Orhei

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Orhei (population 45,000) is a town and an administrative region of Moldova. 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 build 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 means "fortress" in Romanian, which is derived from the Hungarian word Őrhely, meaning "fortress", dating from the 13th century, when Hungarian forces built a series of defences in the area. Nándor Bárdi, László Diószegi, András Gyertyánfy, ["Hungarians in Moldavia"], Magyar Kisebbség 1-2 (7-8), 1997 (III), pp. 370-390. 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, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, and Jehovah Witnesses.

The community has a sport school by the lake, and 9 other secondary schools in the town. There are four restaurants in the town, including a pizzeria.

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