Today it is 517 years of the death of Ruler Stephan the Great and Holy. President Maia Sandu, Parliament Speaker Zinaida Grechanyi, MPs and functionaries laid flowers at the monument to ruler Stephan the Great in central Chisinau, IPN reports.

On this occasion, Maia Sandu said that over five centuries have passed, but the glorious story of the ruler, continues to inspire the people from this piece of land, to tell us that freedom should be defended in the most difficult times as well, while courage brings victory. “As he did, we can also do great things with insignificant means if there is political will. This is the most important lesson that was taught by Stephan the Great and Holy and that should be transmitted to the new generations,” reads the President’s message.

Speaker Zinaida Grechanyi said Stephan the Great is one of the most remarkable personalities in the history of the Moldovan state. “It is our duty to keep this valuable heritage left to us, the descendants, by the great Ruler. Only by studying and knowing history, by keeping the memory and the glorious past, we will be able to keep the memory of the greatest defender of our nation,” stated the official.

Stephan the Third or Stephan the Great had governed Moldova for 47 years, since 1457 until 1504. He had 36 wars and lost only two of them. He built 44 monasteries and churches in Moldova, Wallachia, Transylvania or on Mount Athos. He died on July 2, 1504, being buried at Putna Monastery. He was canonized by the Romanian Orthodox Church as Stephan the Great and Holy in June 1992.