Orhei

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Orhei
Coat of arms of Orhei
Coat of arms
Orhei (Moldavië  )
Orhei
Orhei
Location within Moldova
Coordinates: 47°23′N 28°49′E / 47.383, 28.817
Country Flag of Moldova Moldova
County Raionul Orhei
Government
 - Mayor Ion Stratulat
Population (2004)
 - Total 25,680
Time zone EET (UTC+2)
 - Summer (DST) EEST (UTC+3)

Orhei (Yiddish: Uriv - אוריװ, Russian Orgeyev - Оргеев) is a town and an administrative region of Moldova with a population of 25,680. It is located at 47°23′N, 28°49′E, in the centre of the country. Prior to 2003 Orhei was a Judeţ, a large administrative region, but the country was divided further in Raion, or districts. Most people speak Romanian and Russian. There is one school that is taught in Russian.

The St. Dumitru Church built by Vasile Lupu is located in this town. Orhei is approximately 50 kilometers north of the capital, Chişinău. Orhei gets its name from Orhei Vechi, an active monastery near the village of Ivancea.

The name "Orhei" is, according to one theory, derived from the Hungarian word Őrhely, meaning "fortress", dating from the 13th century, when Hungarian forces built a series of defences in the area.[1]

Orhei was home to many Jews prior to WWII, and has a large Jewish cemetery. There is only one active synagogue left in the community. The main churches are Russian Orthodox. Also in the area are Baptist, a Seventh-day Adventist Church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and Jehovah Witnesses.

[edit] Notes

  • Romanian painter Natalia Vîrlan was born in this town.
  1. ^ Nándor Bárdi, László Diószegi, András Gyertyánfy, "Hungarians in Moldavia", Magyar Kisebbség 1-2 (7-8), 1997 (III), pp. 370-390.