#Exhibit of the Month

Around thirty icons from the collection of the National Museum of History of Moldova feature Saint Nicholas the Hierarch and Miracle Worker. While most represent the later iconographic tradition, a few early images stand out as rare examples due to their composition.
In the icon "Saint Nicholas with Scenes from His Life", the hierarch is depicted bust-length, blessing the Gospel. He is framed by two round medallions showing Christ and the Mother of God, who hand him the Gospel and the omophorion. Saint Nicholas, earlier than other saints, was portrayed with scenes from his hagiographic cycle. The first images of his life date back to the 11th century, represented on a folding icon from the Monastery of Saint Catherine at Sinai.

The museum icon dates from the early 19th century, preserving the traditional chest format typical of classical icons. Twelve panels illustrate episodes from the saint's life, arranged from left to right: four on the upper register, four on the lower, and two on each side, as follows: Birth of Saint Nicholas (1), Baptism of Saint Nicholas (2), Miracle of Healing the Crippled Woman (3), Apprenticeship of Young Nicholas (4), Ordination as Deacon (5), Ordination as Bishop (6) Vision of Constantine (7), Saint Nicholas Saves Three Voivodes from Execution (8), Miracle of Rescue from Drowning (9), Miracle of Saving Basil from the Arabs (10), Dormition of Saint Nicholas (11), Translation of the Relics of Saint Nicholas to Bari (12).

Saint Nicholas the Hierarch is commemorated by the Orthodox Church twice a year: on December 6/19, the day of his birth, and on May 9/22, the day his relics were transferred from Myra to Bari (1087). Among all saints of the Christian world, the image of Saint Nicholas is one of the most popular, easily recognizable even to those unfamiliar with iconography.

He was born in the Roman Empire, at Patara in the province of Lycia, between 260-280, though early sources omit the exact date. Coming from a wealthy family, he rejected fame and luxury. From an early age he devoted himself to prayer and the study of Holy Scripture, while also mastering other disciplines. He avoided noisy gatherings and idle talk, attended church regularly, and pursued a life of chastity. Later he dedicated himself to pastoral ministry, defending the Christian faith with perseverance and firmly opposing heresies.
Through his care for people and the benefactions he performed everywhere, he became highly venerated not only in Myra but also in the surrounding regions. The grace of the Holy Spirit dwelling in his heart was revealed through miracles performed both during his life and after his death, earning him the enduring title of "Miracle Worker." Saint Nicholas passed away in the 330s (circa 334-337), and his remains were placed in a sumptuous marble tomb in the episcopal cathedral where he had served for many years. This soon became an important center of pilgrimage.
Holy Tradition has preserved with accuracy the features of his portrait, and his appearance in icons is marked by a distinct individuality. Ecclesiastical art has produced numerous iconographic representations, ranging from bust images to full-length depictions. The diversity of these representations suggests that the final iconography of Saint Nicholas was not yet established, taking shape only in the 10th-11th centuries. It is said that an authentic icon from the basilica in Myra, executed during the saint's lifetime and mentioned in written sources as early as the 11th century, played a significant role in his veneration.
Icons depicting the hagiographic cycle of Saint Nicholas spread widely in both Byzantine and post-Byzantine art, confirming the importance and popularity of his cult.

Virtual Tour

International Collaboration

2015

Dr. hab. Elena Ploșnița, scientific secretary of the museum, participated between 22 and 27 February, 2015 at training on museum documentation in Warsaw and Gdańsk, Poland, organized and funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Poland.

National Museum of History of Moldova in cooperation with the Department Europe-Asia of the German Archaeological Institute in Berlin continued in 2015 (between May 29 and July 5) field archaeological research in the surroundings of v. Sofia, Drochia at the Eneolithic settlement "Petreni" (Cucuteni-Trypillian culture), dated with the 5th millennia BC.

MNIM was partner in project "Early urbanism in prehistoric Europe: the case of Trypillian mega-sites" initiated by the University of Durham, England and the Institute of Archaeology in Kiev, Ukraine. The project had final goal the organization of an international exhibition about the history of Cucuteni-Trypillian proto-cities, which was presented in all project countries. In Chișinău, the exhibition "Trypillian Mega-sites" was on display from September 9 to November 6, 2015.

Based on the agreement with the National Museum Complex "Moldova" from Iași, Romania, the exhibition "Heritage values from the collection of the Museum of Science and Technique Ştefan Procopiu, Iași" was organized at MNIM in the period from September 23 to October 26, 2015.

The National Museum of History of Moldova in collaboration with the Institute of Archaeology „Vasile Pârvan" from Bucharest, Romania, organized the 25th edition of the Symposium of Numismatics on October 29-30, 2015. The event was attended by numismatists researchers from Romania, Ukraine and Moldova.

MNIM has participated in the exhibition "Krieg - Eine Archaeologishe Spuresuche" (War - decoding archaeological traces), open for visiting from November 5, 2015 - May 22, 2016 at the Landesmuseum für Vorgeschichte in Halle, Germany. An international team of museums from Germany, Netherlands, France, Switzerland, Austria, Czech Republic and Moldova participated at the organization of the exhibition. Our museum was present with 14 archaeological pieces from the Eneolithic period unearthed during research on the tumulus of Giurgiulești.

Mariana Sîrbu, researcher in the sector Archaeology and Ancient History, participated at the Autumn School for PhD students in ancient history and archaeology in Valea Alunului, com. Boșorod, jud. Hunedoara, România on October 3-11, 2015. The school was organized by the Educational Center of „Dacica" Foundation.

Dr. Natalia Mateevici, researcher in the sector Archaeology and Ancient History obtained a research fellowship for archaeological documentation at the Archaeological School in Athens in the period November 1 - December 1, 2015.

Mariana Vasilache, researcher in the sector of Archaeology and Ancient History, had an archaeological documentation visit at the Prehistoric Museum from Halle, Germany, part of project „Krieg - Eine Archaeologishe Spuresuche", November 1-10, 2015.

#Exhibit of the Month

Icon “Saint Nicholas with Scenes from His Life”

2015

#Exhibit of the Month