers, writers, actors, colleagues and disciples of Ion Ungureanu.

Ion Ungureanu was born on August 2, 1935. In 1960 he graduated from "B. Scyukin" Theater School in Moscow. He was one of the founders of the "Luceafărul" Theater and director of this institution in its golden years, he promoted the national language and culture, actors, playwrights, composers and plastic artists from Moldova. Under accusations of "nationalism", he had to leave Chișinău and move to Moscow. He returned to Chișinău in the years of national rebirth, he was deputy in the first Parliament and the person who read the Declaration of Independence of the Republic of Moldova on 27 August 1991 in the Great National Assembly Square.

As Minister of Culture, during the period 1990-1994, Ion Ungureanu contributed to the awakening of the national consciences, relocation the statue of ruler Ştefan cel Mare it the original place, installation the monument of the Wolf-bearer in front of the National Museum of History of Moldova, renaming of the National Theater to "Mihai Eminescu", contribution to the opening of "Eugen Ionesco" Theater, Poetic theater "A. Mateevici", "Ciprian Porumbescu" High School, expanding the Alley of Classics and much more.

Ion Ungureanu died on January 28, 2017.

#Exhibit of the Month

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

Event honoring the cultural worker Ion Ungureanu

August 2nd, 2017

#Exhibit of the Month