#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.

Virtual Tour

Research Academic Reports

From the Museum's 2019 Agenda (Science Component)

In 2019 the museum’s researchers will continue to work on individual research topics within the institutional project The role of museum heritage in the development of contemporary society.

According to Order no.1857 of 17.12.2018 of the Ministry of Education, Culture and Research of the Republic of Moldova, the project The role of museum heritage in the development of contemporary society was extended for the year 2019 (funding for 2019 has been approved)

In 2019, the museum's researchers will continue to research and systematize heritage museum collections: the collection of documents and photographs, post-war poster collection, postcard collection, archaeological collections (Paleolithic - Early Middle Ages), numismatics collections, biographical collections of some outstanding personalities (the Bessarabian nobility) and their presentation to the scientific community and the public at different scientific events and temporary exhibitions.

The researchers will participate with papers, reports and theses at symposiums, conferences, seminars organized in the republic and abroad. Three scientific events are scheduled:

Heraldic Symposium, 13^th edition;

Annual scientific conference of the museum History. Archaeology. Museology, 29^th edition;

International Symposium of Numismatics, 19^th edition, October 2019

Two issues of the museum’s journal Tyragetia will be structured and edited: no.1 Archaeology. Ancient History; no.2 History. Museology, 2018. The following monographs will be published:

E. Sava, I. Manzura, S. Agulnikov, Tumuli din stepa Bugeacului Cercetări arheologice în anii 1984-1987. (Barrows from the steppe of Bugeac. Archaeological research in 1984-1987)

S. Ţerna, M. Vasilache-Curoşu, Figurine antropomorfe din etapa Cucuteni A din interfluviul pruto-nistrean (în baza colecţiilor Muzeului Naţional de Istorie a Moldovei). (Anthropomorphic figurines from the Cucuteni A stage in the interfluves of Prut and Nistru (based on collections of the National Museum of History of Moldova).

All scientific and cultural events will have additional promotional materials.

The results of the research will be valorized through museum exhibitions, primarily by organization of temporary exhibitions devoted to important events in the history of the republic, and by creation of new exhibitions of museum collections. Researchers will develop the scientific concept and thematic structure for the following temporary exhibitions:

ArheOS. Când antropologii şi arheologii fac oasele să vorbească. (ArheOS. When anthropologists and archaeologists make bones talk)

Afişul muzical în colecţia Muzeului Naţional de Istorie a Moldovei. (Musical poster in the collection of the National Museum of History of Moldova)

Situl arheologic Costeşti. 65 de ani de cercetări arheologice. (The archaeological site of Costeşti. 65 years of archaeological research)

Figuri antropomorfe cucuteniene. (Cucuteni antropomorthic figures)

Interesting pieces, materials and documents will be collected and purchased for the purpose of developing the museum heritage and organization of future exhibitions. The process of digitalization of museum heritage will continue. Files of analytical inventory will be drawn up for each cultural asset from the museum collections and for all the pieces that will enter the museum heritage through filed research, acquisitions and donations. The classification of mobile cultural pieces will continue.

For all major events organized by museum researchers will be issued press releases to be distributed to various channels of information.

The information about scientific events and exhibitions organized by the museum will be promoted in the printed media, on Radio and on TV.

Museum researchers will constantly update the museum's website with written information for both the general public and interested specialists.