#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 noblewoman Anastasia Dmitrievna Rizo, 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 mental 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 vignette, created in 1911 at the photographic 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. A notable figure is Praskovia 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."
By 1911, the school had 648 students across 17 classes. Its library contained 7,414 volumes, including 3,955 for students and 3,459 for teachers. Graduates, often becoming priests' wives or teachers in rural and urban schools, contributed to spreading faith and moral education, strengthening the cultural and spiritual role of the institution.
On the reverse of the vignette is a label reading: "Store and workshop for frames, paintings, mirrors, and window glass, A. D. Kon'gova, Chișinău, Gogol Street no. 37, next to the State Bank."
This unique vignette 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

„Valeriu Gagiu. The man and his work”

March 18 - May 5, 2014

The exhibition „Valeriu Gagiu. The man and his work" is part of a new cycle of cultural and scientific events - a project with the generic „Personalities of the 20th century" initiated by the NMHM having as objective the valorization and promotion of the achievements of notorious personalities of national culture and science.

Commemorative exhibition „Valeriu Gagiu. The man and his work”

The exhibition displays over 150 photographs, documents, state distinctions, toffees which were awarded to V. Gagiu at different international competitions and festivals, personal objects, film posters etc. - relics that reflect the life and work of the renowned scenarist and film director.

Different compartment of the exhibition shows us the years of studies, professional activity, social activity and private life of V. Gagiu.

The photos represent fascinating fragments from the most valuable cinema projections realized by the late scenarist and film director, such as: Omul merge după soare (The man follows the sun), Când pleacă cocorii (When cranes are leaving), Gustul pâinii (The taste of bread), Zece ierni pe-o vară (Ten winters for one summer), Corbii prada n-o împart (The crows don't share the pray), Unde ești, dragoste (Where are you, love), Deținutul misterios (The mysterious prisoner), Ultimul haiduc (The last haiduc) etc. They also offer an opportunity to meet with the great actors who featured in Valeriu Gagiu's movies: Grigore Grigoriu, Dumitru Fusu, Valeriu Cupcea, Vasile Zubcu, Marica Bălan, Gheorghe Grâu, Natalia Saico, Larisa Lujina, Anatol Papanov, Valeriu Gataev, Nicolae Gubenco, Larisa Guzeeva etc.

Among the many valuable objects displayed in the exhibition some have a particular sentimental value.

This is an image of V. Gagiu near the bust of Nicolae Iorga, the place where once was the Sanatorium - Maternity of doctor Rudolf Kurtz, where on May 1st, 1938 was born the future scenarist and film director.

This is a calendar with a fragment from the movie „Omul merge după soare" (The man follows the sun) with which V. Gagiu made his debut in 1961 at „Moldova-film" Studio as a scenarist.

The typewriting machine „Colibri" is another special memorial object which was used by V. Gagiu to write his first scenarios and which has been confiscated in 1971 by the KGB the during the search conducted at home.

The exhibition „Valeriu Gagiu. The man and his work" is organized by the National Museum of History of Moldova in collaboration with the Cinematographers Union of the Republic of Moldova.

#Exhibit of the Month

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

„Valeriu Gagiu. The man and his work”

March 18 - May 5, 2014

#Exhibit of the Month