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.
I. Arheologie și istorie (Archeologie et Histoire)
• Ilie Borziac, Vasile Chirica, Unele considerații referitoare la Gravetianul dintre Nistru și Carpații Orientali (Certaines considérations sur le Gravetien d'entre Nistrou et Ies Carpates Orientals) • Serghei Covalenco, Nicolae Chetraru, Bazele tipologice de individualizare a complexelor mezoliticedin Moldova (Les bases typologiques de l'individualisation des complexes mésolithiques) • Nicolae Chetraru, Serghei Covalenco, Bădragii Vechi - complex mezolitic de tip Kukrek din regiunea Prutului de Mijloc (Bădragii Vechi - Complexe mésolithique du type Kukrek de la région Prouthoul de Mijloc) • Ecaterina Abâzov, Eugen Clocico, Necropola tumulară de lângă s. Chirileni (La nécropole tumulaire Chirileni-Ungheni (II)) • Alexandru Levinschi, Olga Şcipachin, Ghenadie Dulea, Rezervația istorico-naturală "Saharna" - primele investigații (La réservation historico-naturelle "Saharna" - Ies premières investigations) • Alexandru Popa, Sticla de geam din perioada romană târzie în Basarabia (La verre de la période romane-tardive en Bassarabie) • Ion Dron, Peresecina (reevaluări și contribuții istorico-etimologice) (Peresecina - reévaluations et contributions istorico-etimologiques) • Liuba Bârsan, Acest Vlaicu Galeș! (Ce Vlaicu Galeș!) • Eduard Baidaus, Considerente privind premisele politice ale războiului de la Hotin din anul 1621 (Considérations visant Ies premises politiques de la guerre de Hotin de 1621) • Mihai Onilă, Un boier de țară - Mihalcea Hâncu (300 de ani de la moarte) (Un boyard du pays - Mihalcea Hâncu) • Nicolae Răileanu, Carol al Xll-lea după bătălia de la Poltava. Calea spre Bender (Tighina) (Carol XII aprés la bataille de Poltava. Les chemins vers Bender (Tighina)) • Alexei Zagaievschi, Mănăstirea Cosăuți în negura timpului (Le monastère Cosăuți dans Ies tenebres du temps) • Maria Danilov, Ana Grițco, Acte în limba română tipărite în Basarabia (1812-1830. Partea a ll-a (Actes en roumain imprimés en Bessarabie (1812-1830)) • Silvia Corlăteanu-Granciuc, Contribuții documentare la istoricul colonizărilor sârbești în teritoriile dintre Prut și Nistru în primul pătrar al sec. al XIX-lea (Contributions documentaires â l'istorique des colonisations serbes sur le territoire d'entre Prouth et Nistrou dans le premier quart du XlX-e siècle) • Liubov Malahov, Revista Kișinevskie Eparhialinâe Vedomosti (1867-1917) în colecția MNIM (La revue Bulletin diocèse de Chișinău 1867-1917 en collection du MNIM) • Silviu Andrieș-Tabac, Noua stemă și noul drapel ale orașului Rezina (Le nouveau blazon et le nouveau drapeau de la viile Rezina) • Lidia Volânschi, Din istoria mișcării cercetașilor din Basarabia în perioada interbelică (De l'histoire du mouvement de éclaireurs de la Bessarabie dans la période d'entre Ies guerres) • Maria Praporșcic, Poziția autorităților RASSM față de Basarabia (1924-1929) (La position des autorités RASSM à l'egard de la Bessarabie) • Elena Postică, Martiri ai rezistenței antitotalitariste din Basarabia (Les martires de la résistance antitotalitaire de Bessarabie) • Maria Evdochimov, F.N. Tifaniuc-unul din organizatorii industriei de vinificație din Moldova (în baza colecțiilor muzeale) (F.N. Tifaniuc - un des organisateurs de ('industrie vinicole de Moldova (en vertu des collections du musée) II. Muzeografie, etnografie, numizmatica (Museographie, ethnographie, numismatique)
• Grigore Cemârtan, Vânatul și creșterea animalelor domestice la triburile neolitice și eneolitice de pe teritoriul Republicii Moldova (La chlasse et l'élevage chez Ies tribus néolithiques et énéolithiques sur le territoire de la Républicque Moldova) • Vera Paiul, Tezaurul monetar din secolele XVI-XVII descoperit la Milești (Nisporeni) (Le trésor monétaire des XVI-e-XVII-e siècles de Milești, district Nisporeni) • Eugenia Borodac, Tamara Stamatov, Mostre de porțelanuri europene în colecția MNIM (Des échantillon de porcelaine europene dans la colection du Musée National d’Histoire de Moldova) • Irina Gonciarov, Însemne ale persoanelor din administrația țărănească din sec. al XlX-lea în colecția MNIM (Insignes des personnes de l'administration paysanne du XlX-e siècle dans la collection du Musée d’Histoire de Moldova) • Elena Ploșnița, Muzeul de istorie al Basarabiei - un deziderat al Comisiei Guberniale Ştiințifice a Arhivelor (Le Musée d’Histoire de la Bessarabie - un désidérat de la Commission Goubernielle Scientifique des Archives) • Ecaterina Bondarenco, Restaurarea unui păretar de la sfârșitul sec. al XlX-lea (La restauration d’un tapis mural de la fin du XlX-e siècle) • Alexandru Furtună, Unele considerente privind păstoritul transhumant și implicațiile lui în Basarabia, Transnistria, Crimeea, Caucaz și Asia Mijlocie (sfârșitul sec. al XlX-lea - începutul sec. al XlX-lea) (Certaines considérations concernant la bergerie transhumante et son implication en Bessarabie, Transnistria, Crimée, Caucase et l'Assie Moyenne (fin du XlX-e s. comm. du XX-e siècle) • Diana Nicoglo, Aspecte simbolice ale mesei nupțiale găgăuzești din sec. al XlX-lea - începutul sec al XX-lea (Les aspects symboliques de la table nuptiale gagauze du XlX-e s. - au debut du XX-e s.) • Olga Luchianeț, Considerații privind percepția colectivă reciprocă a etniilor conlocuitoare din Moldova (Des considérations concernant la perception collective réciproque des étnies cohabitantes de Moldova)
III. Cultură, artă, învățământ (Culture, art, enseignement)
• Rodica Blanovschi, Chipul Sfintei Parascheva în iconografia ortodoxă (sec. XIV-XVII) (L'image de Sainte Parascheva dans l'iconographie ortodoxe (XIV-XVII siècle) • Vlad D. Ghimpu, Biserici din târgul Orheiului (Les églises de la viile Orhei) • Nicolai Dâmcenko, Andrei Zenkin, Moștenirea culturală a tipografului Mihail Strilbițchi (L'héritage culturel du typographe Mihail Strilbitschi) • Ludmila Năstase, Creionări la portretul de creație al arhitectului A.l. Bernardazzi (Des croyonnages au portrait de création de l'architecte A.l. Bernardazzi) • Nicolae Crețu, Unele considerații asupra dezvoltării învățământului în Basarabia în sec. al XlX-lea (Certaines considérations sur le développement de l'enseignement en Bessarabie du XlX-e siècle) • Ion Chirtoagă, Valentina Chirtoagă, Mărturii despre învățământul primar în coloniile germane din Basarabia (sec. al XlX-lea - începutul sec. al XX-lea) (Des témoignages sur l'enseignement primaire dans Ies colonies allemandes de la Bessarabie (XlX-e s. – corn du XX-e siècle) • Aurelia Cornețchi, Liceul de fete Regina Maria din Bolgrad. Pagini de istorie (Le Lycee de filles Régina Maria de Bolgrad. Pages d’histoire) • Liubov Reprințev, Creația lui Boris Nesvedov în colecția MNIM (către aniversarea a 95-a de la naștere) (L'oeuvre du peintre B. Nesvedov dans Ies collections du musée (à l'aniversaire de 95-ème année de sa nyissance)
IV. Recenzii, omagii (Comptes-rendus, hommages)
• Corpus des römichen Funde im Europäischen Barbaricum (A. Popa) • Monumenta Romaniae Vaticana (A. Hâncu-Tentiuc, l. Tentiuc) • Revista Arheologică, 2, Chișinău, 1998 (V. Ghimpu) • Simion Gavrilă, reputat arheolog și muzeograf român. La 70 de ani (Simion Gavrilă, renommé archeolog et muzeographe roumain. À 70 ans) (l. Niculiță)
V. Cronică muzeală (Chronique museale)
• A. Cornețchi, Activitatea cultural-științifică a Muzeului Național de Istorie a Moldovei (L'activité culturelle - scientifique du Musée National d'Histoire de Moldova, 1998) • N. Dâmcenko, 40 de ani ai Muzeului din Tiraspol (40 ans du Musée de Tiraspol)
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
