#Exhibit of the Month

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.

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Scientific-practical conference "Results of archaeological research carried out at the site of mass repressions during the Great Terror (1937-1938) in Tiraspol"

December 18, 2024

On December 18, 2024, in the Blue Hall of the National Museum of History of Moldova, the scientific-practical conference "Results of archaeological research carried out at the site of mass repressions during the Great Terror (1937-1938) in Tiraspol" took place, an event organized in partnership with the Association of Former Deportees and Political Detainees from the Republic of Moldova, the Institute of History of the State University of Moldova, the Museum of History of the Avdarma Village of the ATU Gagauzia, and the Public Association Center of Excellence Institute Pro Memoria, with the support of the Program EU4Dialogue Project, Component 1 of the European Commission.

The conference brought together about 50 participants, including historians, archaeologists, museographers, university professors, history teachers, students, representatives of civil society and the mass media.

The conference proceedings were preceded by a meeting of univ. prof., dr. hab. Eugen Sava, General Director of the National Museum of History of Moldova with the team of archaeologists who carried out the research work at the site of mass repressions, dated to the period of the Great Terror of 1937-1938 in the Moldavian ASSR. During the discussion, the mutual openness regarding the scientific and museum valorization of the recorded results was mentioned.

The scientific-practical conference was inaugurated by speeches from the organizers and partners of the project. The Head of the Museum of Victims of Deportations and Political Repressions - NMHM branch, Associate Professor, dr. Ludmila Cojocaru noted the international value of the archaeological results from the site of mass executions in Tiraspol for elucidating the totalitarian phenomenon. The President of the Association of Former Deportees and Political Detainees, Alexandru Postica referred to the importance of disseminating these results, especially in the framework of teaching the optional course "The Totalitarian-Communist Regime: Repressions and the Resistance Movement" approved by the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Moldova this year. The Coordinator of the Program EU4Dialogue Project in the Republic of Moldova, Ana Moghilda, reiterated the opening of European funds to build a culture of memory in the society of the Republic of Moldova. The founder of the History Museum of the village of Avdarma in the ATU Gagauzia, Ignat Cazmalî, mentioned the importance of studying the history and memory of the victims of the totalitarian-communist regime and the need to transmit this knowledge to the next generations.

The team of archaeologists coordinated by Igor Cetvericov, together with Rodion Romanov and Alexandr Antropov presented the results of archaeological research carried out at the site of mass executions during the Great Terror (1937-1938) in the Moldavian ASSR, in the mass graves on the territory of the "Vladimir" Bastion in Tiraspol. Of the 60 graves discovered by archaeologists, 47 were chronologically dated, and the corroboration of archival documents from the Great Terror period with the results of the archaeological research carried out allowed the identification of the names of 4,185 victims out of the total number of 4,515 (or 4,561) victims, whose remains were discovered and unburied during the period 1991-2023.

The discussions held on the results presented by the team of researchers revealed the importance to know the crimes of the totalitarian-communist regime during the Moldavian ASSR and to assume responsibility for not allowing the repetition of these crimes in the future.