#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

"IMPRESSIONS FROM INDIA"

THE EXHIBITION OF ARTIST PHOTOGRAPHER PAUL BOCK (USA)

4-30 June, 2024

The International Association "Euro Photo Art" from Oradea (AIEFA) has prepared for photography lovers from the Republic of Moldova, an exhibition of photographic art of great artistic value, entitled "Impressions from India", which was also opened last year at the Palace of the Parliament in Romania, on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Romania and India.

The exhibition is organized under the auspices of the International Federation of Photographic Art recognized by UNESCO, in partnership with the National History Museum of Moldova, the Embassy of India in Romania and the Republic of Moldova respectively Summit Agro Romania, a company belonging to the Japanese corporation Sumitomo, supporter of agriculture and art.

This time, a selection of 50 large-format photographs will be installed on the easels in the hall at the entrance to the National History Museum of Moldova, made by the renowned photographer artist Paul Bock from the United States of America, originally from Oradea, member of AIEFA. The images were taken during a creative trip of the renowned photographic artist in the summer of 2022 in India. The images can also be viewed on the website of the International Association: https://eurofotoart.ro/expo-paul-bock-usa/.

The opening of the photographic art exhibition entitled "Impressions from India" will take place on Tuesday 04 June 2024, at 15:00, in the entrance hall of the National History Museum of Moldova, in the presence of distinguished guests, including the Ambassador of India in Romania, the Republic of Moldova and Albania, His Excellency Rahul Shrivastava, curator of the exhibition, photographer artist Ștefan Tóth István, President of AFIAP, ESFIAP and Dr. Eng. Patricia Maria Ştirbu, President of Summit Agro for Romania, the Republic of Moldova, Bulgaria and Adria.

On this occasion, the photographic art album "Impressions from India", by the photographer Paul Bock, published with the financial support of the Embassy of India in Romania and under the care of the publishing house "Euro Foto Art", will be released.

The musical moments of the opening will be provided by the renowned Oradean viola artist Thurzó Sándor József, who will perform several pieces from the Indian repertoire: "Poor Heart" by A.R. Rahman¸ "Fire in the city of Poroshmoni" by R. Tagore, "I still want you" by Mithoon and "Sare Jahan Se Acha" by Suhale Mazoor. The opening will be broadcast online on the Association's facebook address: https://www.facebook.com/EuroFotoArtAssociation

The famous photographer Paul Bock was born in Oradea, he graduated from the Mixed Classical High School in his hometown, and after obtaining an engineering degree from the Polythenic Institute of Timisoara, he returned to Oradea for a period of time, then, for 26 years, led a petrochemical plant design workshop in the USA, South Korea, Venezuela, Argentina, Brazil, Israel and Italy. His dream from his youth - photography - was forgotten, because of the activities of this period. After the family situation allowed him to do so, he also devoted himself to photography. Thus, from the year 2000, he studied with the renowned artist photographer Larry Jeans, the assistant in his youth to the renowned world-class photographer Ansel Adams. In 2004 he obtained the Diploma Tri - Community School of Photography from Los Angeles. On August 4, 2013, he joined the "Euro Photo Art" Association, and from 2017 he became the vice-president of the International Association for the USA. He regularly participated with his works in various international projects organized by the "Euro Photo Art" Association in different parts of the world.

Throughout his artistic career he obtained a series of international awards and distinctions. From his works, two exhibitions of photographic art were opened in 2009 and 2018, in the longest-running permanent gallery of photographic art in Romania, the "Euro Foto Art" Gallery - Oradea (RO), which in 2019 also became the 17th FIAP Exhibition Center in the world.

#Exhibit of the Month

The Mother of God “It Is Truly Meet” (“Axion Estin”)

"IMPRESSIONS FROM INDIA"

THE EXHIBITION OF ARTIST PHOTOGRAPHER PAUL BOCK (USA)

4-30 June, 2024

#Exhibit of the Month