Nativity Fast starts

IPN.md

28 November 2014
05:03

The Orthodox Christians following the Gregorian calendar begin the Nativity Fast on November 28 (November 15 on the Julian calendar). The Nativity Fast is a period of abstinence and penance practiced by the Orthodox Christians in preparation for the Nativity of Christ. It runs for 40 days until January 6 inclusive (December 24 on the Julian calendar). The bishop of the Ialoveni Church “Saint Pious Parascheva” Oleg Ursu called on the parishioners to pray and repent, IPN reports.

The fast entails fasting from poultry, meat products, eggs, dairy products, fish, oil, and wine. The fasting rules permit fish, and/or wine and oil on certain feast days that occur during the course of the fast until Jnauary 2 (December 20 on the Julian calendar), when it is celebrated Saint Martyr Theophor. Those who want to take communion can do it in any church starting with the first fating week.

There are four main periods of extended fasting during the year: the Great Lent; the Nativity Fast; the Apostles’ Fast, and the Dormition Fast.

IPN | Cultural Agenda | August 3

Ion Ceban: Chisinau is prepared to ensure water supply in difficult situations

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Latvia, on a working visit to Chisinau

CFM reduced its losses in 2025, but remained in the red by almost 90 million lei

The state aims to increase defense spending to 1% of GDP by 2030

Agenda of events for Monday, August 3

by Irina Botu 02.08.2026

The Independent Analytical Center “Expert-Grup”, in collaboration with Maib and with the support of the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in the Republic of Moldova, organizes the launch event of the public offer regarding the municipal bonds issued by the Ceadâr-Lunga City Hall /maib park /at 10:00 AM/.

The PRESS AGENCY IPN invites media representatives to the public debate on the topic: “Neutrality and the defense capacity of the citizen and the state”, the 354th edition of the series “Developing political culture in public debates”. Participants: Dionis Cenusa, political scientist, associate expert at the Center for Eastern European Studies, Lithuania; Andrei Curararu, expert in international and national security, WatchDog Community; Igor Botan, permanent expert of the project /Conference room of the IPN Agency, Teatrului street, 2/2, 3rd floor, online on the YouTube channel of the Agency, on the Facebook page IPN Press Agency and accessed later in the archive; Realitatea TV, live or replayed, as well as on www.Rlive.md /at 11:00 AM/.

The Ministry of Education and Research, in partnership with the Interethnic Relations Agency, the Ethnographic Association of Roma and the “Voice of the Roma” Coalition, is organizing a roundtable discussion entitled: “The Memory of the Roma Holocaust – lessons for the present and future”, in the context of the European Day of Remembrance for Victims of the Holocaust against the Roma /Government House, entrance from Banulescu-Bodoni Street /at 11:00 AM/.

The exhibition “Bessarabian Authors in the World” is inaugurated as part of the Diaspora Days 2026, which takes place under the theme “Wherever we are, Moldova unites us!” /National Library of the Republic of Moldova /at 11:00 AM/.

The People’s Assembly of Gagauzia convenes for a meeting /APG, Comrat /at 02:00 PM/.

Flower laying and the unveiling ceremony of the commemorative plaque dedicated to the memory of the Holocaust victims against the Roma during the Second World War will take place /at the Visterniceni Station area in the city of Chisinau, Petricani street no. 3 /at 03:00 PM/.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Latvia, Baiba Braže, is making a working visit to the Republic of Moldova /August 3-4/.

02.08.2026

Explaining the benefits of European integration is the best response to misinformation, Marcel Spatari

The balance of the parliamentary session: open clusters, European laws and new challenges. IPN interview with Marcel Spatari

Alexandru Iacub: The APL reform was initially estimated at 6.5 billion lei, but the costs could decrease

Almost 400 town halls have reached the final stage of voluntary amalgamation, Alexandru Iacub

The final stage of voluntary amalgamation: what changes after September 1? IPN interview with Alexandru Iacub

Nativity Fast starts

IPN.md

28 November 2014
05:03

There are four main periods of extended fasting during the year: the Great Lent; the Nativity Fast; the Apostles’ Fast, and the Dormition Fast.

The Armenian Government, led by Pashinyan, resigned following the commencement of the new Parliament’s term

CNSF: The financial sector remains stable, systemic risks are reduced or moderate

Authorities urge the population to reduce energy consumption during peak hours

Foreign workers can be hired for seasonal work through a simplified procedure

Today, the Old Style Orthodox Christians celebrate the Holy Prophet Elijah

One in ten students in Moldova comes from abroad. Their number has reached a record level

by Irina Botu 02.08.2026

One in ten students in Moldova comes from abroad. Their number has reached a record level in the academic year 2025-2026 – 6,423 people, 667 more than the previous year. Economic expert Veaceslav Ionita believes that this segment has significant potential, but it remains insufficiently exploited, reports IPN.

The proportion of foreign students in the total university population has significantly increased in recent years, from 1.3% in 2010 to 10.2% in 2026. According to the IDIS “Viitorul” expert, attracting young people from other countries can contribute both to the financial consolidation of universities and to the improvement of education quality and the development of educational services export.

The majority of foreign students come from Romania – 56.4% of the total. This is followed by India, with 19%, Ukraine – 8.6%, Turkey – 6.9% and Israel – 6.7%.

Veaceslav Ionita asserts that the Republic of Moldova has several advantages in attracting international students, among which are the cultural and linguistic proximity to Romania, but also the possibility of developing training programs in Romanian for young people from other countries.

In the last two decades, the total number of students in the Republic of Moldova has decreased from about 128 thousand in 2006-2007 to 62,900 in 2025-2026. However, in the last two years, their number has increased by about 6,400, and approximately 20% of this increase was generated by the rise in the number of foreign students.

02.08.2026

Most of the legislative projects for alignment with EU norms will be examined in the autumn session, deputy

Alexandru Tanase: The simple merging of town halls does not mean the reform of local administration

Iurie Tap: The APL reform must create authorities capable of providing services to the population

AOVA requests guarantees for the land intended for the relocation of dogs from the shelter

Oleg Ivancioglo: The consultation of citizens must remain a condition even in the case of normative amalgamation