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.
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. I [XVI], nr. 2, Istorie. Muzeologie Chișinău, 2007
The present article offers a history of construction of St. George’s church in Chișinău in 1814-1819 on the basis of archive sources and historiography. From the very beginning this church was connected with many Chișinău figures. The church was erected in the advanced style of the Moldovan medieval churches with the help of Stavrache Costin, a former archpriest of Orhei and the architect Ion Zaiciuc from Bucovina. The architectural constituents of the monument are analyzed on the basis of the planimetric reproduction and visual observations. According to the author, St. George’s church is one of the most important architectural achievements of the 19th century in Chisinau, which developed architectural tradition of the Moldovan principality after the annexation of Bessarabia by the tsarist Russia.
Vlad D. Ghimpu
Les contacts et les relations entre les Roumains et les Russes kiéviens aux IX-ième et X-ième siècles
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. II [XVII], nr. 2, Istorie. Muzeologie
Vlad D. Ghimpu
Romanian mentions in North-Western Russia in the 11th-16th centuries (preliminary research)
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. IV [XIX], nr. 2, Istorie. Muzeologie
Vlad D. Ghimpu
Canonical rules and the actual orientation of altars in early Christian churches. Ancient and early medieval places of worship in Romanian lands
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. XII [XXVII], nr. 1, Arheologie. Istorie Antică
Vlad D. Ghimpu
What was the original structural plan of the Church of the Assumption of Our Lady in the Căpriana Monastery?)
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. VII [XXII], nr. 2, Istorie. Muzeologie
Vlad D. Ghimpu
Basarabi-Murfatlar and Corbii de Piatră – about the Crimean influence on the architecture of the Romanian churches of the early Middle Ages
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. XI [XXVI], nr. 1, Arheologie. Istorie Antică
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 National Museum of History of Moldova takes place among the most significant museum institutions of the Republic of Moldova, in terms of both its collection and scientific reputation.
The National Museum of History of Moldova takes place among the most significant museum institutions of the Republic of Moldova, in terms of both its collection and scientific reputation.
The National Museum of History of Moldova takes place among the most significant museum institutions of the Republic of Moldova, in terms of both its collection and scientific reputation.