#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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Summer camp at the museum

August 15-26, 2022

Between August 15-26, 2022, the National Museum of History of Moldova hosted the day camp organized by the "Chabad Lubavitch" Jewish community in partnership with the museum.

The program of the camp was a complex one, based on activities dedicated to the knowledge of Jewish history and traditions, such as workshops, excursions, watching films and other interactive games. The camp was attended by 30 Jewish children from Chisinau and Ukraine, coordinated by educators from Israel.

From the very first day, the children got to know the museum, taking a guided tour of the exhibition halls. They got to know the museum and the history of the Republic of Moldova. Many children visited the museum for the first time, especially refugee children from Ukraine. This was a great opportunity to familiarize themselves with both the host institution and the history of the Republic of Moldova, from ancient times to the present. Also, several workshops offered by the museum guides were organized for them - „History and the Art of Writing" and „Secrets of Prehistoric Ceramics". Thus, the children allowed themselves to be captured by the enigmas of history, learned the secrets of pottery modeling and wrote down their history in ink on parchment at the museum.

For the children it was a real adventure! The parents were also impressed. They thanked the organizers and everyone involved. One of the mothers described the summer camp at the museum as „...a rare combination of a fun and a useful way to end to summer vacation!".

During the 2 weeks, the children learned about their roots, about the country they live in and about the traditions of the Jewish people. The summer camp at the museum ended with a concert for parents, where the children showed what they learned these days, sang songs in Hebrew, read prayers, received gifts from the synagogue and took a group photo, which over the years they will become memorable memories.

The National Museum of History of Moldova is delighted to be the partner of such events and promotes activities aimed at children, because children are the future, and the future must know its history and perpetuate traditions!

#Exhibit of the Month

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

Summer camp at the museum

August 15-26, 2022

#Exhibit of the Month