Around thirty icons from the collection of the National Museum of History of Moldova feature Saint Nicholas the Hierarch and Miracle Worker. While most represent the later iconographic tradition, a few early images stand out as rare examples due to their composition. In the icon "Saint Nicholas with Scenes from His Life", the hierarch is depicted bust-length, blessing the Gospel. He is framed by two round medallions showing Christ and the Mother of God, who hand him the Gospel and the omophorion. Saint Nicholas, earlier than other saints, was portrayed with scenes from his hagiographic cycle. The first images of his life date back to the 11th century, represented on a folding icon from the Monastery of Saint Catherine at Sinai.
The museum icon dates from the early 19th century, preserving the traditional chest format typical of classical icons. Twelve panels illustrate episodes from the saint's life, arranged from left to right: four on the upper register, four on the lower, and two on each side, as follows: Birth of Saint Nicholas (1), Baptism of Saint Nicholas (2), Miracle of Healing the Crippled Woman (3), Apprenticeship of Young Nicholas (4), Ordination as Deacon (5), Ordination as Bishop (6) Vision of Constantine (7), Saint Nicholas Saves Three Voivodes from Execution (8), Miracle of Rescue from Drowning (9), Miracle of Saving Basil from the Arabs (10), Dormition of Saint Nicholas (11), Translation of the Relics of Saint Nicholas to Bari (12).
Saint Nicholas the Hierarch is commemorated by the Orthodox Church twice a year: on December 6/19, the day of his birth, and on May 9/22, the day his relics were transferred from Myra to Bari (1087). Among all saints of the Christian world, the image of Saint Nicholas is one of the most popular, easily recognizable even to those unfamiliar with iconography.
He was born in the Roman Empire, at Patara in the province of Lycia, between 260-280, though early sources omit the exact date. Coming from a wealthy family, he rejected fame and luxury. From an early age he devoted himself to prayer and the study of Holy Scripture, while also mastering other disciplines. He avoided noisy gatherings and idle talk, attended church regularly, and pursued a life of chastity. Later he dedicated himself to pastoral ministry, defending the Christian faith with perseverance and firmly opposing heresies. Through his care for people and the benefactions he performed everywhere, he became highly venerated not only in Myra but also in the surrounding regions. The grace of the Holy Spirit dwelling in his heart was revealed through miracles performed both during his life and after his death, earning him the enduring title of "Miracle Worker." Saint Nicholas passed away in the 330s (circa 334-337), and his remains were placed in a sumptuous marble tomb in the episcopal cathedral where he had served for many years. This soon became an important center of pilgrimage. Holy Tradition has preserved with accuracy the features of his portrait, and his appearance in icons is marked by a distinct individuality. Ecclesiastical art has produced numerous iconographic representations, ranging from bust images to full-length depictions. The diversity of these representations suggests that the final iconography of Saint Nicholas was not yet established, taking shape only in the 10th-11th centuries. It is said that an authentic icon from the basilica in Myra, executed during the saint's lifetime and mentioned in written sources as early as the 11th century, played a significant role in his veneration. Icons depicting the hagiographic cycle of Saint Nicholas spread widely in both Byzantine and post-Byzantine art, confirming the importance and popularity of his cult.
Élements defensifs dans la fortification gete du Horodca Mare, districte Hâncești
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. IX [XXIV], nr. 1, Arheologie. Istorie Antică Chișinău, 2015
Résumé
Bien que connu depuis près d’un siècle, la fortifi cation de Horodca Mare, Hâncești, n’a pas atteint les chercheurs que depuis quelques années maintenant. En outre, les interprétations occasionnelles de certains de mes collègues ont tendance à exclure le site de la liste des fortifi cations Gète, en faisant valoir sa position en l’absence de tous les indicateurs palpables de caractère défensif. Cette position est doublement regrettable, car il est venu à négliger les opinions exprimées par les archéologues des générations précédentes. Par conséquent, essayer de récupérer les arguments en faveur de caractère défensif du site du promontoire La Cetate (sic!), nous avons rassemblé et analysé les informations provenant de plusieurs sources, ainsi que les résultats de la recherche sur le terrain que nous avons menée en collaboration avec des collègues de l’Université Pédagogique de Chisinau. De cette façon, on a retourné aux collègues les arguments qui démontrent la nature défensive du site, suivie de la présentation des éléments caractéristiques défensifs qui ont été étudié au Horodca Mare.
Liste des figures: Fig. 1. 1 - Orthophotocarte avec l’emplacement des fortifications Horodca Mare et Horodca Mica. Vue de l’ouest (Google Earht + PRO); 2 - vue des fortifi cations Horodca Mare et Horodca Mica. Vue du sud. Fig. 2. La carte avec l’emplacement du village Horodca Moldavie. Fig. 3. Horodca Mare. Vue de la pointe nord-est. Fig. 4. Orthophotocarte avec l’emplacement des fortifi cations Horodca Mare et Horodca Mica. Vue de nord-est (Google Earht + PRO). Fig. 5. Vue sur le promontoiare avec l’emplacement de la forteresse Horodca Mare (Orthophotocarte). Fig. 6. Horodca Mare. Orthophotos. Localisation systèmes défensifs potentiels (Google Earht + PRO). Fig. 7. Horodca Mica. Vue du système défensif: A - partie du sud-est; B - Sud. C - Vue du système défensif de l’extérieur; D - Vue du bastion de l’extérieur. Fig. 8. Horodca Mare. Plan magnétomètrique. Fig. 9. Horodca Mare. Vue sur le système défensif située dans le nord-est du promontoire. Fig. 10 . Orthophotocarte d’emplacement de la section tracée à travers le système défensif Horodca Mare. Fig. 11. Horodca Mare. 1 - plan du section №V et №VI dans les carrés A4-A8; 2 - profi l du Sud-Est (inversé) dans la section №VI, les carrés A4-A8. Fig. 12. Horodca Mare. 1 - plan du section №V et №VI dans les carrés A4-A8; 2 - profi l du Nord-Ouest (inversé) dans la section №VI, les carrés A4-A8. Fig 13. Horodca Mare. 1 - plan du section №V et №VI; 2 - profi l du Nord-Ouest dans la section №°V, les carrés A1-A12. Fig. 14. Horodca Mare. Section №V: 1 - aperçu de couche de sol brûlé en combinaison avec de l’argile et de pierres brûlées; 2 - détail. Fig. 15. Horodca Mare. Aperçu sur la maison №10 du nord-est: 1 - la partie exploré dans Section №VI; 2 - la partie explorer dans Section №V. Fig. 16. Horodca Mare. Aperçu sur la maison №10 du sud-ouest: 1 - la partie exploré dans Section №V; 2 - la partie explorer dans Section №VI. Fig. 17. Horodca Mare. Les objets en fer trouvé dans la section №V: 1, 2, 5, 6 - dans la couche culturelle; 3, 4 - dans le complexe №10. Fig. 18. Horodca Mare. Verticilles trouvés dans la couche culturelle de la section №VI. Fig. 19. Horodca Mare. La fosse №12: 1 - plan au niveau de la détection; 2 - profi l après l’enlèvement de la couche de remplissage. Fig. 20. Horodca Mare. La fosse №11.
Octavian Munteanu, Angela Simalcsik
Une tombe médiévale avec d’anneaux à boucles decouverte à Butuceni, la région d’Orhei (notes préliminaires)
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. XIII [XXVIII], nr. 1, Arheologie. Istorie Antică
Octavian Munteanu
Les etapes d’édification de la fortification de Horodca Mică
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. VII [XXII], nr. 1, Arheologie. Istorie Antică
Octavian Munteanu, Vasile Iarmulschi, Nicolae Batog
Two Almgren 69 brooches discovered at Mîrzoaia, Republic of Moldova (reconfirming the presence of sedentary communities in the Prut-Dniester area at the beginning of the 1st millennium AD)
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. XVI [XXXI], nr. 1, Arheologie. Istorie Antică, Chişinău, 2022
Jerzy Hatłas, Octavian Munteanu
Domed tombs of Thrace - 160 years of research
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. V [XX], nr. 1, Arheologie. Istorie Antică
Ion Tentiuc, Octavian Munteanu
The connections of the East Carpathian region with the world of the Vikings: new find of the chape of the scabbard of an early medieval sword in the territory of Moldova
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. XVI [XXXI], nr. 1, Arheologie. Istorie Antică, Chişinău, 2022
Around thirty icons from the collection of the National Museum of History of Moldova feature Saint Nicholas the Hierarch and Miracle Worker. While most represent the later iconographic tradition, a few early images stand out as rare examples due to their composition...
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
