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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


Exhibitions

“Among posters and musical instruments”

June 27, 2019 - November 23, 2020

 
The exhibition Among posters and musical instruments is the result of the research and valorization of the collection of posters (about a thousand pieces) and musical instruments from the collections of the National Museum of History of Moldova. Through its approximately 80 posters and 50 musical instruments, selected according to a chronological, typological and diversity criteria, the museum institution fulfills its obvious function to preserve in time and valorize the cultural heritage which includes posters and musical instruments. Established over several decades during the 20th century from donations and acquisitions, the poster collection is a short chronicle of Moldovan musical events from the East of Prut between 1900-2010. It is a pioneering exhibition, the collection of musical posters being displayed for the first time, and aims to familiarize the public with the evolution of the musical poster as advertising support of documentary and artistic value, but also as a work of art. The diversity of the collection of musical instruments, some with particular memorial value, allows us to follow and fill in the creative biography of artists, but also the existence of a musical piece in time.

The evolution of the musical poster both chronologically and as composition, form and content was structured into four categories: the musical poster from the Tsarist period (1812-1918), the interwar period (1918-1944), the Soviet period (1944-1991) and the musical poster from the period of independence of the Republic of Moldova. The oldest music program poster in the collections of the museum dates back to the 19th century and it is an announcement of the concert of the baritone V. Anenkov at the Nobility Club in Chişinău on February 6, 1900. The musical poster of the interwar period, modest as number, is valuable through generous information, where we can identify musical events, valuable interpreters, and places where musical performances were given. The Soviet-era musical poster was different from the previous ones in color, but also in text, as they also had an ideological role. In the early 90ies of the 20th century, the poster is varied in shape, chromatics, rich in images (with pictures of performing artists), but modest as informative text.

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The most valuable category of musical posters is those of classical music (symphonic, choral, instrumental, vocal) represented by the most famous orchestras of the time: Symphonic Orchestra of the State Philharmonic, National Symphonic Orchestra of „Teleradio Moldova" Company, National Chamber Orchestra, Academic Chapel „Doina", etc. A special message is offered by the posters of the popular folk music orchestras, which contributed to preserving and promoting the folk music: „Mugurel", „Fluieraş", „Folclor", „Lăutarii", the ethnofolkloric group „Tălăncuţa" etc. The collection includes posters of music groups and interpreters of popular music „Noroc", „Orizont", „Plai", „Legenda", „Colinda" etc., as well as posters of various festivals, contests and tours. In the musical atmosphere of the exhibition there is a beautiful collection of musical instruments, some of them of memorial value: the violin of the famous Bessarabian Gheorghe Heraru (1853-1920) and the violin of the master Sergei Lunchevici (1934-1995). The elegance of the music is also transmitted by the pieces of clothing that belonged to some personalities who left an important page in the history of the musical culture of the Republic of Moldova.


 




Independent Moldova
Moldavian Soviet Socialist Republic
Bessarabia and MASSR between the Two World Wars
Bessarabia and Moldavian Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic in the Period between the Two World Wars
Revival of National Movement
Time of Reforms and their Consequences
Abolition of Autonomy. Bessarabia – a New Tsarist Colony
Period of Relative Autonomy of Bessarabia within the Russian Empire
Phanariot Regime
Golden Age of the Romanian Culture
Struggle for Maintaining of Independence of Moldova
Formation of Independent Medieval State of Moldova
Era of the
Great Nomad Migrations
Early Middle Ages
Iron Age and Antiquity
Bronze Age
Aeneolithic Age
Neolithic Age
Palaeolithic Age
  
  

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#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...

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The National Museum of History of Moldova takes place among the most significant museum institutions of the Republic of Moldova, in terms of both its collection and scientific reputation.
©2006-2025 National Museum of History of Moldova
Visit museum 31 August 1989 St., 121 A, MD 2012, Chisinau, Republic of Moldova
Phones:
Secretariat: +373 (22) 24-43-25
Department of Public Relations and Museum Education: +373 (22) 24-04-26
Fax: +373 (22) 24-43-69
E-mail: office@nationalmuseum.md
Technical Support: info@nationalmuseum.md
Web site administration and maintenance: Andrei EMILCIUC

 



The National Museum of History of Moldova takes place among the most significant museum institutions of the Republic of Moldova, in terms of both its collection and scientific reputation.
©2006-2025 National Museum of History of Moldova
Visit museum 31 August 1989 St., 121 A, MD 2012, Chisinau, Republic of Moldova
Phones:
Secretariat: +373 (22) 24-43-25
Department of Public Relations and Museum Education: +373 (22) 24-04-26
Fax: +373 (22) 24-43-69
E-mail: office@nationalmuseum.md
Technical Support: info@nationalmuseum.md
Web site administration and maintenance: Andrei EMILCIUC

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The National Museum of History of Moldova takes place among the most significant museum institutions of the Republic of Moldova, in terms of both its collection and scientific reputation.
©2006-2025 National Museum of History of Moldova
Visit museum 31 August 1989 St., 121 A, MD 2012, Chisinau, Republic of Moldova
Phones:
Secretariat: +373 (22) 24-43-25
Department of Public Relations and Museum Education: +373 (22) 24-04-26
Fax: +373 (22) 24-43-69
E-mail: office@nationalmuseum.md
Technical Support: info@nationalmuseum.md
Web site administration and maintenance: Andrei EMILCIUC