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.
The magazine „Kishinyovskie Eparkhial′nye Vedomosti" („Chisinau Diocesan Journal") as a means of advertising (1867-1917)
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. VIII [XXIII], nr. 2, Istorie. Muzeologie
The topic of this article relates to the area of advertising. It reflects the implementation of advertising in the official religious magazines; in this case we are talking about the magazine „Kishinyovskie Eparkhial′nye Vedomosti" („Chisinau Diocesan Journal"). This Bessarabian periodical was published for more than 50 years. Its publication was an important event in the spiritual life of the entire diocese and clergy. Advertisements were placed in the informal part of the publication. Investigation of the collection of magazines from the National Museum of History of Moldova led us to the conclusion that the first advertisements were devoted exclusively to publishing issues.
Commercial advertising appears towards the end of the 19th century. Its development was unstable, which led to its disappearance in recent years of edition. The role of advertising in the diocesan publication was modest and insignificant, as the church authorities have not seen the advertisement as a source of obtaining fi nance. However, the magazine performed advertising functions. There were published advertisements of Chisinau shopkeepers who traded church utensils, of iconographic workshops for painting icons and iconostases, tailoring establishments making church vestments. The list of advertisements includes a number of local companies that offered consumers - Bessarabian priests products and services related to everyday life.
List of illustrations:
1. Information on the cost of advertisements in the magazine „Kishinyovskie Eparkhial′nye Vedomosti" (KEV), published in no. 10, 1908. 2. Page from the index of advertisements for 1905, published in KEV no. 2, 1906. 3. Fragment of advertisement of F. Ivanov's church goods store, published in KEV no. 5-6, 1868. 4. Advertisement of S. Bolgarov's fretwork factory, published in KEV no. 22, 1871. 5. Advertising of E. Prokhorenko's iconostasis workshop, published in KEV no. 20, 1899. 6. Advertising of E. Shliomovich's book and stationery store „Education", published in KEV no. 19, 1900. 7. Advertising of A. Koenigschatz's warehouse of pharmaceutical and cosmetic products, published in KEV no. 5, 1900. 8. Ad unit of N. Gozhanskaya's women's clinics with maternity, published in KEV no. 13, 1901. 9. Ad unit of N.O. Shakh's bookstore, published in KEV no. 5, 1904. 10. Advertising of D. Spynulov's church utensils store, published in KEV no. 12, 1904. 11. Advertising of E. Shliomovich's warehouse of agricultural machines and implements, published in KEV no. 5, 1904. 12. Ad unit of D. Kara-Stoyanov's church utensils store, published in KEV no. 4, 1904. 13. Advertising of I.A. Belotserkovsky's fur shop, published in KEV no. 16, 1899. 14. Advertising of the „Batalin and Prokhorenko" icon workshop, published in KEV no. 6, 1903. 15. Tea shop advertisement, published in KEV no. 20 for 1909. 16. Advertising of V.I. Vorobyova's musical instruments shop, published in KEV no. 34, 1907. 17. Ad unit of F.I. Molyavin's iconostasis workshop, published in the newspaper „Drug" („Friend") no. 15, 1914. 18. Advertising of G.V. Lavrov's icons and iconostasis workshop, published in the newspaper „Drug" („Friend") no. 81, 1914. 19. Advertisement of the iconostasis master K.A. Sidenko, published in the newspaper „Drug" („Friend") no.77, 1914.
Vera Serjant
The exhibition "Advertisements in Bessarabia"
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. X [XXV], nr. 2, Istorie. Muzeologie
Vera Serjant
Medals from the collections of the National Museum of History of Moldova, dedicated to the event of the Great Union
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. XII [XXVII], nr. 2, Istorie. Muzeologie
Vera Serjant
Materials related to the elite of the nobility of Bessarabia – the families of Cantacuzin and Krupensky in the collections of the National Museum of the History of Moldova
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. XI [XXVI], nr. 2, Istorie. Muzeologie
Vera Serjant
Some reflections about the advertisement in Bessarabia (end of the 19th - beginning of the 20th centuries)
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. III [XVIII], nr. 2, Istorie. Muzeologie
Vera Serjant
Petru Ungurean – an outstanding figure in the field of viticulture and winemaking (on the collections of the National Museum of History of Moldova)
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. XV [XXX], 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
