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.
Commercial navigation on the Dniester River (1812-1853)
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. II [XVII], nr. 2, Istorie. Muzeologie
The article reveals one of the aspects of our researches regarding the external commerce of Bessarabia between 1812 and 1853. As a result of our endeavors of identification of transportation means of bessarabian commodities to Odessa, the most important seaport of the period, we found it necessary to accentuate our attention on commercial navigation on the Dniester River.
Analyzing archival documents and monographic literature we came to the conclusion that this problem shall be studied many-sided. To make the final conclusion, though, we must consider the aspects in totality. As a result we divided our paper in four parts: Means and conditions of Dniester navigation, Commercial transports on the course of Dniester, Commercial transports on the Dniester estuary, The role of Bessarabia in the commercial navigation of Dniester. Based on our researches, we consider that navigable potential of the Dniester River was utilized in the named period only partially. Most probably this was due to unconcern and mercenary of the Russian government, which ignored any initiatives, because their implementation didn’t promised quick dividends. Thus a vicious circle was formed. On the one hand the navigation on the Dniester River didn’t develop because of unsatisfactory hydrographical conditions, on the other hand the government refused to invest money for their amelioration as the Dniester navigation was too poor compared to other rivers of the Russian Empire.
Andrei Emilciuc
Export of livestock from Bessarabia to the Habsburg Empire (1812-1861)
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. XV [XXX], nr. 2, Istorie. Muzeologie
Andrei Emilciuc
The Medal “For Works on Excellent Performance of General Mobilization in 1914” from the collections of the National Museum of History of Moldova
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. IX [XXIV], nr. 2, Istorie. Muzeologie Chișinău, 2015
Andrei Emilciuc
Organization and functioning of the cordon sanitaire on the Danube borders of the Russian Empire (1812-1856)
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. XVII [XXXII], nr. 2, Istorie. Muzeologie
Andrei Emilciuc
The preoccupations of Bessarabia’s Zemstva regarding the commercial navigation on Dniester River (1869-1914)
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. IV [XIX], nr. 2, Istorie. Muzeologie
Andrei Emilciuc
Entrepreneurial transhumance in Bessarabia (1812-1853)
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. XI [XXVI], nr. 2, Istorie. Muzeologie
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.