Orhei
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Orhei (Template:IPA) is a city, municipality<ref>LEGE Nr. 248 din 03.11.2016 pentru modificarea și completarea Legii nr. 764-XV din 27 decembrie 2001 privind organizarea administrativ-teritorială a Republicii Moldova Template:Webarchive Template:In lang</ref> and the administrative centre<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> of Orhei District in the Republic of Moldova, with a population of 22,183. It lies roughly Template:Convert north of the capital, Chișinău.
History
Orhei is believed to derive its name from the Hungarian word Őrhely, meaning “guard post” or “lookout post,” and could be linked to a Hungarian army outpost guarding the gyepű.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Nándor Bárdi, László Diószegi, András Gyertyánfy, "Hungarians in Moldavia" Template:Webarchive, Magyar Kisebbség 1–2 (7–8), 1997 (III), pp. 370–390.</ref> Locally, orhei was understood to mean “strengthened hill,” “fortress,” or “deserted courtyard.”<ref>Teodor PORUCIC – Lexiconul termenilor entropici din limba română în Basarabia, extras din Arhivele Basarabiei, 1931, nr. 1–4, Chişinău</ref> The town historically served as an important defensive outpost on Moldavia’s eastern border.
In the 14th century, the Crimean Tatars established a settlement at Orheiul Vechi (Old Orhei), constructing baths, mosques, and other buildings, leaving a lasting cultural influence. By the early 15th century, the area was incorporated into the Moldavian principality, and Orhei gradually shifted to its present location, with the first documented mention in 1554 during the reign of Alexandru Lăpușneanu.<ref>Template:Cite web Template:In lang</ref>
After centuries under Moldavian rule, Orhei was ceded to the Russian Empire in 1812 following the Russo-Turkish wars. Like the rest of Bessarabia, it became part of the Kingdom of Romania after World War I, was annexed by the Soviet Union in 1940, briefly recaptured by Romania in 1941, and re-occupied by the USSR in 1944 during the Uman–Botoșani offensive. After World War II, the town was rebuilt, and in 1991 it became part of the Republic of Moldova.
Before 2003, Orhei served as the capital of Orhei County, a large administrative region, until the country was reorganized into smaller raions (districts).
The St. Dumitru Church, constructed by Vasile Lupu, is located in the town. Lupu, who ruled from 1634 to 1653, is credited with ushering in the town's so-called golden age, and a statue in the central square honors his legacy.
Orhei has gained national and international attention as a political stronghold of fugitive Moldovan oligarch Ilan Shor. Since his election as mayor in 2015, Shor built a network of local support that has enabled his influence to endure even after he fled the country amid criminal investigations. His preferred candidates, such as Pavel Verejanu in the 2019 mayoral election,<ref>Template:Cite web Template:In lang</ref> have continued to secure dominant victories in the city, often with overwhelming majorities.
Demographics
According to the 2024 census, 22,183 inhabitants lived in Orhei (making it the ninth largest city in Moldova), an increase compared to the previous census in 2014, when 21,065 inhabitants were registered.<ref>Template:Cite web Template:In lang</ref><ref>Template:Cite web Template:In lang</ref>
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At the onset of the Great War, Orhei's population was estimated at 25,000. About two-thirds of the inhabitants were Jewish, while the remainder consisted primarily of Romanians, with smaller groups of Ruthenians, Russians, and others.<ref name=Kaba/>
Religion
Orhei was home to many Jews prior to World War II, and has a large Jewish cemetery. Currently, only one synagogue remains active in the community. The primary churches are the Romanian Orthodox Church and the Russian Orthodox Church. The area is also home to congregations of Baptists, Roman Catholics, Seventh-day Adventist Church, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the Salvation Army, and Jehovah's Witnesses.
Economy
Orhei was the first place in what was then known as Bessarabia, to have a successful tobacco industry. The area is also known for wine production.<ref name=Kaba>Template:Cite book</ref>
Sport
FC Milsami Orhei is based in the city. The team won the Moldovan National Division in 2015 and 2025.
Media
Orhei has two local radio stations: Radio Orhei (101.6 FM) founded in 2005, contains news from region and republic.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 2018, its name was cloned by a broadcaster affiliated to the Șor Party – Radio Orhei FM (97.5 FM).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Radio Orhei FM broadcasts news from the Orhei region, Moldova national news, international news, and Russian, Moldovan, and Romanian music.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> There is also an Orhei City Hall site.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Natives
- Jacobo Fijman
- Dovid Knut
- Mihail Maculețchi
- Alex Magala
- Rodica Mahu
- Pasha Parfeny
International relations
Twin towns – Sister cities
Orhei is twinned with:
- Template:Flagicon Bicaz, Romania
- Template:Flagicon Piatra Neamț, Romania<ref name="Piatra Neamț">Template:Cite web</ref>
Gallery
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Saint Nicholas church -
Armenian church
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References
Further reading
- Orgeyev/Orhei (pp. 372–375) at Miriam Weiner's Routes to Roots Foundation
External links
Template:Orhei District, Moldova Template:AdminCitiesMoldova Template:Districts of Moldova