The event was marked by a memorial service and a flower-laying ceremony at the monument of the Moldovan and Gagauz enlightener Mihail Ciachir. The guest of honor at the event was His Grace Bishop Nicolae of Ceadîr-Lunga, Vicar of the Cahul and Comrat Diocese. In his speech, Bishop Nicolae thanked the participants for their support and prayers, emphasizing the importance of remaining faithful to the Orthodox faith and maintaining generational continuity. He recalled the difficult times of persecution when believers, risking imprisonment, hid church treasures, and cited the example of Eufrosinia Kersnovskaia, who remained faithful to Orthodoxy despite years of incarceration. Bishop Nicolae highlighted the courage of the first Christians who suffered for their faith and called on the younger generation to reflect on spiritual values. He emphasized that for Christians it is essential to work, pray, and strive for the salvation of the soul, not just material well-being. In conclusion, His Grace gave his blessing to all and wished success to the educational initiatives. Particular attention was drawn to the opening of an exhibition dedicated to the diaries of Eufrosinia Kersnovskaia (more than 700 drawings) — a Russian writer, artist, and native of Bessarabia who was deported to the GULAG in 1941. This event became the culmination of the day’s program. Academician and Doctor Habilitated Valeriu Pasat presented the book collection Orthodox Moldova, which reflects significant pages from the country’s spiritual history. He also published the complete memoirs of E. Kersnovskaia, including 12 notebooks, over 700 drawings, and her legal case files. The academician noted that Kersnovskaia’s testimony is a valuable historical source that sheds light on one of the darkest periods of Soviet history. In 2013, at the initiative of Academician Pasat, a memorial plaque was installed on the house in Odesa where Eufrosinia Kersnovskaia was born. Born into a noble family and living in Bessarabia (then part of Romania) after the revolution, Eufrosinia was arrested by Soviet authorities after the annexation of the region to the USSR in 1940, accused of "anti-Soviet agitation," and deported to Siberia. She spent 12 years in GULAG camps, including Kolyma. After her release, she returned to Soviet Moldova. In the 1960s–70s, she wrote an autobiographical book entitled What Is a Human Worth?, in which she described the horrors of the camps, forced labor, humiliation, and the struggle for human dignity. The manuscript was accompanied by hundreds of her own illustrations. The memoirs were first published only after her death — in the 1990s. Academician Valeriu Pasat noted that Eufrosinia Kersnovskaia is a rare female voice among GULAG witnesses. Her books are highly valued for their sincerity, inner strength, and artistic merit. He emphasized that her story is an example of human resilience and inner freedom, and expressed hope that the memory of such individuals will help prevent the repetition of past tragedies. In his speech, the Rector of Comrat State University Assoc. prof., Dr Dr. Serghei Zaharia noted, that such events play an important role in shaping the civic awareness of young people, strengthening intergenerational ties, and helping to understand historical events through the lens of personal destinies. He stressed that the university will continue to serve as a platform for open dialogue and educational initiatives. The event was attended by faculty and students of CSU, local government representatives, and members of the general public. The administration of Comrat State University expresses sincere gratitude to His Grace Bishop Nicolae and Academician, Dr. Habil. Valeriu Pasat for their contribution to preserving spiritual and historical values
Link to video recording of the event: https://youtu.be/QxiSkndKmT4
