Senior state officials, MPs, members of the acting Cabinet, managers of the central and local public institutions and political leaders on July 2 laid flowers at the Monument to Ruler Stephan the Great and Holy in central Chisinau, commemorating the 511th anniversary of the ruler’s death, IPN reports.
President Nicolae Timofti came to lay flowers together with Head of Parliament Andrian Candu and acting Prime Minister Natalia Gherman. These were followed by MPs and members of the Government. Mayor of Chisinau Dorin Chirtoaca also laid flowers, kneeling before the ruler’s monument.
The head of state said he cares a lot about everything that is related to our nation. “Until we live on this land, we have the duty to commemorate and remember those who founded our nation and represent us by their names,” he stated.
Nicolae Timofti noted he wants the candidate who will be fielded for premiership to possess she qualities of Ruler Stephan the Great. He had discussions with two parliamentary groups to agree the agenda of consultations for designating a candidate and today will also meet with the Liberal faction. They haven’t yet discussed concrete names, but the process must be hastened so as to install a new Cabinet within the legal term.
At the beginning of the July 2 sitting of Parliament, the MPs observed a moment’s silence in memory of the ruler. Speaker Andrian Candu said it is 511 years since the death of the politician, strategist, diplomat and one of the most valuable rulers of our nation. “His actions for defending the country’s integrity and his initiatives for developing culture cause the admiration of the contemporary people and also of his successors,” stated Candu.
Stephan the Great ruled between 1457 and 1504. He was appreciated for his exceptional activity aimed at protecting the country’s integrity, developing multilaterally the state and defending faith. He died on July 2, 1504. His grave is located at the Putna Monastery. In 1992, Stephan the Great was canonized by the Romanian Orthodox Church.
