Chisinau annual fete in 2006 had two inaugurations

The Chisinau Day holiday in 2006 had two inaugurations – a religious one, in the vicinity of the Metropolitan Cathedral, less pompous, and a more showy one, in the Great National Assembly Square, with the stage next to the Saint Gates, with horns, police men disguised as Stefan’s soldiers, with stakes, horses, with lots of “Chisinau” beer commercials and with a VIP tribune, situated in front of the Government. The Bishop of Chisinau and of Whole Moldova, Vladimir, declared during the first inauguration that with the blessing of the Allimmaculate Virgin Mary the Chisinau residents are celebrating several holidays, such as the annual fete, anniversary of the 570th attestation of Chisinau, 170 years since the Lord’s Birth Cathedral. The bishop declared that the actual interim mayor, Vasile Ursu, and the ex-mayor, Serafim Urecheanu, aided the clerics in finishing the Cathedral. The second inauguration was opened by the President of the Republic of Moldova, Vladimir Voronin, who stated that Chisinau is the capital of the country, and has become to be a modern and beautiful city. Afterwards Vasile Ursu thanked the Government, and especially the President, for its support, that “helps solve the problems of Chisinau”. During this show 5 persons were awarded with diplomas of Honorary Citizens of Chisinau, including a cosmonaut born in Chisinau, persons awarded with titles of veteran of socialist labor, of the Lenin order, veterans. Requested by Info-Prim Neo, deputy Anatol Onceanu, one of the initiators and organizers of the first Chisinau annual fete, declared he is delighted by the fact that Chisinau residents have started to celebrate this holiday, and he was invited to several homes with this occasion. Onceanu also believes that the annual fete should have only a religious opening ceremony. The Chisinau annual fete has been appointed in 2000, and was chosen from the 3 annual fetes of the Metropolitan Cathedral – The Holy Virgin Covering. In the first years the square in front of the Cathedral was too small for the thousands of parishioners that listened to the Holy Liturgy on the speakers installed on the Cathedral.