IASI: Monumentul Unirii
The original monument of the Union of Iași was a white marble monument, made by Princess Olga Sturdza and inaugurated in 1927, at the base of Carol Boulevard. The monument was made up of a central piece (Motherland) and four smaller pieces (signifying the reunited provinces Transylvania, Bessarabia and Bucovina and Romanians from all over the borders of Romania).
But in 1947, the Armistice Commission ordered the destruction of this older monument which symbolized the return to the Motherland of the Romanian provinces of Bessarabia, Transylvania and Bukovina.
Restoration of the monument
On February 8, 1994, in the Great Hall of the City Hall of Iași, it was decided to restore the monument, supported by the mayor Constantin Simirad and the direct descendant of Olga Sturdza, the Swiss businessman Dimitrie Sturdza who became founder of the new statuary group.
Between 1995-1999, the sculptor Constantin Crengăniș restored the monument after the vintage photographs. The pedestal was restored from the same marble piece with the statuary group, as opposed to the initiated monument that had a stone pedestal.
The Union monument was located on December 1, 1999 on a circular stand of white and gray marble slabs in the National Square (in front of the "Grigore T. Popa" University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Iași), because the former site was occupied since 1957 by the statue of Mihai Eminescu. The statuary group was consecrated by a priesthood priest led by Metropolitan Daniel Ciobotea of Moldova and Bukovina, in the presence of Mayor Constantin Simirad and Prince Dimitrie Sturdza.
The base of the monument was made of stone - brought from Corbăul Cluj's career - and had four sides, its execution being entrusted to the Bucharest entrepreneur Leonardo Martinez.
On the front side were dug the words spoken by King Ferdinand, on December 5, 1918: “I declare forever in the Kingdom of Romania all the lands inhabited by Romanians, from the Tisza to the Dniester. Through struggles and sacrifices, God has given us to fulfill our most holy aspirations today. Let us consecrate the unity of thoughts, the uniting of souls, but also the uniting in fruitful work by the cry: Long, strong and united Romania!
On the left side the following words were dug: "The greatest, the most general desire, the one that has nourished all the past generations, the one that is the soul of the present generation, the one that, fulfilled, will make the happiness of future generations is the union! Ad-hoc Divan of Moldova, October 7, 1858”.
On the right side were the words spoken by Alexandru Ioan Cuza, on January 29, 1859: "The union of the crowns of Stephen the Great and Michael the Brave is the triumph of a great principle, which lives strongly in the hearts of Romanians: the principle of Romanian brotherhood. He has saved us from ruin in the past, he resurrects us in the present, he will lead us to prosperity and enlargement in the future. Live the Romanian Brotherhood! Long live the Romanian principalities!”
Finally, on the last side of the base of the monument (the one on the back) were written the words of Olga Sturdza: "The Romanian nation as a whole and Iaș - the cradle of unions - worship this work of my heart and my hands. Olga I. Sturza. May 29, 1927”. Under the words of Olgă Sturdza dug in the socket, the following words were inscribed: “We have restored this monument in honor and gratitude for all those who fought, fought and will fight for the integrity and unity of the Romanian people. Iași City Hall. December 1, 1999. Restored by Constantin Crengăniș. 1995-1999. "
IASI: Monumentul Unirii
The original monument of the Union of Iași was a white marble monument, made by Princess Olga Sturdza and inaugurated in 1927, at the base of Carol Boulevard. The monument was made up of a central piece (Motherland) and four smaller pieces (signifying the reunited provinces Transylvania, Bessarabia and Bucovina and Romanians from all over the borders of Romania).
But in 1947, the Armistice Commission ordered the destruction of this older monument which symbolized the return to the Motherland of the Romanian provinces of Bessarabia, Transylvania and Bukovina.
Restoration of the monument
On February 8, 1994, in the Great Hall of the City Hall of Iași, it was decided to restore the monument, supported by the mayor Constantin Simirad and the direct descendant of Olga Sturdza, the Swiss businessman Dimitrie Sturdza who became founder of the new statuary group.
Between 1995-1999, the sculptor Constantin Crengăniș restored the monument after the vintage photographs. The pedestal was restored from the same marble piece with the statuary group, as opposed to the initiated monument that had a stone pedestal.
The Union monument was located on December 1, 1999 on a circular stand of white and gray marble slabs in the National Square (in front of the "Grigore T. Popa" University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Iași), because the former site was occupied since 1957 by the statue of Mihai Eminescu. The statuary group was consecrated by a priesthood priest led by Metropolitan Daniel Ciobotea of Moldova and Bukovina, in the presence of Mayor Constantin Simirad and Prince Dimitrie Sturdza.
The base of the monument was made of stone - brought from Corbăul Cluj's career - and had four sides, its execution being entrusted to the Bucharest entrepreneur Leonardo Martinez.
On the front side were dug the words spoken by King Ferdinand, on December 5, 1918: “I declare forever in the Kingdom of Romania all the lands inhabited by Romanians, from the Tisza to the Dniester. Through struggles and sacrifices, God has given us to fulfill our most holy aspirations today. Let us consecrate the unity of thoughts, the uniting of souls, but also the uniting in fruitful work by the cry: Long, strong and united Romania!
On the left side the following words were dug: "The greatest, the most general desire, the one that has nourished all the past generations, the one that is the soul of the present generation, the one that, fulfilled, will make the happiness of future generations is the union! Ad-hoc Divan of Moldova, October 7, 1858”.
On the right side were the words spoken by Alexandru Ioan Cuza, on January 29, 1859: "The union of the crowns of Stephen the Great and Michael the Brave is the triumph of a great principle, which lives strongly in the hearts of Romanians: the principle of Romanian brotherhood. He has saved us from ruin in the past, he resurrects us in the present, he will lead us to prosperity and enlargement in the future. Live the Romanian Brotherhood! Long live the Romanian principalities!”
Finally, on the last side of the base of the monument (the one on the back) were written the words of Olga Sturdza: "The Romanian nation as a whole and Iaș - the cradle of unions - worship this work of my heart and my hands. Olga I. Sturza. May 29, 1927”. Under the words of Olgă Sturdza dug in the socket, the following words were inscribed: “We have restored this monument in honor and gratitude for all those who fought, fought and will fight for the integrity and unity of the Romanian people. Iași City Hall. December 1, 1999. Restored by Constantin Crengăniș. 1995-1999. "