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.
Serghei Agulnicov, Eugen Mistreanu, Sergiu Popovici
Tumuli (kurgans) from Brînzenii Noi and Rogojeni (Rescue Archaeological Research 2013)
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. VIII [XXIII], nr. 1, Arheologie. Istorie Antică
This article puts in the scientifi c use results of rescue research of the mound (tumulus) no.1 from the village of Brânzenii Noi (Telenești District) and the mound (tumulus) no.1 from the village of Rogojeni (Şoldănești District). The vast majority of burials in the mounds studied belong to the Yamna culture, Early Bronze Age. One burial from the mound 1 in Brînzenii Noi refers to antiquities of the Noua culture, Late Bronze Age. In conclusion, the authors consider the issues of coexistence of the Late Yamna culture tribes with the bearers of the Catacomb culture in such a peculiar ecological niche as the fl oodplain of the Middle Răut.
List of illustrations:
Fig. 1. Geographical location of the researched tumuli (kurgans): 1 - Brânzenii Noi village, Telenești District; 2 - Rogojeni village, Șoldănești District. Fig. 2. The terrain map with the location of the tumuli (kurgans) and necropolises studied in the lower riches of the Middle Răut: I - the kurgan from Orhei; II - tumular necropolis from Braviceni; III - tumular necropolis from Ciocîlteni; IV - burial mounds from Codrul Nou. Fig. 3. Brânzenii Noi. Tumulus (kurgan) no. 1. Plan and sections. Fig. 4. Brânzenii Noi. Tumulus (kurgan) no. 1. Tomb no. 1, stone fi lling. Fig. 5. Brânzenii Noi. Tumulus (kurgan) no. 1: 1 - tomb no. 1; 2 - tomb no. 3; 3 - temple ring from the tomb no. 2; 4 - vessel from the tomb no. 1; 5 - tomb no. 2. Fig. 6. Brânzenii Noi. Tumulus (kurgan) no. 1. Tomb no. 4. Fig. 7. Rogojeni. Tumulus (kurgan) no. 1. Plan and sections. Fig. 8. Rogojeni. Tumulus (kurgan) no. 1: 1 - tomb no. 1; 2 - vessel from the tomb no. 1; 3 - tomb no. 2; 4 - vessel from the tomb no. 2. Fig. 9. Rogojeni. Tumulus (kurgan) no. 1: 1 - anthropomorphic stele; 2, 3 - fl int fl ake. Fig. 10. Brânzenii Noi. Tumulus (kurgan) no. 1: 1 - vessel from tomb no. 1; 2 - vessel from tomb no. 1 (photo in situ). Rogojeni. Tumulus (kurgan) no. 1: 3 - vessel from tomb no. 1; 4 - vessel from tomb no. 1 (photo in situ); 5 - vessel from tomb no. 2, 6 - vessel from tomb no. 1 (photo in situ).
Sergiu Popovici
Aurel Vîlcu, Theodor Isvoranu, Eugen Nicolae, Les Monnaies d'or de l'Institut d'Arheologie de Bucarest, Moneta, Wetteren 2006, 253 p., abrevieri, indice de catalog, 32 planșe, 884 fi g., 1 hartă, ISBN 90-77297-29-4
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. I [XVI], nr. 1, Arheologie. Istorie Antică
Eugen Mistreanu
Settlements of Gumelniţa culture in the Prut-Dniester area (catalog)
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. XIII [XXVIII], nr. 1, Arheologie. Istorie Antică
Eugen Mistreanu
About the batch of clay “breadcakes” found at the Cucoara I site (from the collections of the National Museum of History of Moldova)
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. XVI [XXXI], nr. 1, Arheologie. Istorie Antică, Chişinău, 2022
Сергей М. Агульников
The Belozerka culture horizon from the settlement Kriničnoe
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. I [XVI], nr. 1, Arheologie. Istorie Antică
Eugen Mistreanu
A new settlement of the Gumelnița culture from Chioselia Mare village, Cahul District
Tyragetia, serie nouă, vol. VII [XXII], 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.
31 August 1989 St., 121 A, MD 2012, Chisinau, Republic of Moldova
