The coffin of the last ruler of Moldova, deposited in Iasi, in “the homeland that was so dear to him”. “The gesture necessary to come to terms with our history”

The coffin with the remains of the ruler of Moldavia Grigore Alexandru Ghyka (1807-1857) was brought to Iași on Wednesday, almost 170 years after he left the principality, being placed on a specially arranged catafalque in the main hall of the Palace of Culture.

The hearse arrived from Focșani to the Unirii Square in Iasi, and in front of the Unirii Museum, the coffin was transferred on a horse-drawn carriage. Later, the funeral cortege crossed the main artery of Iași, Ștefan cel Mare Boulevard, to the Palace of Culture, where it was received with military honors for heads of state, reports Agerpres.

Descendants of Voivode Grigore Alexandru Ghyka, Minister of Investments and European Projects, Dragoș Pîslaru, representatives of the Romanian Gendarmerie and other structures of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Ministry of National Defense and local authorities were present at the ceremony.

After the coffin was deposited in the central hall of the Palace of Culture, the representatives of the Metropolitanate of Moldova and Bucovina officiated a religious service.

“A sacrifice that the family makes – that of giving Mr. Moldova to the homeland that was so dear to him”

“We are in Iași, the historical capital of Moldova, to witness a moment of deep solemnity, the welcoming home of ruler Grigore Alexandru Ghyka. After 169 years of exile, history is regaining its rights. Today we bring our offering of gratitude not only to a prince, but to a visionary, an enlightened patriot, and the last ruler of Moldova before the Act of Union. The reign of Grigore Alexandru “Ghyka, although it was short, was the foundation of the modernization of the principalities. In a troubled Europe, he had the courage to impose reforms that fundamentally changed Romanian society,” said Dragoș Pîslaru, Minister of Investments and European Projects.

For his part, the mayor of Iași, Mihai Chirica, said in his address that it is an emotional moment of the return home of ruler Grigore Alexandru Ghyka, who was a supporter of European democratic values.

“After 168 years since his death, the funeral procession of the great voivode has returned home. It is a great honor for us, taking into account the fact that this gentleman had a vision beyond his time. He died far from the country, but he died with dignity, with his forehead held high, because he made the most important gestures of a troubled Europe that wanted to be democratic”, said Mayor Chirica.

The military and religious ceremonies were held in the presence of the descendants of ruler Grigore Alexandru Ghyka.

“We are today in a moment when we are reviewing our history, the Principalities and Romania. We are in a moment when, after 1989, we reviewed the history after Alexandru Ioan Cuza, because the kings of Romania had been forgotten, eluded, minimized and disappeared. The time has come to look at those who prepared the Principalities for the Union we wanted so much. We look at the lords of Moldova, the lords Muntenia who believed in the Union and prepared it. The gesture we are doing together today is a desire of the family for many years, it is a sacrifice that the family makes – that of giving the lord of Moldova to the homeland that was so dear to him”, said, in his address, Mihai Ghyka, one of the ruler's descendants.

“This is the necessary gesture not to reconcile ourselves with ourselves, but with our history,” added Mihai Ghyka.

The interested public will be able to present their tributes at the Palace of Culture for a period of 30 days. Later, the remains will be buried near the Church of Saint Nicholas the Prince in Iași, the place of worship where Grigore Alexandru Ghyka was anointed ruler of Moldova.

Grigore Alexandru Ghyka (1807 -1857) was ruler of Moldavia in the periods May 1849 – October 1853 and October 1854 – June 1856, under the name Grigore V lea Ghica.

He was the last lord of the Principality of Moldavia.

Also on Wednesday, at the Palace of Culture, the launch of the volume “The truth about a political destiny. Dominitorul Gr. Al. Ghica (1849 1856)”, by Leonid Boicu, volume printed at the Junimea Publishing House, took place.