This year we commemorate 350 years since the birth and 300 years since the death of Dimitrie Cantemir (October 26, 1673 - August 21, 1723), the most famous Romanian humanist thinker and also the author of the first original Romanian philosophical works.
Dimitrie Cantemir represents one of the highest peaks of thought of his time, in all areas that his genius touched - in historiography, geography, philosophy, he opened up new perspectives for development. The great scholar was well acquainted with the Muslim environment, speaking, in addition to Western, also Eastern languages (Turkish, Persian and Arabic), and also had extensive knowledge in the fields of logic, medicine, natural sciences, astronomy and music. This well-educated Christian beyzade, being a born diplomat, won the trust of Sultan Ahmed III, who favorably allowed him to familiarize himself with the documents of imperial history that Cantemir used in working on his famous work "The Growth and Decay of the Ottoman Empire", which still remains a reference publication in a specialized bibliography.
The National Museum of History of Moldova possesses a German edition of this work, published in Hamburg in 1745. This edition is an impressive volume of 863 pages, accompanied by a preface in German by the editor, containing words of praise and appreciation: "... we consider that such a work of great significance must be known to the Germans in their mother tongue..."
Dimitrie Cantemir was the first scholar to show that the history of the Ottoman Empire divides into two parts. The first part that of growth, includes biographies of 19 sultans and ends around 1672, when the empire entered a new phase, that of political and military decline. Through this work, Cantemir tried to draw attention to the need for an alliance of European countries against Turkish expansion. At the same time, he praised certain aspects of the culture of the Turkish people.
Like "Description of Moldavia", "The Growth and Decay of the Ottoman Empire" enjoyed wide popularity in European countries. The work was first translated into Russian by Dmitry Grozin, but was not printed. After the death of Dimitrie Cantemir, thanks to his son Antiochus, who became the Russian ambassador in London and then in Paris, this fundamental writing of our scholar was translated and published in English (two volumes, 1734-1735, followed by a new edition in 1756) and in French (1743, in four small volumes). In 1745, the work was also published in German. It was read, highly valued and used in their writings by Voltaire, Byron, Victor Hugo and others. This is the first treatise that addresses the issue of Ottoman power and the multicultural nature of the empire. Work on it began during the author's stay in the Ottoman Empire, resumed after 1711, and finished in 1717. This writing brought him European fame and placed him among the great scholars of the time.
Icons of the Intercession in the collection of the National Museum of History of Moldova
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. VIII [XXIII], nr. 2, Istorie. Muzeologie
In the collection of the National Museum of History of Moldova there are six icons related to the famous iconographic type "Protection of the Holy Virgin". This type, that was designed to reflect the images of the feast of the Holy Virgin, has a complex composition, which harmoniously combines events, phenomena and characters belonging to different time periods. At the heart of it lies the vision of Andrew the Fool-for-Christ in the Blachernae church of Constantinople. The plot of the icons also recalls the miraculous phenomenon that became known as the Miracle of Blachernae. At the same time, this iconographic composition may be an illustration of the cycle of hymns, which conceptually transmits the idea of the intercession of the Blessed Virgin.
In the 10th century, in honor of the miraculous vision in Blachernae Eastern Church has established the celebration of the Intercession of the Theotokos on October 1; Russian Church celebrates this feast widely from the 12th century.
Today Orthodox Church unites under its auspices many holy temples dedicated to the feast of the Protection of Holy Virgin, which became a symbol of care and intercession.
Celebration of the Intercession on October 1 coincides with the feast of Romanos the Melodist (490-560), who is the author of the Akathist Hymn to the Theotokos.
The composition of icons of the Protection consists of the upper and lower parts. The upper part shows the Virgin standing on clouds with the veil symbolizing the protection in her hands, surrounded by saints, the holy prophets and the Myrrh-bearers. In the center of the lower part there is depicted Romanos the Melodist, on the right of him there are the emperors and men of Church; on the left St. Andrew the Fool-for-Christ is depicted, turning to his disciple Epiphanius and pointing up at the miracle that takes place in the temple. On some icons in the lower part there is depicted the dream of Romanos the Melodist, in which Our Lady gives him a scroll, blessing him to sing and write hymns. There are icons depicting only the Virgin.
Five of the six icons from the collection of NMHM are of average size, and one is larger, probably derived from a church dedicated to the feast. These icons are painted in oil and tempera on wood, composition of most of them corresponds exactly to this iconographic type. List of illustrations:
1. Icon of the Intercession. Galicia, 12th century. 2. Icon of the Intercession. Suzdal, 13th century, the Cathedral of the Nativity of the Virgin. 3. Icon of the Intercession. Suzdal, 1360, the Convent of Intercession. 4. Icon of the Intercession. Novgorod, 1399, the Zverin Monastery. 5. Icon of the Intercession. Moldova, early 19th century. NMHM (FB-14017). 6. Icon of the Intercession. Moldova, 1871. NMHM (FB-23611). 7. Icon of the Intercession. Russia, 19th century. NMHM (FB-23384-4). 8. Icon of the Intercession. Bessarabia, early 20th century, St. Paraskeva Church in the village of Zgurița, Drochia District. NMHM (FB-22918-115). 9. Icon of the Intercession. Bessarabia, 1920s-1930s. NMHM (FA-10538-19). 10. Icon of the Intercession. Bessarabia, 1920s-1930s. NMHM (FB-22465).
Adelaida Chiroșca
The monk-painter Irenaeus Protcenco and his famous icon "Our Lady of Sorrows"
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. VI [XXI], nr. 2, Istorie. Muzeologie
Adelaida Chiroșca
Medieval coins discovered at Soroca fortress
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. IV [XIX], nr. 2, Istorie. Muzeologie
Adelaida Chiroșca
Two monetary treasures from the 16th and the 17th centuries from the collections of the NMAHM
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. III [XVIII], nr. 2, Istorie. Muzeologie
Ana Boldureanu, Adelaida Chiroșca, Elena Revenco
Medieval coin hoard of the 16th century from Parcani, Soroca District, Republic of Moldova
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. V [XX], nr. 1, Arheologie. Istorie Antică
Adelaida Chiroșca
17th c. coin hoard discovered in Ciocilteni village, Orhei district
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. II [XVII], nr. 2, Istorie. Muzeologie
This year we commemorate 350 years since the birth and 300 years since the death of Dimitrie Cantemir (October 26, 1673 - August 21, 1723), the most famous Romanian humanist thinker and also the author of the first original Romanian philosophical works.Dimitrie Cantemir represents one of the highest peaks of thought of his time, in all areas that his genius touched - in historiography, geography, philosophy, he opened up new perspectives for development...
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
