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#Exhibit of the Month

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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


International Collaboration

2008-2010

In collaboration with Deutsches Forschung Gemeinschaft (Bonn) and Institut Praehistorische Archaeologie, Frei Universitat (Berlin) in the period of July 1 – August 31, 2008 there were conducted archaeological field excavations in the Late Bronze Age settlement from Odaia (Drochia district, Republic of Moldova).  Interdisciplinary studies: accumulation of soil samples to perform chemical, palaeobotanical, and palaeozoological analysis to determine the palaeoeconomy of the Late Bronze Age.


Collaboration between the National Museum of Archeology and History of Moldova and the National Museum Complex "Moldova", Iasi, in association with museums from Ukraine, embodied in the organization of a joint exhibition „Cucuteni-Trypillia, Una Grande Civilta dell’ Antica Europa, V-III millenni a.C.” in the Vatican Chancellery Palace in Rome (September 16 - November 5, 2008). Organized by the Ministry of Culture and Religious Cults of Romania, in cooperation with the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of Ukraine, with the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the Republic of Moldova as a special guest, the collective exhibition brought together nearly five hundred objects covering the entire area of the ancient civilization of Cucuteni-Tripolye.

In collaboration with the Institute of Archaeology “Vasile Parvan” (Bucuresti, Romania) there was organized the 9th International Symposium of Numismatics, held in Chisinau on October 17-18, 2008. The event was attended by about 30 researchers, museum specialists, and collectors from the Republic of Moldova, Romania, Ukraine, Poland, and France. The symposium program included 18 scientific communications, which contributed to the progress of numismatics as a science.

On November 12 – 13, 2009 there were held the 10th International Numismatic Symposium, in which researchers from Romania (Bucharest, Suceava), Ukraine (Kiev, Kharkov, Odessa, Chernovtsy), and different research institutions from the Republic of Moldova have presented their scientific reports.

The National Museum of Archeology and History of Moldova participated in the project “Cultural Heritage without Borders” initiated by the Romanian Literature Museum and the District Library “Gh. Asachi”  from Iasi (Romania) in the period of September 2008 – June 2009. The project was funded by the EU in the framework of the Neighborhood Program Romania – the Republic of Moldova. The project activities were the following: organization of workshops on cultural marketing, two travelling exhibitions (European Values in Interwar Chisinau, European Values in Interwar Iasi), a database; publishing of brochures, leaflets, and maps on marketing and cultural entrepreneurship. Coordinator: Dr. E. Postica.

The National Museum of Archeology and History of Moldova, in partnership with the Museum "Vasile Parvan" from Barlad and in association with the Botosani District Museum and the Mixed Museum from Tecuci (Romania), participated in the project “Late Antiquity in Prut Basin”. The project was funded by the EU in the framework of the Neighborhood Program Romania – the Republic of Moldova. Aim of the project: to enter in scientific and public circulation new evidences relating to the common history and culture on both sides of the Prut River. The project duration: September 17, 2008 – September 17, 2009.  The project activities: organizing of the travelling exhibition “Late Antiquity in Prut Basin” (held on January 31 at Botosani, March 26 at Tecuci, May 17 at Barlad, and June 17 in Chisinau), the Scientific Workshop (May 22, 2009, Barlad), archaeological excavations (in the necropolis of Polocin/Pogonesti, the Iasi District), publishing of the Exhibition Catalogue. Coordinators: Dr.Hab. E. Sava, V. Bubulici.

The National Museum of Archeology and History of Moldova, in partnership with the National Museum Complex "Moldova", Iasi, and the District Museum of History “Stefan cel Mare”, Vaslui, participated in the project “Cucuteni – the Magic of Ceramics” funded by the EU in the framework of the Neighborhood Program Romania – the Republic of Moldova, 2004-2006. The project aimed to promote and facilitate public access to the shared invaluable cultural heritage. The project activities have resulted in organization of the temporary exhibition “Cucuteni – the Magic of Ceramics” in both the countries (July 23 in Chisinau and August 14 in Iasi). Coordinators: Dr.Hab. E. Sava, Dr. E. Postica.

The official presentation of the grant
The National Museum of Archaeology and History of Moldova has developed the project "Providing the National Museum of Archaeology and History of Moldova with technical equipment for the modernization of the restoration, exhibition activities and work with the public" financially supported by the Government of Japan in the framework of the Program of small-scale financial assistance in the field of culture, which is a part of the Japanese official assistance program for the development of the Republic of Moldova. The official presentation of the grant agreement for the project won by NMAHM was held on October 7, 2009 in the presence of the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to the Republic of Moldova E.S. Tadashi IZAWA. Duration of the project: October 2009 - October 2010. Aims: to provide the laboratories for metal and wooden objects restoration with modern equipment, to provide the museum exhibitions and the cinema hall for the public with audiovisual equipment, to provide modern showcases for temporary exhibitions. Coordinator: A. Cornetchi.



 

 


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