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.
Early Iron Age settlement of Saharna-Ţiglău. Preliminary research results
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. II [XVII], nr. 1, Arheologie. Istorie Antică
The settlement of Saharna-Ţiglău was discovered in 1946 by G.D. Smirnov. In 1950 Smirnov together with G.P. Sergeev carried out limited exploration excavations. Only 50 years later, M.T. Kašuba published the results of those excavations in shorthand form in the study “The early iron in the forest-steppe between the Dniester and the Siret rivers”. The present paper suggests that the monument of Valea Ţiglău bears the named - Saharna Ţiglău.
In point of fact the settlement is situated on a high rocky cape (“Valea” means “ravine”) formed by the right bank of the Dniester river and the Ţiglău clove. The settlement is now situated on the privately owned agricultural lands. In the course of economic works carried out in 2007, a number of archaeological artefacts were uncovered on the territory of the settlement and place at service of the Moldovan State University Archaeological expedition.
In the course of excavations covering 40 square meters, significant and diverse ceramic material was found. The preliminary analysis shows that the ceramics in form and in ornament has wide analogies as in the Early Iron Age monuments of the Cozia-Saharna culture and beyond it.
Variety of shapes and combination of the streaked and stamped ornaments show the importance of this settlement in studying the history of the first half of the first millenium B.C.
Ion Niculiță, Andrei Nicic
Archaeological research on the site of Saharna-Dealul Mănăstirii in 2011
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. VI [XXI], nr. 1, Arheologie. Istorie Antică
Ion Niculiță, Andrei Nicic
Archaeological research conducted at the settlement Saharna-Dealul Mănăstirii
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. I [XVI], nr. 1, Arheologie. Istorie Antică
Andrei Nicic
Tudor Soroceanu, Die Kupfer- und Bronzedepots der frühen und mittleren Bronzezeit in Rumänien/ Depozitele de obiecte din cupru și bronz din România. Epoca timpurie și mijlocie a bronzului, 5 Archaeologia Romanica (Hrsg. R. Harhoiu, S. Hansen, C. Gaiu
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. VII [XXII], nr. 1, Arheologie. Istorie Antică
Ion Niculiță, Andrei Nicic
Funerary practices in the Early Iron Age site of Saharna-Dealul Mănăstirii
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. V [XX], nr. 1, Arheologie. Istorie Antică
Ion Niculiță, Andrei Nicic, Andrei Corobcean
The results of the archaeological investigations at the civil settlement Saharna „Dealul Mănăstirii” (2008 campaign)
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. III [XVIII], nr. 1, Arheologie. Istorie Antică
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.