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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

“Costești – the town of craftsmen on Botna River”

(dedicated to the 65th anniversary from the first systematic archaeological excavations)

26 September - 18 December 2019

 
Costești archaeological site is one of the most important medieval complexes in the area between Prut and Nistru Rivers. For the first time the settlement situated in the meadow of the Botna River and the fortress located to the north of the medieval town, were published in 1924 by historian Ștefan Ciobanu. Ten years later, in 1934, Teodor Porucic conducted the first excavations at Costești. In the post-war years, archaeological surveys in the perimeter of the earth fortification at Costești-Gârlea and the surrounding area were conducted by archaeologists G.D. Smirnov, G.B. Fedorov, Em. Rikman. In 1954, archaeological excavations were carried out in the area of the urban settlement and the earth citadel which resulted with important clarifications regarding the extent and cultural and chronological aspects of the Costești-Gârlea complex. Other ground surveys were carried out by Nicolae Chetraru in 1956.

Important are the excavations conducted by L.L. Polevoi in 1957 and 1959 at the site of Costești. The researcher presented the results of his study in two academic reports, a few articles and one monograph. In the years 1978-1979, Ecaterina Abîzova resumed the excavations at the settlement dated with the 14th century from Costești-Gârlea, both in the craft sector and in the precinct of the settlement situated in the Botna River meadow. Rescue excavations at the medieval town from Costești were conducted in 1993 by archaeologists N. Telnov and T. Reaboi. Important works were carried out in 2005 by researchers A. Gorodenco and N. Russev, however the results of their research still remains unpublished. The most recent important archaeological excavations, a rescue campaign, at the medieval settlement of Costești-Gârlea were undertaken in 2016-2019 by the National Archaeological Agency.

In conclusion, in the period between 1934 and 2019, a total of 10 archaeological excavation campaigns were organized in Costești. All these studies, however, had more of a salvage character, were limited and far from providing sufficient data to elucidate the overall problems. Archaeological research has shown that the medieval town from Costești-Gârlea consisted of several sectors, some representing real neighborhoods comprising, among others, public buildings, stone or brick houses provided with a system of water supply through ceramic pipes, also deep dwellings, different craft workshops, and other structures. At the periphery of the settlement were identified two (?) cemeteries with burial tombs, a funeral crypt or a mausoleum, and near the town - two fortified sites, whose chronology and significance are not yet sufficiently clarified.

On the occasion of the 65th anniversary of systematic research at Costești, the National Museum of History of Moldova comes to the public with an exhibition in which are presented a series of objects that have been discovered during the archaeological excavations. Most of them were restored by the specialists of the National Museum of History of Moldova. The originality of the exhibition is that most of the pieces are exhibited for the first time, although they were previously researched and made known to the academic world through different publications. The exhibition includes also a series of images that reflect the process of archaeological research, a few general views of the site and a map.

The exhibition is structured in four sections:
I. Domestic clay pots and household remains;
II. Household metal objects;
III. Coins and adornments;
IV. Construction materials and aqueduct fragments.

In the first section are displayed several clay pots represented by enameled ceramic pots of different colors, spindles, candlesticks, dish holders, etc.

The second section is dedicated to craft objects made of metal. These include several knives, nails and horseshoes, a large metal vessel.

The following section presents a lot of pieces of adornment, especially buckles and rings, discovered on the site, probably of local production. In this section are exhibited coin issues from Costești - Gârlea, minted in the workshop from Costești, as well as other coin types coming from other countries which were discovered on the site, but also some money boxes.

In the fourth section are included different types of construction materials: simple and glazed bricks, but also pipes from the aqueduct or sewage.

The opening of the exhibition was Thursday, 26 September, 2019.

Organizer:
National Museum of History of Moldova

Partners:
National Archaeological Agency
Collector Petru Costin

Curators:
Dr. Anuța Boldureanu, Dr. Ion Tentiuc


 




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

menu
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