Stephen the Great Monument
Encyclopedia
The Stephen the Great Monument is a prominent monument
in Chişinău
, Moldova
.
The monument to Stephen the Great was designed by architect Alexandru Plămădeală
in 1923. It was erected near the main entrance of the Stephen the Great Park
in Downtown Chişinău
. The monument was completed in 1927 and opened on 29 April, 1928 (to replace the monument to Alexander II of Russia
, destroyed by the Romanian authorities in 1918), marking the 470th birthday of Stephen the Great. The total cost of the monument was 4.000.000 lei
.
A few days before 1940 Soviet occupation of Bessarabia and Northern Bukovina, the monument was relocated to Vaslui
, and its pedestal was blown up by the Soviet troops. On August 25, 1942, the monument was returned to Chişinău
and taken back to Romania
in 1944. In 1945, the Soviet authorities ordered the restoration of the monument to Chişinău.
On 31 August 1989 the monument to Stephen the Great was returned to its original location, chosen by Alexandru Plămădeală in the 1920s
. The initial inscriptions were restored. Flower-laying ceremonies are regularly performed at the pedestal of this monument on each national holiday and on days of official top and high level visits.
Monument
A monument is a type of structure either explicitly created to commemorate a person or important event or which has become important to a social group as a part of their remembrance of historic times or cultural heritage, or simply as an example of historic architecture...
in Chişinău
Chisinau
Chișinău is the capital and largest municipality of Moldova. It is also its main industrial and commercial centre and is located in the middle of the country, on the river Bîc...
, Moldova
Moldova
Moldova , officially the Republic of Moldova is a landlocked state in Eastern Europe, located between Romania to the West and Ukraine to the North, East and South. It declared itself an independent state with the same boundaries as the preceding Moldavian Soviet Socialist Republic in 1991, as part...
.
The monument to Stephen the Great was designed by architect Alexandru Plămădeală
Alexandru Plamadeala
Alexandru Plamădeală was a Moldovan sculptor. He was the artist responsible for the creation of the Stephen the Great Monument in Chişinău .He graduated from the Moscow School of Painting, Sculpture and Architecture....
in 1923. It was erected near the main entrance of the Stephen the Great Park
Ştefan cel Mare Central Park
Ştefan cel Mare Central Park is the main park in Downtown Chişinău, Moldova. Formerly known as Pushkin Park, it is the oldest park in Moldova and spans about . It has gained the nickname "The Park of the Lovers" in Chişinău due to its popularity as a meeting spot for couples...
in Downtown Chişinău
Downtown Chişinău
Central or Downtown Chişinău is the central business district of Chişinău, Moldova.- Overview :In central Chişinău are located the major governmental and business institutions of Moldova:*The Parliament*Government building*Presidential palace...
. The monument was completed in 1927 and opened on 29 April, 1928 (to replace the monument to Alexander II of Russia
Alexander II of Russia
Alexander II , also known as Alexander the Liberator was the Emperor of the Russian Empire from 3 March 1855 until his assassination in 1881...
, destroyed by the Romanian authorities in 1918), marking the 470th birthday of Stephen the Great. The total cost of the monument was 4.000.000 lei
Romanian leu
The leu is the currency of Romania. It is subdivided into 100 bani . The name of the currency means "lion". On 1 July 2005, Romania underwent a currency reform, switching from the previous leu to a new leu . 1 RON is equal to 10,000 ROL...
.
A few days before 1940 Soviet occupation of Bessarabia and Northern Bukovina, the monument was relocated to Vaslui
Vaslui
Vaslui , a city in eastern Romania, is the seat of Vaslui County, in the historical region of Moldavia.The city administers five villages: Bahnari, Brodoc, Moara Grecilor, Rediu and Viişoara.-History:...
, and its pedestal was blown up by the Soviet troops. On August 25, 1942, the monument was returned to Chişinău
Chisinau
Chișinău is the capital and largest municipality of Moldova. It is also its main industrial and commercial centre and is located in the middle of the country, on the river Bîc...
and taken back to Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
in 1944. In 1945, the Soviet authorities ordered the restoration of the monument to Chişinău.
On 31 August 1989 the monument to Stephen the Great was returned to its original location, chosen by Alexandru Plămădeală in the 1920s
1920s
File:1920s decade montage.png|From left, clockwise: Third Tipperary Brigade Flying Column No. 2 under Sean Hogan during the Irish Civil War; Prohibition agents destroying barrels of alcohol in accordance to the 18th amendment, which made alcoholic beverages illegal throughout the entire decade; In...
. The initial inscriptions were restored. Flower-laying ceremonies are regularly performed at the pedestal of this monument on each national holiday and on days of official top and high level visits.