Soroki – the Olszewski family tomb

The Olszewski family gravestone is one of the few remaining reminders of the Poles who once lived in the town of Soroki (Moldova). It is situated in the local multi-ethnic cemetery and is surrounded by more recent Romani graves.

The gravestone of Leon and Joanna Olszewski

The gravestone of Leon and Joanna Olszewski is made of sandstone and takes the form of a severed tree branch bearing a cross – a design that was very popular at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries. It was crafted at a local stonemason’s workshop, and the awkwardly carved letters suggest that its creator was not fluent in the Latin alphabet and worked primarily for an Orthodox clientele in rural areas and small towns. The gravestone has survived to this day in good condition and is situated within a fenced-off plot occupied by contemporary Romani burials. It is worth noting that the current caretakers of the plot have chosen not to remove the gravestone, out of respect for the unrelated individuals buried there over 100 years ago.

Unfortunately, apart from the dates of death engraved on the gravestone, no further information about the Olszewski family from Sorok has been found. It is known that this surname was found amongst the minor nobility in neighbouring Podolia. It is also difficult to say what the inscription ‘Joanna Olszewska from Dżerla’ refers to – this ‘Dżerla’ is probably a corrupted name of one of the villages in Podolia or Bessarabia.

Poles made up a few per cent of Sorok’s population

Poles began to settle in Sorok and the surrounding area following the Russian occupation of Bessarabia in the early 19th century. They came mainly from neighbouring Podolia in search of work in local government offices. They also frequently purchased or leased estates in the area. Although Poles made up only a few per cent of Sorok’s population, they played a significant role in the life of the town, as well as the entire county, before the First World War. A large number of them left for Poland following the Russian Revolution and Bessarabia’s incorporation into Romania, whilst a further wave of emigration took place after the end of the Second World War.

Picturesquely situated on the Dniester, Soroki is today known primarily for its fortress, dating from the turn of the 15th and 16th centuries, and its Romani settlement, one of the largest in Moldova. The Dniester River forms the border with Ukraine. According to data from the 2004 census, out of the town’s more than 28,000 inhabitants, only 17 declared themselves to be of Polish nationality.