VIDEO // Monument of Queen Marie of Romania inaugurated in Chisinau at solemn ceremony

The monument to Queen Marie of Romania was inaugurated in Chisinau today. This event is part of the series of events dedicated to Queen Marie's Days, which take place in Chisinau on March 27-28. The queen's statue was erected on the square of the Gheorghe Asachi Lyceum from Chisinau, on the site where the girls' lyceum named after Queen Marie once stood.

The event gathered officials from both sides of the Prut River, diplomats and representatives of the Romanian Orthodox Church and was occasioned by the commemoration of 107^th anniversary of Bessarabia’s Union with Romania.

The statue, over 6 meters tall, depicts Queen Marie at her coronation in Alba Iulia, holding the Bible in her left hand. Created by sculptor Veaceslav Jiglițchi and architect Mihail Andrieș, under the supervision of an international committee, it features a base made of Cosauti stone, crafted by artisan Marin Lozan. The initiative, launched in 2018 by lawyer Iulian Rusanovschi, was supported through a public campaign organized by the Monumentum Association.

Iulian Rusanovschi thanked supporters and announced an album dedicated to the monument, which will be published in October 2025.

"I bow to the people who have been with us practically every day. Hundreds of people who helped, donated money, advised and guided us. We have ten municipalities that financially assisted in erecting this statue. The Chisinau city hall arranged this wonderful square. We will gather all these efforts into an album dedicated to the monument, which will see the light of print in October 2025, when we will mark the centenary of the royal family's historic visit to Chisinau," said Doctor of Legal Sciences, Association Monumentum from Moldova, Iulian Rusanovschi.

The idea of a monument dedicated to Queen Marie in Chisinau dates back from 1939, but it was fulfilled as late as now, through the efforts of specialists and public support, said State Secretary at the Ministry of Culture of Romania Irina Cajal-Marin.

"The initiative for a monument dedicated to Queen Marie in Chisinau arose one year after her death in 1939, but this goal could not materialize due to the outbreak of World War II. After 106 years, through the sustained efforts of the Monument Association, a team of arts and history specialists from Moldova, Ukraine, Romania and Turkey, and with your everybody’s financial support, today we inaugurate, and not by accident, on a historic day, the monument created by renowned artist Veaceslav Jiglițchi, representing Marie on the day of her coronation in Alba Iulia, October 15, 1922," declared Irina Cajal-Marin.

Constantin-Valentin Raducanu reaffirmed the support of the Romanian government for projects which preserve the common culture and identity, congratulating the organizers on the inauguration of Queen Marie's monument.

"The Department for Relation with Moldova at the Romanian government supports projects to preserve the common national culture and identity. Congratulations to the organizers on this historic moment, unveiling the monument of Queen Marie. The Department for Relation with Moldova will continue to support and be present in Moldova, in order to make beautiful things and so that all citizens of Moldova can enjoy as many beautiful things as possible," said General Director of the Department Constantin Valentin Raducanu.

At the event, the State Enterprise Moldova’s Post launched a postcard dedicated to the statue of Queen Marie in Chisinau, accompanied by a special stamp.

"We couldn't stay indifferent and today the State Enterprise Moldova’s Post is launching a postcard with the statue of Queen Marie of Romania in Chisinau. This postcard, sent today from the Central Post Office, will convey beautiful messages about this event taking place today in Chisinau. But that's not all, because we also have a special stamp," specified a representative of Moldova’s Post, Violeta Tanase.

Events dedicated to Queen Marie will continue on March 28, when the State University of Moldova (USM) will host an International Symposium, Queen Marie – Queen of Great Union. Distinguished individuals from the academic and cultural fields, including President of the Academy of Sciences, Ion Tighineanu, USM Rector Igor Sarov, Director of the Peles National Museum, Narcis Dorin Ion, as well as historians and researchers from Romania and Moldova will participate in the debate.