Poets, writers, composers and politicians on January 15 went to lay flowers at Mihai Eminescu’s bust on the Alley of Classics in the central park of Chisinau. On the 169th anniversary of the poet’s birth, those attending recited poems written by Mihai Eminescu and poems dedicated to the great bard, IPN reports.

President Igor Dodon was the first to come to Mihai Eminescu’s bust. He was accompanied by presidential advisers. President Dodon has told the press that Mihai Eminescu is a symbol for everyone. “He is our classical writer and we should not forget this and should study his works. Absolutely all the citizens of the Republic of Moldova know at least some of Eminescu’s works,” stated Igor Dodon. According to him, the bard’s poem “Glossă” (“Gloss”) matches the current period, including the political struggle.

President of the Writers Union Arcadie Suceveanu said the 169th anniversary of the poet’s birth and also the National Culture Day are celebrated on January 15. “We every time gather together as like at a symbolic ritual here, near Eminescu, so as to celebrate the birth and rebirth of Eminescu in the Romanian language and for it. On the 169th anniversary of his birth, Eminescu remains our contemporary,” noted Arcadie Suceaveanu.

“Through Eminescu and with Eminescu, we, each of us, identify ourselves as he knew, as no one else, to express the universe of Romanian thoughts and feelings at such a height that he placed Romanian literature, spirituality and culture on the peaks of the European and world civilization,” stated Valeriu Matei, director of the Romanian Cultural Institute “Mihai Eminescu” of Chisinau.

Attending the event, Minister of Education, Culture and Research Monica Babuc said this day is celebrated on both banks of the Prut and this is absolutely exceptional. This means the whole Romanian space reunites trough spirituality and the creation of the symbol-man of the national Romanian culture – poet Mihai Eminescu.

Acting mayor general of Chisinau Ruslan Codreanu, together with representatives of the local public administration, laid followers at the poet’s monument situated in the Square of the National Theater “Mihai Eminescu”.

Romanian poet, prose writer and journalist Mihai Eminescu was born on January 15, 1850.