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.
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. X [XXV], nr. 1, Arheologie. Istorie Antică
Keywords: history of archaeology, MSSR, Echimăuți, Gradiște, Ofatinți, Saharna.
Abstract: For several decades after the Second World War the problem of the history of archaeological research is constantly present in the special studies. However, a comprehensive analysis of the history of archeology in the Prut-Dniester space for a long time was not performed. The first work devoted to studies of ancient history and archeology in the period between 1715 and 1945 was carried out by N. Chetraru.
The light on the events that took place in the MSSR after the Second World War is shed due to the documents stored in the archives of the Republic of Moldova. In this paper there are presented two important documents: the first one regarding the reforming of the Moldavian Institute of History, Economics, Language and Literature with the creation of a sub-department for History and Archaeology, dated December, 17 1945; the second one is the decision of the Council of People's Commissars of the Moldavian SSR from December 21, 1945 "On preparation for archaeological research on the territory of the Moldavian SSR in 1946".
According to the latter document, for 1946 the holding of two archaeological investigations along the course of the Middle Dniester and the exploration of seven archaeological sites were planned. Towards this, a well developed budget was proposed, providing tools, instruments and supplies, as well as the creation of a photographic cabinet and its supplying with all the necessary equipment. In the first stage experts from scientific centers of the USSR had to be invited, and then the Institute should prepare local professionals.
Several reports from the archive of the National Museum of History of Moldova on the excavations carried out in 1946 bring more detail on the implementation of the decisions of the December 1945. Archaeological research in 1946 began only on June 30 instead of the planned May 1. Of the nine planned works (2 archaeological reconnaisance and excavations at 7 archaeological sites), two archaeological reconnaissance were produced on a modified route and only one tumulus was investigated instead of three as planned. However, the same year several unplanned investigations were carried out. In 1946 field investigations were conducted by experts from the Institute of Archaeology of the Academy of Sciences of the Ukrainian SSR, and only since 1947 archaeological excavations in MSSR were conducted by researchers from Moscow.
List of illustrations: Fig. 1. Research planned for 1946. Fig. 2. Research on the Gradiște, from left to right: D.T. Berezovec, I.F. Mester (?) și T.G. Oboldueva (Оболдуева 1946). Fig. 3. Research on the Gradiște. The heads of the survey and the employees. (Оболдуева 1946). Fig. 4. Research carried out in 1946.
Sergiu Matveev, Ana Boldureanu
A bronze Macedonian coin from the village of Tudora (Ştefan Vodă District)
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. XII [XXVII], nr. 1, Arheologie. Istorie Antică
Sergiu Matveev
The reflection of the ethno-cultural processes from the 2nd-14th centuries between Prut and Nistru in the soviet ethno-folck studies
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. I [XVI], nr. 2, Istorie. Muzeologie Chișinău, 2007
Sergiu Matveev
Andrea Popa, Managementul integrat al patrimoniului mondial în România. Studiu de caz: Frontiera romană în Dacia. Siturile de epocă romană de la Breţcu, Comolău şi Boroşneu Mare. Sibiu: Astra Museum, 2023, 279 p. ISBN 978-606-733-361-9
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. XVIII [XXXIII], nr. 1, Arheologie. Istorie Antică
Ion Niculiță, Aurel Zanoci, Mihail Băț, Sergiu Matveev
Archaeological research on the site of Saharna Mare (2009-2012) (II)
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. VII [XXII], nr. 1, Arheologie. Istorie Antică
Sergiu Matveev
Profesorul Ion Niculiţă la 80 de ani
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. XIII [XXVIII], nr. 1, Arheologie. Istorie Antică
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.
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31 August 1989 St., 121 A, MD 2012, Chisinau, Republic of Moldova
