#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.

Virtual Tour

Museum structure

General Director

Eugen SAVA, Doctor Habilitated in Historical Sciences

Education:

• Faculty of History, Moldova State University (1983).
• Institute of the History of Material Culture of the USSR Academy of Sciences, Leningrad/Saint Petersburg (1988) - PhD.
• Moldova State University (2003) - Doctor Habilitated.

- Research field: Prehistoric archaeology in the Eurasian space.
- Corresponding member of the German Archaeological Institute (Deutsches Archäologisches Institut), Berlin (2009).
- Honorary member of the Institute of Archaeology of the Romanian Academy, Iași (2010).

Tel.: +373 (22) 24 43 25
Email: eugen.sava@nationalmuseum.md

Deputy Director for Heritage

Livia ERMURACHI

Education:

• Faculty of History and Ethnopedagogy, "Ion Creangă" State Pedagogical University (2003-2008) - Bachelor's degree.
• Faculty of History and Ethnopedagogy, "Ion Creangă" State Pedagogical University (2008-2010) - Master's degree.

- Research field: Prehistoric archaeology in the Carpathian-Dniester area.
- Corresponding member of the German Archaeological Institute (Deutsches Archäologisches Institut), Berlin (2023).

Tel.: +373 69 570 373
Email: livia.ermurachi@nationalmuseum.md

Deputy Director for Public Relations

Olga ANDRANOVICI

Education:

• Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, "Lucian Blaga" University of Sibiu, Romania (2019-2022) - Bachelor's degree.
• Faculty of History and Philosophy, Moldova State University (2022-2024) - Master's degree.
• Faculty of History, University of Bucharest, Romania (2023-2024) - Master's degree.

- Research field: Industrial cultural heritage.

Tel.:‪+373 67 176 232‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬
E-mail: o.andranovici@nationalmuseum.md

Deputy Director for Administration

Alexandru ARGINT

Education:

• "Alexandru Ioan Cuza" University, Iași, Romania (2004) - Bachelor's degree.
• "Alexandru Ioan Cuza" University, Iași, Romania (2006) - Master's degree.

Tel.: +373 69 206723
Email: alexandru.argint@nationalmuseum.md

Scientific Secretary

Maria ZINOVII, PhD in History

Eduation:

• Faculty of History and Psychology, Moldova State University (2002-2006) - Bachelor's degree.
• Faculty of History and Psychology, Moldova State University (2006-2007) - Master's degree.
• Academy of Public Administration, specialization in Theory and Practice of Public Administration (2016-2018) - Master's degree.
• Doctoral School of Humanities, Moldova State University (2017-2023) - PhD.

- Research field: History of crimes and communist regimes.

Tel.: +373 699 43 038
Email: maria.zinovii@nationalmuseum.md

Chief Accountant

Angela MARCHITAN

Education:

International Institute of Management, Chișinău (2006).

Tel.: +373 (22) 23 82 69
Email: angela.marchitan@nationalmuseum.md

Departments

Heritage Colections Department

Head: Ana Maria RUSNAC

Education:

• Faculty of Social Sciences, "Dimitrie Cantemir" State University (2017-2020) - Bachelor's degree.
• Faculty of International Relations, Political and Administrative Sciences, Moldova State University (2020-2023) - Master's degree.
• Faculty of History and Philosophy, Moldova State University (2022-2024) - Master's degree (2023-2025).

- Research field: Bessarabian personalities of the 20th century.

Tel.: +373 680 94 789
Email: anamaria.rusnac@nationalmuseum.md

Restoration Department

Head: Ecaterina BONDARENCO

Education:

Faculty of History, Moldova State University (1980).

Tel.: +373 (22) 23 82 84
Email: ecaterina.bondarenco@nationalmuseum.md

Public Relations and Museum Education Department

Head: Natalia POPOVICI

Education:

"Ion Creangă" State Pedagogical University (1992).

Tel.: +373 (22) 24 04 26
Email: natalia.popovici@nationalmuseum.md

Exhibitions Department

Head: Victor ŢOI

Education:

Faculty of History, Moldova State University (1983).

Tel.: +373 (22) 24 13 48
Email: victor.toi@nationalmuseum.md

Department of Heritage Digitization and Informatization

Head: Lilia CALUGHIN

Education:

Faculty of Library Science and Bibliography, Moldova State University (1992).

Tel.: +373 (22) 24 36 71
Email: lilia.calughin@nationalmuseum.md

Publications and Editorial Marketing Department

Head: Aurel ZANOCI, PhD in history

Education:

• Faculty of History, Moldova State University (1991).
• Moldova State University (1993-1996) - PhD studies.

- Research field: Prehistoric archaeology in the Carpathian-Dniester area.

Tel.: +373 (22) 23 82 79
Email: aurel.zanoci@nationalmuseum.md

Supervision Department

Head: Eugenia GOLBAN

Education:

• Faculty of History, Moldova State University (1993-1999) - Bachelor's degree.
• Faculty of History and Ethnology, "Ion Creangă" State Pedagogical University, specialization in Historical Heritage and Cultural Tourism (2010-2012) - Master's degree.

Tel.: +373 603 98 995
Email: eugenia.golban@nationalmuseum.md

Library and Scientific Archive Service

Head: Mariana BALAN

Education:

• Faculty of Letters, Moldova State University (1995).
• Faculty of Foreign Languages, Moldova State University (1997).

Tel.: +373 (22) 24 36 69
Email: mariana.balan@nationalmuseum.md

Department of History, Archaeology, and Museology

Head: Gheorghe POSTICĂ, University Professor, Doctor Habilitated in Historical Sciences

Education:

• Faculty of History, Moldova State University (1976) - Bachelor's degree.
• Moscow State University "M. V. Lomonosov" (1988) - PhD.
• Moldova State University (2006) - Doctor Habilitated.

Tel.: +373 68 896 767
Email: gheorghe.postica@nationalmuseum.md

#Exhibit of the Month

Easter-Themed Postcards

Museum structure

#Exhibit of the Month