The city of Marculesti - among the mystery of yesterday, today's progress

The city of Marculesti is known mainly due to the stories about the Jews who once lived here, due to the big fair that was organized since the Soviet period; by the name of the Marculesti International Airport built on the coast of the city; thanks to the good schools that have trained thousands of craftsmen over time and many other relevant aspects.

The daily tranquility of the contemporary city is like fresh spring grass rising on the scorched earth in its last tumultuous autumn. The fascinating history of this locality, called in some sources an „Atlantis of Bessarabia", attracts you to return here to discover the mysteries that are literally buried in the hiding place of time. A surprising locality, with good and worthy people, skilled in advice, skilled in joke and skilled at work. A clean and hospitable city that seems to have never been disturbed. A tap with refreshing water quenches the traveler's thirst, next to a flower bench in the center of the village. Not far away, a handsome restaurant around - the Jewish houses and a synagogue that tacitly remind of the history of the place. I remember the stories about the shops with goods from the Orient, the grueling walk of the townspeople, the cafes of yesteryear, the handicraft workshops mentioned in the historical writings - a vanished universe that has kept little contact with the current city. The ethnic composition of the population has changed over time, due to hostile regimes that have ruined the pace of community life, while maintaining the enterprising and lively spirit of the place. At first - Jews, then Roma, now, of the approximately 2050 inhabitants, 80% are Moldovan Romanians, the others - Ukrainians, Russians and other ethnic groups. Nowadays, the city of Mărculești is getting younger and more beautiful. Located on the left bank of the river Răut, by rail, on the route Floresti-Balti at a distance of 7 km from the city of Floresti and 32 km to Balti, has a geographical location conducive to economic development. A small but neat town with practicable roads , lighting, which offers basic conditions for a decent living, without the crowds and dust of big cities. Thus, young people from Megieş villages come to Mărculești to build a house in a quiet and arranged environment, with the possibility to work in nearby cities, where public transport regularly runs. The city of Mărculești has an area of ​​336.53 ha. In the locality operates the Gymnasium „V. Alecsandri”, director Svetlana Nagrineac; IET „Andrieș” - director Silvia Dobînda, Social assistance canteen enjoyed by about 60 beneficiaries, head Nadejda Lungu, public bath, Health Center Gr. Bivol „from Mărculeşti - the most modern institution in the region, serving over 10,000 citizens from 6 localities, head Rodica Olaru, House of Culture, museum, a slum, playgrounds, a library run by Svetlana Cocieru, in which children, in addition to books, I can see a corner of nature with parrots and fish; 25 economic agents: shops, car wash, market, car filling stations, etc. Also, Mărculești is proud of the team of junior footballers, coached by Oleg Stan. "A mouthful of heaven" - that's what the people of Marculesti call the city where they build their future every day. The memorial in Mărculești It's almost unbelievable that something like this happened here. On the site of the former camp surrounded by barbed wire founded in the fall of 1941, today is a Memorial dedicated to the Jews who suffered and died here. It was erected in 2008 and repaired in 2011. Yes, International Holocaust Remembrance Day, Jews are returning here to commemorate. The number of victims, in the official reports, varies between 460 and 1040 people shot and buried in anti-tank trenches. Researchers have collected testimonies from locals, there are also data from war investigations, but many remain unknown, and over time, rarely who can tell from what was seen and heard 79 years ago. Excavations were never made. There are common pits, but no one has opened them so far. There remain the legends and the earth that sometimes let steam breathe. The locals said that after being shot and covered with earth, the place was still moaning and there were moans. According to information from Jewish sources, the total number of Bessarabian Jews imprisoned in the Mărculești camp was 10,737. Over time, more than ten thousand Jews from the surrounding area passed through the camp to deport them to Transnistria. An old man from the city said that only one Jew returned to his homeland. Some residents still keep in touch with the descendants of the Jews who escaped alive. The memory of the victims is preserved by the locals because a tragedy is never limited to the people against whom it was committed. The Jewish cemetery Opposite the school is the Jewish cemetery. An impressive image that causes stiffness. Cleaned of thorns by volunteers, employees of public institutions, led by the mayor's office, the cemetery is shocking in size and appearance. The tombstones with Jewish inscriptions and symbols, straightened after many years of being demolished, "confess" a culture that disappeared as a myth. They were people, they lived here, they walked on these streets and contributed in their time in building the locality. Local authorities are still struggling to find funds to rebuild the cemetery, but in the end, they remain on their own. Recently, trees were planted on the edge of the cemetery and its peripheral arrangement is planned.

Two-level bell tower at the „Saint Nicholas" Church The first priest to serve in the church in Mărculești was Father Vitalie Zîcu, then Mihail Postoroncă. Since 2018, the parish priest is Mitrofor Protoiereu Carp Cebotaru: „In the city of Mărculești there was no church until the 90s when people felt the need to build it. They were going to the village of Prajila. In 1991, at the initiative of some good Christians, it was proposed to build. Through many impediments, this work was carried out, with the efforts of Messrs. Ion Cernei, who still comes to the church, of Fyodor Morohai who passed to the Lord and others 3-5 people. On May 23, 1991, the day after the feast of St. Nicholas, the foundation was laid. In that year, the registration document of this church was issued by the Ministry of Culture and Cults, under the leadership of Mr I. Ungureanu. The construction was completed in 1993. It is a large, beautiful church, with special architecture, with a bell tower on two levels. The church was built, but there was no priest. It was the world that was striving. Let us not forget Mr Tatarin, who was also mayor here and fought to bring this divine miracle to an end”.

Darlings - the icing on the cake of Florentine culture The culture of Mărculești is represented by artistic groups: the dance ensemble „De mic mic", the ensemble „Doremicii", „Ciocârlia", „Ritm" and the popular ensemble "Drăgaicele", artistic leader Maria Pînzari. - „We are ambitious, we conquer any scene wherever we go and we return to the locality with various trophies. The most beautiful are the winter holidays, then March 8 and Teacher's Day, when the city's 58 senior teachers are congratulated. Mărculești has a beautiful park that is in the process of being arranged, where the organization of the Romance Festival is planned. We thank the mayor for his support!” The article was written by Ludmila Talmazan for ziarulnostru.info