EN RO















#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


Exhibitions

"Heydar Aliyev - Life and activity of a remarkable personality"

6 – 20 April 2023

There are leaders who go down in history and stay there. And there are leaders who create national history. Heydar Aliyev became the leader who created the modern history of Azerbaijan. History remembers him as a true legend of his time, a powerful head of state and a devoted and unique figure capable of taking on the difficult historical task of state building.

This year, Azerbaijan celebrates 100 years since the birth of the Leader of the All Nation of Azerbaijan - Heydar Aliyev. The great Heydar Aliyev was an outstanding statesman and world-class politician.

The 35-year history of Azerbaijan, covering the period from the late 1960s to the beginning of the 21st century, is directly linked to the name of Heydar Aliyev. His political flair and invaluable human qualities enabled the young state to stand up and successfully enter the 21st century as an independent country.

Since his appointment as the leader of Soviet Azerbaijan in July 1969, Heydar Aliyev began the process of significant transformation of Azerbaijan. Under his watch, Azerbaijan achieved great success in the economy and became a leader on the scale of the entire Union. During these years, the industrial potential of Azerbaijan has increased more than twice.

In 1982, Heydar Aliyev was appointed the first deputy chairman of the Council of Ministers of the USSR. For the first time, the representative of Azerbaijan became one of the leaders of the Soviet Union. In October 1987, Heydar Aliyev resigned from office in protest at the political course followed by the Politburo of the CPSU Central Committee. In connection with the tragedy of January 20, 1990, when a large contingent of troops entered Baku by force and massacred many people, Heydar Aliyev was the first to demand the punishment of the organizers and executors of the crime committed against the Azerbaijani people.

After his return to Azerbaijan in July 1990, Heydar Aliyev lived in Baku and then in Nakhchivan, where he was elected chairman of the Supreme Assembly of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic. As a result of an extreme government crisis in May-June 1993, Azerbaijan was on the verge of civil war and the loss of independence. The Azerbaijani people demanded that Heydar Aliyev be brought to power in the country, for which he was elected president of the Supreme Soviet of Azerbaijan, and on October 3, 1993, he became the president of independent Azerbaijan and was re-elected to this position in 1998.

With the return of Heydar Aliyev to the leadership of Azerbaijan in 1993, a deep transformation began in the political, social, economic, scientific and cultural life of the country, as well as in the foreign affairs of Azerbaijan and the development of an independent state in accordance with international norms and principles.

As the architect of Azerbaijan's new energy strategy, the Leader of the Whole Nation of the Azerbaijani People, Heydar Aliyev, was the author of some crucial political decisions in the 1990s, which were of great importance in shaping the country's energy policy and demonstrated, at the same time , the willingness of the Republic to contribute to Europe's energy security. Therefore, on September 20, 1994, the "contract of the century" was signed, which went down in history as one of the biggest and most significant events of the 20th century.

During his 10-year presidency, Heydar Aliyev undertook radical reforms in Azerbaijan and transformed the ruins of the nearly devastated country into a viable state. Heydar Aliyev's multi-vector policy became the state strategy that brought prosperity and stability to the country. Under the leadership of Heydar Aliyev, Azerbaijan's foreign policy, as well as its relations with the world's main states and international organizations, began to develop a course based on national interests and a visionary political perspective.

Thanks to the active diplomacy of Heydar Aliyev, Azerbaijan managed to achieve a dramatic change in the attitude of democratic states and important public organizations of the world towards our country and towards the armed conflict, in which Azerbaijan was involved against its will. The fundamental elements of Heydar Aliyev's foreign policy were peace, respect for international law, the territorial integrity of states and the inviolability of their borders, the principles of mutually beneficial cooperation and the elimination of any restrictions that hinder relations between states.

Being an outstanding politician and statesman, the undisputed leader of the nation, he was a living legend, and therefore Heydar Aliyev, as a phenomenon, always attracted attention. The name of Heydar Aliyev will always live in the hearts of people and future generations. Heydar Aliyev's personality and charisma attracted many of the great intellectuals of our time.

Being an outstanding politician and statesman, the undisputed leader of the nation, he was a living legend, and therefore Heydar Aliyev, as a phenomenon, always attracted attention. The name of Heydar Aliyev will always live in the hearts of people and future generations. Heydar Aliyev's personality and charisma attracted many of the great intellectuals of the time.

The exhibition is organized by the Embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the National Museum of History of Moldova, the National Archives Agency, with the support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration of the Republic of Moldova and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan and can be visited between April 6-20 2023, in the hall on the ground floor of the National Museum of History of Moldova, str. 31 August 1989, 121A.


 




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
  
  

Come to Museum! Discover the History!
  
Visit museum
Visit museum
Summer schedule: daily
10am – 6pm.

Winter schedule: daily
10am – 5pm.
Closed on Mondays.
Entrance fees:  adults - 50 MDL, Pensioners, students - 20 lei, pupils - 10 MDL. Free access: enlisted men (...)

WiFi Free Wi-Fi Zone in the museum: In the courtyard of the National History Museum of Moldova there is Wi-Fi Internet access for visitors.


#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...

Read More >>

































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