#Exhibit of the Month

The history of this icon traces back to the 10th century at the Protaton Monastery on Mount Athos. In one of the cells named "The Dormition of the Mother of God," an elderly hieromonk lived with his disciple. They preserved a superb depiction of the Virgin Mary. This old icon became renowned through the revelation of the prayer "It Is Truly Meet."
Between the years 980-982, on a Saturday evening before an all-night vigil, the elder monk left for the nearby church, instructing his disciple to continue the religious routine in the cell. Being obedient, the disciple followed the instructions. When he reached the 9th Ode of the Canons, "More Honorable Than the Cherubim...," he suddenly heard someone beginning to chant alongside him: "It is truly meet to bless thee, O Theotokos..." It was a mysterious pilgrim monk who had appeared unexpectedly and joined in the prayers. At that moment, the icon began to radiate light, as if it were broad daylight. Astonished by the events, the disciple asked the mysterious monk to write down the verses. The monk wrote them on a tile with his finger as if it were soft wax and said, "From now on, this is how you Orthodox Christians should chant," and, saying this, he vanished. Left alone, the disciple realized he had witnessed a great miracle. Enlightened, he understood that the pilgrim was none other than the Archangel Gabriel, who had come, as he had before, to deliver the word of the Highest to humanity.

The icon was transferred from the cell to the Holy Altar of the Protaton Church, where a similar icon is preserved to this day. The tile with the divine hymn was taken to Constantinople and included in the Orthodox Church's liturgical books. Soon after, Archangel Gabriel's prayer was incorporated into the Divine Liturgy, immediately following the Consecration of the Gifts of Bread and Wine. The valley with the cells has since been called Adin, meaning "to chant," "chanting."

The icon "It Is Truly Meet" is of inestimable value and has become the protector of Mount Athos. The icon is celebrated on June 11/24, commemorating the miraculous appearance of the Archangel, and on July 13/26, in honor of the Synaxis of the Archangel Gabriel.

This icon, of the Eleusa type, portrays gentleness and tenderness in its central figures. The Virgin holds the Child with her right hand, while her left hand, placed beneath His feet, grips the hem of His tunic. The small Jesus wears a short tunic reaching His knees and holds a scroll in His right hand inscribed with the words of the Axion hymn. His left-hand slips under the veil of the Virgin towards her left shoulder. Both figures are crowned with golden halos. Two angels flank the Virgin's halo, while the Almighty in an open heaven blesses with both hands.

Crafted using tempera on wood, the icon is adorned with gold leaf and multicolored enamel, giving the image a unique delicacy. The inscription on the lower frame indicates that the icon was created by the painter Ioasaf in 1905.

The painter monk Ioasaf Berghie (1862-?) of the New Neamț Monastery resided there between 1887 and the 1940s, occupying three rooms to set up his studio, where he worked continuously on icons and church artworks. Born into the family of a church teacher in Jabca village, Ștefan Berghie, Ioan Berghie developed a passion for sacred iconography from an early age. In 1890, Andronic, the abbot of the New Neamț Monastery, blessed him to paint icons. Taking monastic vows in 1895 under the name Ioasaf, he traveled by foot to visit major ecclesiastical centers nearby and further afield, learning the art of iconography. Starting with naive-style interpretations, he eventually mastered professional painting techniques and acquired new decorative skills. His works became highly popular throughout Bessarabia and abroad. Painting a significant number of icons, they were often mistakenly sold as coming from major artisan workshops. To prevent such confusion, he received the abbot's blessing to sign his works, earning recognition and fame for his name.

Virtual Tour

Preliminary considerations regarding archaeological research at Soroca fortress in 2012-2013

In 2012-2013, the researchers from the State Pedagogical University „Ion Creangă”, National Museum of History of Moldova and Archaeology Center of the Institute of Cultural Heritage of Academy of Sciences of Moldova conducted investigations at Soroca Fortress as part of a restoration project at the medieval stone stronghold.

The archaeological investigations aimed at the study of successive cultural layers from the medieval fortress Soroca in order to establish the site’s evolution and the periods of rebuilding/reconstruction. The research was conducted within and outside the fortress walls. The excavations from pillbox no. 5 and towers no. 1 and no. 2 identified consistent cultural deposits from the medieval period. The cultural layers from inside pillbox no. 5 (Section no. 1) were uncovered up to 450 cm (from actual stepping level). The investigations from tower no. 1 (Section no. 3) reached the depth of 1030 cm (from tower entrance).

In pillbox no. 5, along ceramic materials and central-European and Polish coins discovered in upper layers, was identified Moldovan ceramics from 15th-16th centuries represented by fragments of bowls and jugs. Here were also found many stone cannon balls and iron arrow heads, but also a Moldovan coin from Ştefăniță IV (1517-1527). A ditch from a fortification made of earth and word, earlier to the stone fortress, was discovered in the inferior part of the Section.

The investigations from Tower no. 1 (circular) revealed successive layers of mortar and debris, which stays as evidence to distinct periods of building and reconstruction. Under the last mortar and debris layer situated at the depth of 850 cm, were discovered fragments of Moldovan ceramics from 15th century, stone cannon balls and an ottoman coin made of white metal belonging to an early issue of sultan Bayazid II (1447-1512). All these discoveries come from the filling of a ditch of the earth and wood fortification, with walls consolidated with beams angle arranged.

Three sections were opened outside the fortress walls. The remains of an earth and wood fortification were discovered in section no. 4, traced at 22 m south-east of the stone fortress, and which is probably distinct from the one identified in Sections no. 1 and no. 3. The ditch 6 m wide in the upper and 4,50 m in the lower part was 4,0-4,5 m deep. The ditch sides were built with wood pillars sharpened in the upper part and were inclined at an angle of 70 degrees. The distance between the two parallel rows of pillars was about 20-25 cm.

Many Moldovan medieval ceramic fragments made using the potter’s wheel and imported fine ceramic fragments were found in the filling and at the bottom of the earth and wood fortress ditch. Here were also found several (over 20 entire or fragmented pieces) stone cannon balls which are proof of the intense fights from the building period. Several coins from reign Ştefăniță IV (1517-1527), nephew of Ştefan cel Mare și Sfânt (1457-1504), serve as chronologic indicator of the period in which the earth and wood fortress ditch functioned and was filled. We also assume that under this reign the stone fortress continued to be built.

Archaeological material from the building period of the fortification was found in Section no. 6 at the entrance in the stone fortress. Several lead shots, rings and bronze buttons, Ottoman and Polish coins were found here. Also, a Moldovan medieval coin was discovered at the old stepping level which marked the beginning of building the fortress, issued by reign Bogdan III (1504-15017), son of Ştefan cel Mare. It seems that he also continued the building works at the stone fortress started by his predecessor Ştefan cel Mare.

It is to mention that during the investigations many soil samples were taken from different areas adjacent to the fortress, samples of mortar from different wall building levels of the stone fortress, samples of mortar from stones discovered in the earth and wood fortress ditch which will be subject to further analysis in the laboratory.

Sergiu MUSTEAŢĂ, Ion TENTIUC, Ion URSU