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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.

Virtual Tour


Museum education

SIGN UP TO EDUCATIONAL AND ENTERTAINMENT PROJECTS!

The National Museum of History of Moldova proposes a student education program entitled "Altfel de școală la muzeu" ("A different kind of school at the museum"). The main objective of this program is learning through and in the museum, in the context of harnessing mobile national patrimony.

Participation in these educational projects of the museum is by appointment. Entries can be submitted from Monday to Thursday between 11.00 - 16.00, by calling 022240426 or by sending an e-mail at muzeuldeistorie@gmail.com . For details contact: Department of Public Relations and Museum Education tel. 022240426.

The structure of the "A different kind of school at the museum" program


Cycle of museum lessons/ interactive visits

The interactive visit takes place in one of the halls of the permanent exhibition "History and civilization" and implies an interdisciplinary and interactive approach of the chosen theme, using principles of active pedagogy. The topics are treated differentially, depending on age and level of knowledge of the young audiences.

Themes of active visits:
-         Our ancestors - our history
-         Sketches from the medieval history of Moldova
-         Bessarabia in the Russian Empire, 1812-1917
-         The Great Union and the integration of Bessarabia into Greater Romania
-         The political repressions of the Stalinist dictatorship.
Educational notebooks „A journey into prehistory and ancient history", „Discover the Middle Ages with the curious Knight", „Events. Facts. People." (Contemporary History) and „Travel in time" (Prehistory - Contemporary History) are used as a tools for museum pedagogy which promotes education through heritage as an alternative form of knowledge of history. Coordinators: G. Mîrzac, N. Popovici, T. Zaremba, E. Golban.


Workshops
  •   
    The Experimental Archaeology Workshop entitled "The Archaeological Object - an Enigma" is a journey through the ages long past; young audiences are invited to discover the secrets of prehistoric communities. The program consists of a theoretical part (a guided tour in the old and ancient history part of the exhibition and viewing a documentary that reconstructs the life of a human settlement about six thousand years old) and an applied one in the workshop (getting to know and use the archaeological object itself in order to model prehistoric pots after the original ones). The workshop is equipped with prehistoric work tools and ceramics, illustrative materials, electronic projection devices and a film library that reconstructs the evolution of human society. Coordinator: Mârzac Galina.
  • "Mysteries of prehistoric pottery" Workshop is a space designed to revive our ancestor's craft of ceramics. Through audio-visual projections and presentations of original objects from the museum patrimony, as well as by practical clay modelling activities students will discover the practical use and artistic value of the ceramic vessel recovered from archaeological excavations. Within this workshop a contest for the most skilled "master of prehistoric pottery" is organized. Coordinator: Mârzac Galina.
  • "The History and Art of Writing" Workshop aims to introduce pupils / students to the world of writing, the materials used within the process and book printing. By using historical writing tools (pieces of wood or bone, wedge pens, pen, inkwells etc.) workshop participants will write on clay tiles, handmade paper (made at the museum workshop) and on industrial paper, different ancient texts and documents. Coordinator: Eugenia Golban.
  • The "Little Magical Hands" Workshop includes an active tour of the exhibition and practical activities using the origami technique. Children will hear a story about the objects found in the museum and will work in the workshop. Here they will learn the technique of folding paper and will shape different objects that were seen in the exhibition. The target group for this program are pupils aged from 6 to 14 years. Coordinator: Natalia Popovici.




The "Movie at the Museum" Project

Is a weekly cinema program for all audiences. The project promotes historical and documentary films as a means of historical and intercultural knowledge. The CLIO museum cinema provides weekly historic and documentary film screenings as well as thematic programs (debates, comments, meetings with filmmakers and historians).

The museum's cinema archive includes more than 40 films:

Reconstitution films

  
1.
Gumelnița. Bucșani (reconstructs the evolution of human society starting with prehistory) - 45 min.
2. Magia Cucuteni - The Magic of Cucuteni (reconstructs the great eneolithic civilization from South-Eastern Europe, Cucuteni civilization-TRIPOLI, mil V-IV BC.) - 25 min.
3. Cultura Cucuteni Tripolie - The Cucuteni Tripoli Culture (presents the Cucuteni ceramics - an exceptional heritage left by the eneolithic civizilation of sedentary farmers) - 20 min.

Documentaries

Empires

4. Bizanț - Imperiu pierdut - "Byzantium - a Lost Empire" (in English, with subtitles in Romanian) - 47 min

Rulers

5. Voievodul. Măria sa Ştefan cel Mare și Sfânt - "The Prince. His majesty Stephen the Great" - 26 min.
6. Constantin Brâncoveanu - Constantin Brancoveanu - 27 min.
7. Mihai Viteazul, dimensiunea europeană a unui erou - "Michael the Brave, the European dimension of a hero" - 29 min.

Monasteries

8.    Mănăstirea Putna - The Putna Monastery - 50 min.
9.    Mănăstirea Neamț- The Neamt Monastery - 25 min.
10.  Destinația Moldova. Mănăstirea Căpriana, Mănăstirea Hâncu - "Destination Moldova. The Capriana Monastery. The Hancu Monastery"- 15 min.

Old Cities

11.  Orheiul Vechi - Old Orhei- 29 min.

Revolutions and Wars

12. Arme cu tărie, suflet românesc - Hard Weapons, Romanian Soul (military aspects of the 1848 Revolution) - 31 min.
13. For the defense of the country and its independence (The war of independence from 1877-1878) - 26 min.
14. Ballad for independence (The war of independence from 1877- 1878) - 8 min.
15. Filmele Independenței - Movies of the Independence (documentary testimonials of the 1877- 1878 Independence War) - 52 min.
16. Oșteanul de la 1877- The 1877 Soldier (The 1877-1878 Independence War) - 7 min.
17. Pe aici nu se trece! - You cannot pass here! (the beginning of the first world war) - 24 min.
18. Ordin de luptă împotriva uitării - War Order Against Forgetting(war veterans remember the fighting that took place in the heroic year of 1917) - 27 min.
19. Răstignirea României - Romania's Crucifixion (territorial loss suffered by Romania in 1940) - 28 min.
20. Omenie în vremuri de restriște - Humanity in times of distress (support of Polish refugees in Romania during World War II) - 26 min.
21. Lagărul - The Camp (concentration camps during The Second World War) - 26 min.

Great Union of 1918

22. Basarabia- Bessarabia (the national movement between the years 1917-1918) - 48 min.
23. Marea Unire - The Great Union (Alba Iulia, December 1, 1918) - 38 min.

Crimes of communism


24. Golgota Basarabiei - Calvary of Bessarabia (crimes of communism in Bessarabia) - 62 min.
25. The expeditions of memory - 59 min.
26. Memorialul durerii - The memorial of pain (communist crimes in Romania) - 15 min.

Flag History

27.  Tricolorul din inimi - The Flag of Hearts - 20 min.

Military glory
28. The echo of the military glory of the Romanian people in the writings of Mihai Eminescu - 6 min.
29. From a nation of braves - 8 min. 

Recent History
30. The poor from Prut - 50 min.

Cultural Heritage

31.  Cartea religioasă medievală. Din colecția Muzeului Național de Arheologie și Istorie a Moldovei - Medieval religious books. From the collection of the National Museum of Archaeology and History of Moldova - 30 min.
32.  Chișinăul de odinioară în imagini - Old Chisinau in pictures (19th century - begging of the 20th century, based on the postcards owned by the museum) - 30 min.
33.  Chișinău - o capitală europeană - "Chisinau - a European Capital" (promoting potential investment, tourism and culture of the city) - 20 min.
34.  Alexandru Plămădeală și Şcoala de Arte Frumoase din Basarabia - Alexandru Plamadeala and the School of Fine Arts in Bessarabia (end of the 19th century - the ‘40s of the 20th century) - 17 min.

General Knowledge

35.  Christopher Columbus. A Lost Journey (in Russian) - 47min.
36.  Vladimir Vîsoțkii and Marina Vladi (in Russian) - 51min
37.  Nefertiti, Queen of Egypt (in English, with subtitles in Romanian)- 01.20 min

Historical Films

38.  Burebista - 136 min.
39.  Columna- The Column (Dacians during Decebal) - 130 min.
40.  Ştefan cel Mare - Stephen the Great- 128 min.
41.  Christopher Columbus. History of geographical discoveries (in Russian) - 115 min.



 

 


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
  
  

Come to Museum! Discover the History!
  
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Summer schedule: daily
10am – 6pm.

Winter schedule: daily
10am – 5pm.
Closed on Mondays.
Entrance fees:  adults - 50 MDL, Pensioners, students - 20 lei, pupils - 10 MDL. Free access: enlisted men (...)

WiFi Free Wi-Fi Zone in the museum: In the courtyard of the National History Museum of Moldova there is Wi-Fi Internet access for visitors.


#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