#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

„Republic of Moldova in philately: history and culture”

Dedicated to the Independence Day

August 25th– September 7th, 2014

Philately, part of cultural inheritance, is and will remain a representative element of the country's image into the world. The stamp, a true ambassador of history and traditions, of cultural, national and universal moral values is rightfully considered at international level one of national symbols along with the flag, coat of arms, hymn and coin.

Exhibition „Republic of Moldova in philately: history and culture”

The body responsible for the issue, circulation and retreat from circulation of postal stamps in the Republic of Moldova from 1992 on, after accession to the Universal Postal Union, is the Ministry of Information Technology and Communications. Printing and publishing philatelic material is charged to the State Enterprise "Poșta Moldovei".

The first postal stamps of Republic of Moldova were issued on June 23^rd, 1991 and were dedicated to the first anniversary of the proclamation of sovereignty, bearing statehood attributes - coat of arms and flag of Republic of Moldova.

Moldova was the first former Soviet country to issue its own stamps. From 1991 to date were issued 875 official marks of Republic of Moldova.

The exhibition reunites many philatelic objects issued between 1991 and 2014 by the Ministry of Information Technology and Communications of Republic of Moldova - postal stamps, booklets and laced sheets, envelopes, postcards, models and essays - stored in the collections of the National Museum of History of Moldova and the State enterprise „Poșta Moldovei".

In the multitude of topics addressed for 23 years, Moldovan philately promoted with honor cultural and historical values. Most representative philatelic objects are part of the exhibition framework. Turning point moments from our history, history and culture personalities, symbolic landmarks and monuments, heritage objects are among the aspects mirrored in the exhibition. Philatelic materials display: the Great National Assembly, election day of the first president of Republic of Moldova, 15 years from accession to UN, 70 years from the first mass deportation wave of Bessarabaians; fortresses of Soroca, Tighina (Bender), Orhei, Hotin, Cetatea Albă, Ismail and Chilia; monasteries of Căpriana, Curchi, Hârbovăț, Japca, Rudi, Saharna and Ţipova; rulers of Moldova such as Alexandru cel Bun, Ştefan cel Mare, Petru Rareș, Mihai Viteazul, Vasile Lupu, Dimitrie Cantemir etc.; eminent personalities such as G. Ureche, Dosoftei, Varlaam, M. Costin, N. Milescu, I. Creangă, M. Eminescu, A. Bernardazzi, M. Berezovschi, A. Mateevici, Pan Halipa, Ş. Ciobanu, G. Vieru, M. Bieșu etc.

Thus, philatelic materials displayed in the exhibition illustrate the true national values that should not be forgotten, as they are what characterize us, define us, and enrich us.

With this exhibition, the public is being offered a small part of the living inheritance of our past and the opportunity to admire the beauty of design, of colors and printing technique of philatelic pieces.