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.
Building of the Hârbovăț Community of Nurses in Chișinău (late 19th - early 20th centuries): the image and history
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. VI [XXI], nr. 2, Istorie. Muzeologie
Cultural and historical heritage of Chișinău consists of the monuments of history and art. Many of them took the form of an illustrated postcard that has become an important source of information, and author of the picture became a “field” correspondent, who transmitted the public authentic images. Such are the three photographic postcards from the collection of the National Museum of Archaeology and History of Moldova with the image of the building of the Hârbovăț Community of Nurses in Chișinău, located at the intersection of Sinadinovskaya and Fontannaya streets (now Vlaicu Pârcălab and Veronica Micle). The earliest of them was released before 1917 by the G. Sheinberg’s Book and Stationery Store in Chișinău; the other two date from the interwar period, bear the same image and differ only in the inscriptions.
This paper is a continuation of the deltiological study of museum collections and addresses the history of the building, as well as the activities of the Community.
This is one of the few buildings of that time, partly preserved in the architecture and functional use. Charitable complex was built in 1907-1912 and includes three two-storey and five one-storey buildings. The author of the project is a provincial architect A. Asvadurov (first floor), the second floor was designed by an engineer M. Chekerul- Kush, and the interior has been arranged for the British model by Bessarabian doctor T. Ciorba. Over the years, this charitable medical institution developed from a ten-bed inpatient to 40 beds, outpatient clinic served about 250 patients a day (for free), and there was a well-trained staff and well-equipped consulting rooms.
After 1918 the building became the property of the Ministry of Health and Social Protection of Romania, and in 1920 there was opened the “Regina Maria” Children’s Hospital, in honor of the visit of the royal family to Chișinău from 19 to 22 May 1920.
The complex was built by the Bessarabian Red Cross Society. The first building was consecrated on May 20, 1907, having received the patronage of the thaumaturgical icon of Our Lady from the Hârbovăț Monastery. At the head of the Community there was the committee of ladies of the Chișinău high society headed by the wives of governors of Bessarabia. A special role in the history of the Community belongs to the wives of governors Urusov, Kharuzin, and Kankrin, who laid the foundation of this medical center. As a branch of the Russian Red Cross Society, the Hârbovăț Community of Nurses provided active assistance to the wounded during World War II. From 1914 to1916 at the hospital there was functioning a school of nursing, which had two issues.
After 1918, the Chișinău Red Cross becomes the branch of the Bucharest Red Cross and was headed by Florica Niță, and then by Maria Pelivan.
After 1944, this building housed the 4th Sanatorium Department 4, and later converted to the Republican Sanatorium Clinic. Today, the part of the building is occupied by the Polyclinic of the Government Apparatus, and the “central” block houses the Coordinating Council for Television and Radio of the Republic of Moldova.
List of Illustrations: 1. Illustrated postcard “ Chișinău. Hârbovăț Community “, early XX century. Released by the Book and Stationery Store G. B. Sheinberg and Son, Chișinău. Black and white image; was not in circulation. 2. Illustrated postcard “ Chișinău. Sinadinovskaya Street. Hârbovăț Community”. Color image, circulated in 1909. 3. Ad unit of the Book and Stationery Store G. B. Sheinberg and Son in Chișinău (Nashe Ob’yedinenie 1911, 33). 4. Illustrated postcard “Chișinău. “Regina Maria” Hospital”. Published in the interwar period. Black and white image, was not in circulation. 5. Advertisement of the “Regina Maria” Hospital located in the building of the Hârbovăț Community (Anuarul 1940, 111).
Ana Grițco
Pages from the history of hotels in Bessarabia. Deltiologic research (2nd half of 19th - early 20th centuries)
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. V [XX], nr. 2, Istorie. Muzeologie
Ana Grițco
Scientific activity in Bessarabia as reflected in works of some figures (1812-1918). From the collections of the National Museum of History of Moldova
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. XVII [XXXII], nr. 2, Istorie. Muzeologie
Ana Grițco
The Great War. Photographic documents (The exhibition dedicated to the centenary of the First World War
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. IX [XXIV], nr. 2, Istorie. Muzeologie Chișinău, 2015
Ana Grițco
Advertising postcards in the collections of the National Museum of the History of Moldova (late 19th c. - the 1st half of the 20th c.)
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. XI [XXVI], nr. 2, Istorie. Muzeologie
Ana Grițco
Royal visit to Chișinău (1920) - images and history
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. VIII [XXIII], nr. 2, Istorie. Muzeologie
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...
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.
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.
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.
31 August 1989 St., 121 A, MD 2012, Chisinau, Republic of Moldova
