#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.

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“Echoes of War” exhibition Opens in Moldova

4 October, 2023

"Echoes of War" by a Syrian photojournalist, Omar Sanadiki opened on 4 October in the National Museum of History of Moldova. The exhibition depicts two distant, yet intertwined wars in Syria and in Ukraine. The photos in Ukraine were shot in June this year, and were brought to Chişinău by the European External Action Service (EEAS) as a collaborative project with the photographer. "Echoes of War" will stay on show until 31 October at the Museum.

In his captivating photos, Sanadiki provides a reflective visual journey contrasting the turbulent atmospheres from the war that broke out in 2011 in Syria with those captured in 2023 in Ukraine. Sanadiki documents the war in Syria since its first day, photographing the destruction and the lives of the inhabitants of Homes, Aleppo and Damascus. The idea of the exhibition was born in Ukraine, during a media training organized by the EEAS which Sanadiki participated in.

During the opening of the exhibition on 4 October, the photographer said: "While visiting Ukraine and talking to the Ukrainian journalists, I felt inspired by seeing how the Ukrainian people cope with the war". "It reminded me of my people, of Syrians. Of our suffering and pain".

Sanadiki paired the photos he took in Syria with the frames from Ukraine in ten powerful stories, from personal reaction to destruction, portraying the inside of bombed houses, hands going through the rubble in the search of faded memories and pieces of past lives. He also depicts how life continues in both nations, with everyday tales of families, friends and passers-by who continue to live in Syria and Ukraine.

"These photos represent two distant, yet intertwined experiences of war, suffering and resilience" - said Aude Maio-Coliche, Director of Strategic Communication and Foresight at the European External Action Service at the opening. "They transcend geographical and cultural or linguistic boundaries".

Ambassador Jānis Mažeiks, the Head of EU Delegation to the Republic of Moldova said "It is very important that there are artists who document this evil, but also document the humanity, the way life goes on, how children are being born and raised, even against the background of shelled buildings".

"For me" - added the Ambassador - "it is also a reminder of being on the right side of the history. I think we can collectively take pride in the fact that the European Union and the Republic of Moldova both on the occasions of Syria and of the war in Ukraine - Russia's unprovoked aggression against Ukraine - have been on the right side of the history, not only in words, but also in deeds".

"Echoes of War" is an example of the efforts of the European Union to continue the conversation about the true cost of war. It also serves as a reminder that even in the darkest of times, the human spirit remains unbroken, ever-resilient, ever-hopeful.

The exhibition is a result of the training for journalists that took place in Poland and Ukraine for journalists coming from the outside of the European Union organized by the EEAS this summer. On Thursday and Friday the media professionals are visiting Chişinău to join training organized by the EEAS for media representatives from the Western Balkans, Middle East, Africa, South America and Asia to discuss the challenges of disinformation and information manipulation faced by the media today.

The exhibition will stay on display at the National Museum of History of Moldova until 31 October.