In 2018, an emblematic and important year for all Romanians, marking 100 years of the Union of Bessarabia, Bucovina and Transylvania with Romania, a special place is given to the buildings where the famous events surrounding Unification took place. The purpose of this article is to present historical and certain architectural aspects of the Residence of the Metropolitans of Bucovina and Dalmația in Cernăuți, where, on 15 November 1918, the Union of Bucovina with Romania was decided, and comparing it to building no. 3 of the former Gymnasium for boys “Alexandru Donici” in Chișinău, where, on 27 March 1918, the Union of Bessarabia with Romania was voted upon. Today, the Metropolitan Palace building, designed according to the proposals of Czech architecture Josef Hlávka, is part of the National University of Cernăuți Iuri Fedikovici. In Chișinău, the aforementioned Gymnasium building (designed by V. Țâganco) has been adapted to the requirements of another educational institution – the Academy of Music, Theatre and Plastic Arts – and is on the waiting list for restoration. The artistic, historical and architectural value of Cernăuți’s Metropolitan Palace was recently confirmed by its inclusion on the UNESCO cultural heritage list.

Fig. 1. The Metropolitan Residence in Cernăuți. Photo source: Adrian Nicolae Petcu. “Palatul mitropolitan din Cernăuți” [The Metropolitan Palace in Cernăuți]. Accessed on 21 August 2018, http://ziarullumina.ro/palatul-mitropolitan-din-cernauti15962.html. Fig. 2. The National University “Iuri Fedikovici” in Cernăuți, former Residence of the Metropolitans of Bucovina and Dalmația, overview. Photo source: Тамара Рудяга. „Черновицкий национальный университет им. Юрия Федьковича (Чернівецький національний університет імені Юрія Федьковича”. Accessed on 21 August 2018, http://chicherone.com/chernovickij-nacionalnyj-universitet-imyuriya-fedkovicha/. Fig. 3. Seminary church “Sf. Trei Ierarhi, Vasile cel Mare, Grigore Teologul și Ioan Gură de Aur”. Photo source: Владимир Дергачев. „Иллюстрированный журнал Владимира Дергачёва «Ландшафты жизни»”. Accessed on 21 August 2018, https://dergachev-va.livejournal.com/187555.html. Fig. 4. Former Metropolitan Residence in Cernăuți, modern image. Photo source: Дергачев. “Иллюстрированный журнал Владимира Дергачёва «Ландшафты жизни»”. Fig. 5, 6 and 7. The interior of the former Metropolitan Residence, modern images. Photo source: Рудяга. “Черновицкий национальный университет”. Fig. 8. The Synod (Marble) Hall, reconstruction. Photo source: Рудяга. “Черновицкий национальный университет”. Fig. 9. The Red Hall of the former Metropolitan Residence, detail of the original ceiling. Photo source: Рудяга. “Черновицкий национальный университет”. Fig. 10. Red Hall, the former Metropolitan Residence, modern image. Photo source: Дергачев. “Иллюстрированный журнал Владимира Дергачёва «Ландшафты жизни»”. Fig. 11. Metropolitan Residence, pre-war image. Photo source: Рудяга. “Черновицкий национальный университет”. Fig. 12. Metropolitan Residence, pre-war image: “CP Cernăuți: Reședința episcopală – 1918” [PC Chernivtsi: Episcopal Residence – 1918]. Accessed on 30 September 2018, https://www.okazii.ro/cp-cernauti-resedinta-episcopala-1918-a192308768. Fig. 13. Metropolitan Residence, pre-war image. Photo source: Alexandru Ursu-Bukowina. “Construcții simbolice în Cernăuți, din daniile domnilor moldoveni: … Reședința Mitropolitană” [Symbolic Constructions in Cernăuți, from the Taxes of the Moldovan Rulers: ... Metropolitan Residence]. Accessed on 21 August 2018, https://romaniaimaginideierisiazi.wordpress.com/2014/01/12/constructii-simbolicein-cernauti-din-daniile-domnilor-moldoveni-resedinta-mitropolitana/. Fig. 14. The Metropolitan Palace (1905-1918). Photo source: “Cernauti Bucovina Gruss aus Czernowitz clasica circ. 1899 Editura Leon Konig”. Accessed on 30 September 2018, https://www.okazii.ro/cernauti-bucovina-gruss-aus-czernowitzclasica-circ-1899-editura-leon-konig-a179469339. Fig. 15. The Hall of Union from the Metropolitan Residence. Photo source: Ursu-Bukowina. “Construcții simbolice în Cernăuți”. Fig. 16. The Metropolitan Palace from CernăuĠi, xylography by Rudolf Bernt (1844, Neunkirchen - 1914, Pottenstein). Photo source: “Rudolf Bernt (1844-1916)”. Accessed on 30 September 2018, https://www.pinterest.com/plutoneru/rudolf-bernt1844-1914/. Fig. 17. Current view of the former Gymnasium “Alexandru Donici” in Chișinău, nowadays the Academy of Music, Theatre and Plastic Arts. Photo: L. Condraticova. Fig. 18. Commemorative plaque with the inscription: “The building of the former Gymnasium for boys no. 3, where the Council of the Country voted through the Act of Union on 27 March 1918”. Photo: L. Condraticova. Fig. 19. Building where the meetings of the Council of the Country took place. Photo source: “Alexei Mateevici, 111”,accessed on 15 February 2018, http://www.monument.sit.md/alexei-mateevici/111/. Fig. 20. Gymnasium for boys “Alexandru Donici” in Chișinău. Photo source: Ana Gherciu. “Povestea clădirii în care s-a făcut Unirea” [The Story of the Building Where the Union Was Made]. Accessed on 15 February 2018, https://www.timpul.md/articol/povestea-cladirii-in-care-s-a-facut-unirea-42427. html. Fig. 21 and 22. Building of the Faculty of Agronomy, Chișinău, in the interwar period. Photo source: Gherciu. “Povestea clădirii în care s-a făcut Unirea”. Fig. 23. The exhibition in Chișinău: the “Wolf” monument in the square of the Faculty of Agronomy. Photo source: Gherciu. “Povestea clădirii în care s-a făcut Unirea”. Fig. 24. Jubilee postal stamp, “Romania. The Union of Bessarabia. 1918-1928”. Photo source: Camelia Moldoveanu. “Centenarul Marii Uniri. Călătorie în trecut. Povestea „României dodoloațe” privind cărți poștale și timbre” [Centenary of the Great Union. Journey to the Past. The Story of “Romania Dodoloață” from Postcards and Stamps]. Accessed on 15 February 2018, https://a1.ro/premium/centenarul-marii-uniripovestea-romaniei-dodoloate-privind-carti-postale-si-timbre-id823492.html. Fig. 25 and 26. The right facade of the building and the hall where the Council of the Country voted on the Act of Union on 27 March 1918. Reconstruction: Arch. Leo Dumitrașcu. Fig. 27 and 28. The stairs of the Academy of Music, Theatre and Plastic Arts in Chișinău, made in S. Serbov’s cast iron foundry. Photo: L. Condraticova.