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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

DAY AND NIGHT OF MUSEUMS 2013

18 May 2013

On 18 May there are celebrated International Museum Day and Night of Museums, two of the most important events in the life of worldwide community of museums.

The National Museum of History of Moldova organized a marathon of events dedicated to the Day and Night of Museums, which lasted 15 hours.

The International Museum Day celebrations were held from 11:00 to 18:00, and the program dedicated to The European Night of Museums started at 18:00 and ended at 02:00.

Program of the International Museum Day included:

In the rooms of the museum
  • POSTER DAY OF MUSEUMS at the National Museum of History of Moldova
    Workshops for children: Experimental Archaeology, Paper Folding Techniques, History and Art of Writing (11:00-16:00)
  • Screening of documentary films (11:00-17:00)
  • Round Table Conference „Museum as an Area of Discovery and Knowledge within a School Curriculum". The event was attended by school teachers from Chisinau. The debate focused on improving the teaching of history in schools using a museum as important resource for teaching and learning (11:00-12:00).
  • Opening of the exhibition "Weapons and Military Equipment - an Evolution Throughout Centuries" (13:00)
  • Musical improvisations with Elena Bogachenko's disciples, the Republican Boarding School of Music named after Sergei Rachmaninoff (12:30)
Workshops for children: History and Art of Writing  Workshops for children: Paper Folding TechniquesWorkshops for children: Experimental Archaeology
Musical improvisations with Elena Bogachenko's disciples, the Republican Boarding School of Music named after Sergei Rachmaninoff
Musical improvisations with Elena Bogachenko's disciples, the Republican Boarding School of Music named after Sergei Rachmaninoff

In the museum yard
  • Exhibition and master-class of hand-made toys (11:00-18:00)
  • Trampoline, swing (11:00-18:00)
  • Contest „Know the Heritage and Win!" (12:00-13:00)
  • Archery (13:00-18:00)
  • Children's entertainment program "Children's Games of the Past" (13:00-16:00)
  • Military historical show with costumes and medieval weaponry supported by students of the Academy "Stefan cel Mare" of Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Moldova (14:00)
  • "In the rhythm of dance" with the Modern Dance Ensemble „Atlantica" (15:00)
Contest „Know the Heritage and Win! Exhibition and master-class of hand-made toys (11:00-18:00) Trampoline, swing (11:00-18:00) Archery (13:00-18:00)

Program of the Night of Museums:


POSTER NIGHT OF MUSEUMS at the National Museum of History of Moldova
This year the event was held under the title „Games and Entertainment of the Old Days".

The public could visit the permanent exhibitions "History and Civilization" and the Diorama of the Iasi-Chisinau Operation, as well as the temporary exhibition opened on this occasion "Weapons and Military Equipment - an Evolution of Human Society throughout History".

The museum exhibition rooms as well as the yard became an arena of games and entertainment in which our ancestors used to spent their leisure time and which helped them to relax and get closer to each other. On this night people were able to learn more about the ability of their ancestors to enjoy life.

In the rooms of the museum there unfolded the Roman festival „Floralia", medieval Feast of Fools, games (dice, chess, backgammon, card games), farces, there were showed a silent movie, modern and old dances.

The public could visit „News Tearoom" (where the visitors could look through the century-old newspapers), photographic workshop „Retro-Museum", „Military Wardrobe" (who wished was able to try on uniforms from the museum's collection).

In the downstairs hall there was shown a film about the lost cultural heritage and was organized hand-made jewelry workshops.

In the museum yard there took place:
  • The Museum Night exhibit: tractor „Universal" (1948), Lapidarium (18:00-02:00)
  • Exhibition and master-class of hand-made toys (18:00-24:00)
  • Archery (18:00-21:00)
  • Tent of the military history and art enthusiasts (18:00-24:00)
  • Contest "Know the Heritage and Win!"
  • Melodies of yesterday and today performed by the Orchestra-Model of Ministry of Internal Affairs, military conductor Oleg Cazacu (19:00)
  • Festival of Military Traditions. Students of the Academy „Stefan cel Mare" of Ministry of Internal Affairs presented methods of combat and weapons handling skills (20:00)
  • Dance Show with Just Friends Ballet, choreographer Igor Munteanu (21:00)
  • Procession of torchbearers. Fighting in armor (21:50)
  • uNick at Night. Live music concert (22:30)

DAY AND NIGHT OF MUSEUMS at the National Museum of History of Moldova

The Roman festival „FloraliaMedieval Feast of Fools
Hand-made jewelry workshops
Hand-made jewelry workshops
Games (dice, chess, backgammon, card games)
Modern and old dancesGames (dice, chess, backgammon, card games)„Military WardrobeMelodies of yesterday and today performed by the Orchestra-Model of Ministry of Internal Affairs, military conductor Oleg CazacuDance Show with Just Friends Ballet, choreographer Igor Munteanu

Partners: KissFM, TV7, Academy „Stefan cel Mare" of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Chess Academy of Moldova, Historical Club Ensifer, Republican Center for Children and Youth ARTICO, National College of Choreography, Municipal Department for Child Protection, Archery Federation, uNick Band, Just Friends Ballet, Republican Boarding School of Music "Sergei Rachmaninoff", Ministry of Internal Affairs, Cooperative Commercial University of Moldova, Moldova State University



 

 


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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Entrance fees:  adults - 50 MDL, Pensioners, students - 20 lei, pupils - 10 MDL. Free access: enlisted men (...)

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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

menu
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