Discover Moldova with #MOLDPRES: country's smallest museum situated in Vorniceni village

A quite special rural museum is situated at the edge of the Vorniceni village, central Straseni district. Although modest in terms of size, this place shelters an impressive collection of objects with stories which show the life and traditions of the local community.   

Vorniceni was for the first time mentioned in documents from the time of the reign of Ruler Alexander the Good, being founded by a minister of internal affairs of the ruler, from where also the name of the settlement comes.   

„The first notings in the manuscripts by Alexander the Good begin here. While going to the Capriana Monastery, the ruler saw a nice valley and moved down to the foot of the hill, where a small village called Dumesti was placed. The interior minister from the Residence of the Ruler very much liked this area, the people, traditions, the costume, customs and he wanted to settle in this zone. It was not easy, as he was ‘’the hand of the Ruler’’ and he could not go away from the Residence of the Ruler and create a family. Eventually, Alexander the Good yielded and gave him ten villages from the region. These villages would border upon some villages from the villages of Hancesti, Nisporeni, Calarasi and Straseni. The museum’s idea starts from this story. This road is situated here above, with an extraordinary panorama, where five villages can be seen just in all particulars,’’ the founder of the museum, Elena Lazarev, said.          

Vorniceni is the native village of the Elena Lazarev. The entrepreneur ruled to turn to good account the place where she had spent the childhood, creating a museum with emphasis on traditions.   

„The museum was inaugurated in 2019 and was build according to the model of the old house, in the memory of the parents. The draught was made by Ion Budeci from the Culture Ministry. He was also the one who designed all annexes: amphitheater, hall, belvedere, park places. This is how we became the cultural complex, Vatra Dumeniului,’’ Elena Lazarev said.   

The museum shows the dowry of the bride, the national costume, the local traditions and customs.   

„People were weaving at my home. My mother was weaving. The grandmother was born in 1908. She told us a lot about the traditional elements, even if we were children and attached little importance to them. Once she told me about the carpet which is called ‘’the chalice for communion,’’ Elena Lazarev said.     

According to Elena, the concerned carpets were specific to the region and were held out at the feet of the young marrieds when they were marrying. Three chalices were painted on them: one of the bridegroom, another one of the bride and the third one – of God. Presently, the carpet can be seen at the Chisinau-based Ethnography and Natural History Museum, where it will be displayed at the Longing’s Carpet Exhibition till 24 March.      

„We have a carpet which I believe is the most popular one; it is called The Horse’s Teeth. It was weaved on the period of the drought, making a promise between God and the earth, for the horse to have what to plough and people what to eat. All carpets were weaved after 1800. They are valuable. We saw them at our grandparents on the floor; therefore, we preserve them on the floor too. Yet, for instance, following the visit by specialists in the culture sector, we ruled to raise them above,’’ Lazarev noted.     

The complex hosts diverse cultural, as well private events, including master-classes, becoming a fit platform for meetings, learning and creative experiences, some of them even tasty.  

„We organize master-classes, where you can learn to cook pies, borsch with garden chervil, traditional cakes and many other dishes which are cooked namely here. For us, it is important to preserve these values and convey them further,’’ Elena Lazarev said.    

In 2020, due to a grant gained, the family purchased equipment for the manufacturing of souvenirs. Elena Lazarev is in charge of the hand work.   

„We want to create lighting units made of wood. These ones which you see are just prototypes; we are to develop their concept. We want to add them on site and we hope very much that we will sell them on the European market as well,’’ Marcel Lazarev said.   

The Vorniceni village has a great tourist potential. The archaeological site, Golden Horde, the local wooden church, Saint Archangels Michael and Gabriel, from 1839, the house of Ion Inculet, etc. are on the top of the attractions.  

It is worth mentioning that, on 16-18 February, you will have occasion to personally meet the hosts of the Vatra Dumeniului cultural complex at the Moldexpo exhibition centre, where they will display the traditions and beauty of the Straseni district at an exhibition. And if you are lucky, maybe you will taste the pie.