#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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Events Archive

European Night of Museums 2023

May 13, 2023

At the night of the museums, fashion comes alive!

The National Museum of History of Moldova had the pleasure of hosting one of the most important events in the world museum community - the European Night of Museums, under the banner "At the night of museums, fashion comes to life!". The event, in its 19th edition, was organized on Saturday, May 13, 2023, between 17:00 and 24:00.

During the evening, visitors had the opportunity to participate in various activities and surprises specially prepared for them. The program of the event included free visits to the museum's permanent and temporary exhibitions, the interactive game "Discover me!", worldly animations in the museum's exhibitions, etc. The students of the Center of Excellence in Light Industry organized hair and make-up laboratories, and the International Women's Club of Moldova presented the laboratory "The Enigma of the Indian Sari" and the international parade "Fashion without borders". There were also artistic performances, music and dance recitals performed by the students of the "Eugen Doga" School of Music, the ensemble of guitarists from the class of Professor Nicolae Ceauș of the "Maria Bieșu" School of Music, the students of the Department of Choreographic Art and Motor Performance of the Academy of Music, Theater and Fine Arts, as well as the "Cantabile" Youth Choir of the Academy of Economic Studies from Moldova.

In addition to the activities inside the museum, there were also motorcycle exhibitions in the museum courtyard, the festive recital by the marching band of the "Alexei Stârcea" School of Arts and the presentation of "Guardians of Peace" in which the participants could dress up in medieval armor. The evening was ended in a spectacular way with a fire-show supported by the "Kairos" Club.

The National Museum of History of Moldova thanks everyone who participated in this special event and looks forward to next meetings at our events!

Event partners: Moldovan National Youth Orchestra, 513, "Cantabile" Youth Choir of the Academy of Economic Studies of Moldova, Academy of Music, Theater and Visual Arts (AMTAP), Center of Excellence in Light Industry, International Women's Club of Moldova, "Adam Mickiewicz" Library, "Alexei Stârcea" School of Arts, "Maria Bieșu" School of Music, "Eugen Doga" School of Music, Kairos

General media partner: TVR Moldova

Media partners: Afisha, Diez, TV Moldova 1, Călătorii cu Gust