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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.

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Events Archive

Annual Scientific Session of the Museum 2013

October 4, 2013

As part of the institutional project „Scientific valorification and promotion of various categories of museum heritage"(2013-2014) was organized the 23rd edition of the yearly session of scientific communications on October 3rd and 4th, 2013. This year the session was opened by welcome words from dr.hab. Eugen Sava, general director of the museum, Victor Ghilaș, scientific secretary of Humanistic Sciences Section of ASM, univ. prof. Ion Eremia, State University of Moldova, Sergiu Musteață, dean of History and Ethno-pedagogy Department of State Pedagogical University „I.Creangă". Their speeches are messages of appreciation of museum collaborators efforts towards scientific research and public valorization of museum heritage.

The participants at the opening session assisted also at the presentation of two numbers of the museum journal Tyragetia. Dr. Aurel Zanoci and dr.hab. Elena Ploșnița expressed their gratitude to authors which contributed to the publication of a new issue of this prestigious scientific journal.


The program of the session included 60 presentations divided in three sections. Three papers were presented at the plenary session by dr. L. Zabolotnaia (Institute of History of ASM), dr. hab. E. Sava and dr. A. Boldureanu (National Museum of History of Moldova).

This year the session was attended by researchers and museographers from universities, academic and museum institutions from the republic and from abroad: Romania, Ukraine and Russia.

At the section Archaeology, Ancient and Medieval History were presented 22 papers, most of them focusing on the results of the latest archaeological investigations. With a novelty spirit are the papers „Preliminary considerations regarding archaeological research at Soroca Fortress in 2012-2013"(S. Mustață, I. Tentiuc, I. Ursu), „Preliminary archaeological investigations at Manuc-Bey Complex" (O. Levițki, I. Ciobanu, L. Ciobanu), „Archaeological research at Saharna Mică open settlement from 2013"(I. Niculiță, A. Nicic, A. Corobcean) etc.

Those 24 papers presented in the section Modern and contemporary history revealed an array of topics regarding economy, culture, religion, personalities from national history and culture. Two papers - „Advertising for slaves trade in Romanian Principalities" (dr. Marian Petcu, Bucharest) and „Gipsies/Roma - the seventh national minority in Big Romania (1918-1940)" ( Ion Duminică, Chișinău, based on archival documents and multidisciplinary historiographic resources, highlighted some problems of the historic and social evolution of Roma in different historical periods. Interesting and novelty subjects were reflected in the presentations of dr. Dinu Poștarencu, dr. Igor Cereteu, dr. Liliana Condraticova, dr. prof. Valentin Tomuleț etc.

The presentations form the section Museology and valorization of museum heritage were rich in thematic and approached various problems from national museology and spoke about the need to permanently valorize museum cultural assets. Are worth of mentioning the papers „West-European dictionaries and encyclopedias from the collections of the National History Museum of Moldova" by dr. Andrei Emilciuc, „KEV Journal - an environment for advertising (19th - beginning of 20th cc.) by V. Serjant, „Book editors from Bessarabia (end of 19th - beginning of 20th cc.) by A. Grițco. Tina Fedoseeva from Ukraine, presented „Principles of organizing temporary exhibitions on the place of archaeological and architectural monuments" which raised many questions and provoked and serious debate.
Already a tradition of national museology, this year's edition of the session was part of events organized on the occasion of the 30th anniversary from the foundation of the National History Museum of Moldova.



 

 


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