#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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Events Archive

The event „Discover Children’s dream planet with Spiridon Vangheli”

June 1st, 2015

For the celebration of the International Children's Day on June 1st, the National Museum of History of Moldova organized in collaboration with Culture Department of Chișinău municipality an event with the generic „Discover Children's dream planet with Spiridon Vangheli". The event was attended by children with parents, grandparents and educators from Chișinău and different rural areas of the republic.

During the event, composer Constantin Rusnac performed at the piano a few songs for children and Nicoleta Arhiriuc, pupil in the 4th grade at the Theoretical lyceum „Ion Creangă", recited poetry.

The key moment of the action was the presence among the children of the famous writer Spiridon Vangheli who told stories about his collaboration with Grigore Vieru in developing the ABC and writing the book „The reign of Ciuboțel", read stories about Guguță and fragments from the ABC, spoke with the children and gave autographs. The writer expressed his satisfaction that the event offered him once again the opportunity to be in the world of childhood, together with his readers.

A contest was organized as part of the event - „Letter to Guguță" - with money awards and books offered by Culture Department. This contest was aimed at nurturing children's interest and knowledge of cultural identity values of Republic of Moldova, for the artistic creation of the writer Spiridon Vangheli, for the knowledge of Romanian language. Children wrote letters to Guguță, the most interesting ones being read loud by moderator Lucia Culev, the head of Culture Department.

Incentive awards for participation at the contest were offered to children aged 6 to 13 years, including: Ștefan Bîrlădeanu, Alina Staver, Cristian Suhodaru, Grigore Ciobanu, Iulian Ciobanu, Serghei and Dumitraș Frunză, Andreea and Teodor Durnea, Daniel Cuciuc, Adrian Popescu, Igor Ciubuc, Valeria Tabac etc. For the most beautiful letters Gheorghe Zavtoni, from Ratuș village, Criuleni district, was awarded the 3rd award (100 lei) and to Cătălina Cazacu, from Tîrnova village, Dondușeni district, the 2nd award (200 lei). Spiridon Vangheli congratulated, in his turn, all the participants at the contest, bestowing books with his autographs, hugs and words of praise.