Moldova: EU helps restore monumental vault of the Macri-Donici families

 The restoration of the monumental crypt of the Macri-Donici family, Bessarabian landlords and landowners in Dubasari, Moldova, is underway, with the help of EU funding. 

The works are carried out thanks to the European Union Confidence Building Measures (EU-CBM) programme, implemented by the UNDP. The crypt is one of ten cultural and historical sites from both banks of the river Nistru, selected for restoration and conservation under the cultural heritage component of the programme.

Located in the courtyard of the Church of St Michael the Archangel in Dubasari, the crypt of the Macri-Donici family was designed by the architect Alexander Bernardazzi, and made out of marble and granite by a master from Odesa, Ukraine, A. Tuzini in 1882-1883. This is evidenced by the architect’s signature on one of the side walls of the crypt.

During the restoration process, two unknown tombs were discovered in the monument. One of them allegedly belonged to Limonia Donici, the wife of Nicolae Donici, famous Romanian astronomer. A team of archaeologists was called in to confirm and document the findings.

“We are extremely happy. I cannot put it into words. We believed that these two tombs were destroyed between 1960 and 1961. We will try to mobilise financial solutions so that the archaeological team can find out who the two copper coffins belong to. What has now been discovered is something unique for our country,” says Theodor Pelin, parish priest of St Michael the Archangel Church in Dubasari.

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Press release