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.
• Nicolae Răileanu, Instituțiile muzeale din Moldova: reflecții pe marginea unei realități (Des Institutions muséales de Moldova: quelques réflexions une réalité) • Andrei Eșanu, Unele considerații privind problema culturii românești în epoca Renașterii (sec. XVI-XVII) (Certaines considérations concernant le problème de la culture roumaine à l'époque de la Renaissance (XVI-XVII s.s.) • Vlad D. Ghimpu, Biserici și mănăstiri moldovenești în Basarabia anilor 1457-1600 (Eglises et monastères moldaves en Bessarabie des années 1457-1600) • Valentin Tomuleț, Unele probleme de discuție privind includerea Basarabiei în sistemul pieței interne ruse (anii 1812-1868) (Certains problèmes de diacission concernant l'inclusion de la Bessarabie dans le systhème du marché intérieur russe (1812-1868) • Elena Postică, Partidul Libertății (Le Parti de la Libération)
II. Arheologie și istorie (Archeologie et Histoire)
• Nicolae Chetraru, Serghei Covalenco, Așezări paleolitice de lângă orășelul Otaci (Les habitats paléolitiques auprès de Otaci) • Vsevolod Marchevlci, Așezarea Cucuteniană Stânca lui Harascu (La station cucuténienne Cuconeștii Vechi – Stânca lui Harascu) • Ecaterina Abâzov, Eugen Clocico, Tumulul nr. 1 din necropola tumulară Chirileni (La nécropole tumulaire près du village Chirileni) • Nicolae Chetraru, Natalia Mateevici, Cercetările tumulului nr. 45 din raionul Dubăsari (Les recherches de la tumulte nr. 45 près de Dubăsari) • Alexandru Levinschi, Despre un grup de necropole ale culturii Sântana de Mureș-Cerneahov din interfluviul Nistru-Prut (Au sujet d'un group de necropoles de la culture Sântana de Mureș-Cherneahov entre Nistrou- Prouth) • Alexandru Levinschi, „O fibulă particulară germanică din epoca imperialo-romană găsită în Basarabia”: retrospecții la evaluarea savantului N. Moroșan („Une fibules particulière gérmanique de l'époque imperial - romaine trouvée en Bessarabie”: rétrospections aux evaluations du savant N. Moroșan) • Nicolae Telnov, Tatiana Reaboi, Cercetarea orașului Hoardei de Aur Costești - Gârlea (Recherchs arhéologiques dans la viile de Horde d'Or Costești - Gârlea) • Pavel Bârnea, Ecaterina Abâzov, Platoul de bronz de la Orheiul Vechi (Le plateau de bronze de Orheiul Vechi) • Pavel Bârnea, Tatiana Reaboi, Obiecte de proveniență orientală la Orheiul Vechi (Objets de provenance orientale a Orheiul Vechi) • Vlad D. Ghimpu, Cruci - encolpioane din colecția Muzeului Național de Istorie a Moldovei (Petites croix doubles reliquaires de collections du Musée National d'Histoire de Moldova) • Grigore Cemârtan, Răspândirea, densitatea și variabilitatea cerbului nobil (cervus elaphus L.) pe teritoriul interfluviilor Nistru-Prut în holocen (La diffusion, la denslté et la variabilite du cervus elaphus (Lat) sur le territorie entre le Pruth-Nistru en holocène) • Minai Onilă, File din istoria satului Isacova (Pages d'histoire du village Isacova) • Serghei Klimovski, Ivan Movcean, Andrei Reutov, Urme ale volohilor pe dealul vechiului Kiev (Les traces des volohs sur la colline de l'Ancien Kiev) • Valentina Eșanu, „Cazania” Mitropolitului Varlaam în Dobrogea (La „Casanie” du Mitropole Varlaam de Dobrogea) • Irina Gonciarov, Moneda moldo-valahă de la 1771-1774 (La monnaie moldo-valah de 1771-1774) • Maria Hasnaș, Unele considerații privind istoria fotografiei în Basarabia (Certains considérations concernant l'histoire de la photographie en Bessarabie) • Aliona Niculiță, Organizarea judecătorească a Basarabiei conform legii din 1818 (L'organisatbn judiciaire en Bessarabie d'apris la loi de 1818) • Maria Danilov, Istoricul tipăririi și arealul de răspândire a Bibliei românești de la Petersburg (1819) (L'historique de la publication et de l'aréale de la diffusion de la Bible Roumaine de Sanct-Petersburg 1819) • Maria Danilov, Enigma unui manuscris (L'enigme d'un manuscrit) • Ana Grițco, Din istoria poștei și mărcii poștale în Basarabia (De l'histoire de la poste et du timbre postal en Bessarabie) • Ion Stratulat, Coloniile germane din sudul Basarabiei (Les provinces germaines de la Bessarabie du Sud) • Valentin Tomuleț, Activitatea comercială a negustorilor armeni în Basarabia în prima treime a sec. XIX (L'activité commérciale des marchands arméniens en Bessarabie dans le premier tiers du XIX s.) • Liubov Malahov, Societatea Istorico-Arheologică Bisericească din Basarabia (90 de ani de la inaugurare) (La societe Historique-Archeologique d'Eglise de Bessarabie (90 ans depuis son inaugurations) • Elena Postică, Armata Neagră. Organizație patriotică de rezistență, sau „bandă teroristă antisovietică?" (L'Armee Noire - organisations patriotique de résistence ou „bande terroriste antisoviétique?" • Aurelia Cornețchi, Din istoricul Liceului de fete din Soroca (Pages historiques du Lycée defilles de Soroca) • Elvira Vacula, Activitatea Camerei de comerț și industrie din Chișinău în anii 1921-1930 (Contribution concernant l'activité de la Chambre Commérciale et Industrielle de Bessarabie) • Tamara Gubcovschi, Familia Racoviță: o soartă vitregă (La familie Racovrță: un sort eruel)
III. Muzeografie și memorialistică (Museographie et memoriaux)
• Măria Hasnaș, Fotografia - document și exponat. Retrospectivă (La photographie - document et exponat. Rétrospective) • Eugenia Borodac, Tamara Stamatov, Porțelanuri de Saxonia în colecția Muzeului Național de Istorie a Moldovei (Des porcelaines de Saxonie dans la collection du Musée National d'Histoire de Moldova) • Liubov Reprințev, Colecția de ceasuri din fondurile MNIM (Collection de montres des fonds du Musée National d'Histoire de Moldova) • Ludmila Năstase, Constantin Crăciunescu(file din biografia unui medic basarabean) (Constantin Crăciunescu. Pages biographiques d'un médicin bessarabien) • Măria Evdochimov, Petru Ungurean - pagini din viață și activitate(Petru Ungurean - pages de la vie et son activité)
IV. Cronică. Recenzii (Chronique. Comptes - Rendus)
• Alexandru Levinschi, Un tezaur monetar de la Stolniceni (considerații preliminare) (Un tresor monnaitaire de Stolniceni (Information préliminaire) • Ion Negrei, Anuarul Muzeului Național - o carte de istorie a Moldovei (L'Anuaire du Musée National - livre - d'histoire de Moldova) • Vlad D. Ghimpu, Ion Tentiuc - Populația din Moldova Centrală în secolele Xl-XIII, Ed. Helios, lași, 1996, 280 p. (Ion Tentfuc - La population de la Moldavie Centrale pendant Ies XI - XIII siecles, Ed. Helios, lassy, 1996, 280 p.)
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
