Благотворительность в исторической памяти Кишинева. Чуфлинская церковь

Abstract

In 2018 we have celebrated 160 years from the date when in Kishinev there has been opened a new church, dedicated to the Saint Martyr Theodor Thiron and built on money offered by the local merchants Anastas and Theodor Chiuflia. Since then the Cathedral bears this brothers‟ name among the people and this fact is able to develop such important sector of the Bessarabian community life as philanthropy. The article makes visible the sociocultural aspect in the history of making the Chiuflia Church. The author considers the church building to be a real embodiment of historical memory of Kishinev and a reflection of peoples‟ daily life, their perception of the world, behavioral and moral values of bygone epochs. In this context, the identity and vitallife of Anastas Chiuflia (his older brother Theodor died earlier)merits to be examined, paying more attention. Native from Greece, from a poor family, he became a prominent representative of commercial and industry estate of Bessarabia and one of the most well-known philanthropist. Founder of Theodor Thiron Church followed the historical tradition of temples‟ creation, existing in the Orthodox midst. But, besides his deep religious feelings, Anastas Chiuflia had also some personal motifs to express in such a visible form his gratitude to God for success in trade. The temple dedicated to the Saint Martyr Theodor Thiron was built by the local architect Luca Zaushkevich in the form of Greek Cross. In 1881 the building was reconstructed, taking characters of Byzantium and Russian style. One of the most beautiful, Chiuflia Church has become an architectonic landmark of Kishinev suburb. Contemporaries pointed out the beneficial effect of this Church over the moral state and culture of the inhabitants of this marginal area. Anastas Chiuflia has become well known not only as a founder of Theodor Thiron Church. According to his testament of 1870, all his great property was meant for charity in Greece and in Bessarabia.