site.btaMonument to Local Historian Petr Caireac Unveiled in Taraclia

A monument to local historian Petr Caireac (1914-2004) was unveiled in Taraclia, Moldova, on May 6. The monument stands in the Alley of Glory in the town's central square. The event was part of celebrations marking the 213th anniversary of the founding of Taraclia, the administrative centre of the Taraclia region in the southern part of Moldova.

The project was initiated and implemented by representatives of the Bulgarian community in Taraclia District, headed by chairman Ivan Paslar.

The honour of unveiling the monument was given to Caireac's granddaughter, Ludmila Shebolenko, who attended the ceremony with her children, and to local historian Daniil Gherghi.

Ivan Paslar told BTA: "What matters is that there are people who supported our idea and our great desire to preserve the memory of this man, who devoted his life to opening our eyes to where we came from, who we are, why we are here and how our entire history was created. More than one hundred family lineages are described in his books, and he deserves to remain in the memory of the people of Taraclia, to have a place where people can pay tribute to him, thank him and continue the work he began."

One of the donors is Nikolay Minchev, director of Bulmat in Gabrovo (Central Bulgaria), whose company provided financial support for the project.

For his part, Minchev said: "Former Taraclia District chairman Ivan Paslar once mentioned that funds were needed for Caireac's monument. A group of friends and I decided that we would help ensure the monument was built and that the work of this remarkable local historian would be commemorated. We now hear there are no funds for publishing his last book, and this will be discussed in the future. I am doing this because I am Bulgarian and I am proud of this."

In her speech, Caireac’s granddaughter Ludmila Shebolenko described the unveiling of the monument as both a public and a deeply personal event. She said his work had become "a bridge between generations", helping people learn about their origins, history and roots, while also strengthening ties with Bulgaria and the Bulgarian diaspora. She described the monument as a sign of gratitude and respect for a man who devoted his life to his community.

The event was accompanied by performances by a brass band, a book exhibition dedicated to the chronicler of family history and performances of Bulgarian folk songs.