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, Mariana Bălan, Programe de cercetare în domeniul istoriei, artelor și științelor oferite de Smithsonian Institution din SUA (Research Programs of the Smithsonian Institution (USA) in the Fields of History, Arts, and Science) • Elena Prus, Muzealizarea lumii în contextul reurbanizații și mondializării (Museum Transformation of the World in the Context of Urbanisation and Globalisation) • Lucia Tonu, Ecomuzeul - o formă nouă de organizare și recepționare a imaginii din muzeu (Ecomuseum: New Form of Organization and Perception of a Museum Image)
II. Arheologie și istorie (Archaeology and history)
• Maher Wanli, Industria lamelară a nivelului 3-a de locuire musteriană din grota Trinca l (Lamellar Industry of the Stratum 3a of the Site from Grotto Trinka l) • Ilie Borziac, Etapa timpurie a paleoliticului superior din spațiul Carpato-Nistrean. Cultura Brânzeni (Transitional Stage: Brânzeni Culture) • Alexandru Levinschi, Sergiu Covalenco, Ecaterina Abâzov, Fortificația getică Saharna-“La Revechin" - sistemul defensiv (The Getian Fortification of Saharna-“La Revechin”: The Defensive System) • Alexandru Levinschi, Despre un tip de amfore din sec. IV î.e.n. din fortificația Saharna-"La Revechin". (About a Type of Amphorae from the Fortification of Saharna-“La Revechin” (4lh century B.C.)) • Natalia Mateevici, Difuzarea amforelor grecești în interfluviul Siret-Prut în sec. VI înc. sec. II a. Chr. (Grecian Amphorae Diffusion between the Rivers of Siret and Prut in 6th - beginning of 2nd centuries B.C). • Nicolae Telnov, Vlad Vornic, Valeriu Bubulici, Serghei Kurceatov, Descoperiri arheologice din așezarea dacilor liberi de la Pruteni (Archaeological Discoveries from the Free Dacians' Settlement of Pruteni (Bălți District)) • Ion Hâncu, Pătrunderea și înrădăcinarea creștinismului în spațiul Pruto-Nistrean (Penetration and Establishment of Christianity in the Area between Rivers of Prut and Dniester) • Ion Chirtoagă, Din istoria ocupațiilor economice în țara Moldovei în sec. XIV-XVII (From the History of Economic Activities in Tara Moldovei in 14th - 17th Centuries) • Eduard Baidaus, Despre un adversar al unirii din 1600 - Voievodul Moldovei Ieremia Movilă (1595-1606) (About an Opponent of the Union of 1600: Ieremia Movila - the Voevode of Moldova (1595-1606)) • Ion Tentiuc, Repere istoriografice privind originea mănăstirii Hâncu (Historiograpical Notes Concerned the Hâncu Monastery Origin) • Nicolae Răileanu, Considerații privind crearea Ligii Sfinte și atitudinea domnitorilor români (Considerations Concerned the Creation of the Holy League and the Romanian Gospodars' Position) • Ion Dron, Transnistria: localități cu nume de origine antroponimică românească (Transnistria: Settlements with Names of Romanian Anthroponymic Origin) • Mihai Onilă, Hotarele moșiei satului Isacova, ținutul Orhei (sec. XIX) (Boundaries of the Village of Isacova Land) • Ludmila Velixar, Din istoria orașului Cahul (Pages from the History of Cahul) • Andrei Eșanu, „Descrierea Moldovei" a lui Dimitrie Cantemir în cultura rusă (Description of Moldova by Dimitrie Cantemir in Russian Culture) • Eugenia Borodac, Tamara Stamatov, Tehnici de decorare a porțelanului (Techniques of Porcelain Decoration) • Anatol Leșcu, Românii în componența trupelor rusești în l-a treime a secolului XIX (The Romanians in the Ranks of Russian Armed Forces (1sl third of 19lh century)) • Elena Ploșnița, Din activitatea culturală a mitropolitului G. Bănulescu-Bodoni (Metropolitan G. Bănulescu-Bodoni: Several Considerations) • Dinu Poștarencu, Instituția rezidentului plenipotențiar al Basarabiei (Establishment of Resident Plenipotentiary in Bessarabia) • Silvia Corlăteanu-Granciuc, Actele de identitate din Basarabia de la primele mențiuni documentare până în anul 1918 (History of Identity Cards in Bessarabia from the First Written Records to 1918) • Ludmila Năstase, Dinastia de arhitecți Bernardazzi (The Dynasty of Architects Bernardazzi) • Irina Gonciarova, Sigiliul "Secția chișinăuiană a Societății muzicale imperiale ruse" (sfârșitul sec. XIX - începutul sec. XX.) (A Seal of the Chișinău Department of the Russian Imperial Musical Society) • Lubovi Malahov, Foi volante editate de Frățimea Ortodoxă "Nașterea lui Hristos" din Chișinău (1899-1918) (Books Published by the Christmas Orthodox Brotherhood from Chișinău) • Lilia Zabolotnaia, Destinul unei familii (Some Pages from the History of the Dynasty of Tumarkins) • Ana Grițco, Societatea de binefacere Bessarabeț (The "Bessarabeț" Charitable Society) • Maria Danilov, Revizia Tipografiei Eparhiale la 1910 (The Eparchial Printing-House Inspection in 1910) • Diana Iepure, Instalarea Rețelelor telefonice în spațiul Basarabean la sfârșitul sec. XIX începutul sec. XX (Installation of Telephone Network in Bessarabia) • Ion Şpac, Revista "Arhivele Basarabiei" (1929-1938) (The Magazine "Arhivele Basarabiei" in 1929-1938) • Olga Şcipachin, Istoria unei promoții (From New Collections of the NationalMuseum of History of Moldova) • Elena Postică, Războiul informațional împotriva Republicii Moldova (cazul diferendului transnistrean) (The Informațional War Against the Republic of Moldova. Case Study: the Transnistrian Conflict) • Lubovi Reprințeva, Mărcile poștale din Republica Moldova (The Republic of Moldova Postage - Stamps) • Silviu Andrieș-Tabac, Stemele și drapelele orașelor Codru, Florești și Otaci (Arms and Flags of the Towns of Codru, Florești, and Otaci) • Liviu Vacarciuc, Istoria viței de vie (History of Vine)
III. Artă, învățământ, etnografie (Art, education, ethnography)
• Svetlana Reabțeva, Tezaurul Răducăneni (România) și cetățile circulare din spațiul Carpato-Nistrean (The Hoard of Răducăneni (România) and Ring-shaped Sites of Ancient Settlements of the Carpathian Mountains and the Dniester Area) • Svetlana Speranschi, Chipul Sf. Nicolae în iconografia ortodoxă (St. Nicolas's Iconography) • Emanuil Brihuneț, Biserica de lemn "Sf. Afanasie" din satul Etulia, Vulcănești (Wooden Church of St. Athanasius in the Village of Etulia) • Vlad D. Ghimpu, Catedrala înălțarea Domnului din Chișinău (1830) (The Ascension Cathedral in Chișinău (1830)) • Nicolae Crețu, Bibliotecile școlare în procesul instructiv din Basarabia în anii 1870-1918 (Role of School Libraries in Educațional Process in Bessarabia (1870-1918)) • Silvia Şărănuță, Textilele tradiționale basarabene în Interiorul casei țărănești (sec. XIX-XX) Bessarabian Traditional Textile Fabrics in Interior of Peasant House (19th-20th centuries) • Silvia Şărănuță, Traistele și desagii - textile tradiționale basarabene în sec. XIX-XX (Knapsacks and Bags: Traditional Textile Articles in 19th - 20th centuries) • Aurelia Cornețchi, Considerații privind istoria Liceului de fete Domnița Ileana din Bălți (Some Considerations Concerned the History of the Girls' Lyceum named after Princess Ileana) • Lilia Dragnev, Arta contemporană în Republica Moldova (Contemporary Art in the Republic of Moldova) • Adelaida Chiroșca, Ana Boldureanu, Monede comemorative contemporane moldovenești (Contemporary Moldavian Commemorative Coins)
IV. Personalități (Outstanding persons)
• Elena Pereteatcu, Teatrul a fost viața ei (A Theatre was Her Life: Centenary of Nina Masalischi) • Liviu Vacarciuc, Centenarul ilustrului viticultor basarabean academicianului Gherasim Constantinescu (Centenary of Outstanding Bessarabian Viticulturist Academician Gherasim Constantinescu) • Maria Evdochimov, Mihail Juraveli - renumit selecționar, creatorul unor noi soiuri de viță de vie în Moldova (Famous Moldavian Selectionist in Viticultura M. Zhuravel) • Vera Stăvilă, Academicianul Tadeuș Malinovski (Academician Tadeuș Malinovschi)
V. Omagieri (Homage)
• Nicolae Răileanu, O viață consacrată arheologiei Opera științifică a lui Nicolae Chetraru Life Dedicated tu Archeology (Nicolae Chetraru's Scientific Work) • Ilie Borziac, Rolul lui Nicolae Chetraru în studiul stațiunilor pluristratigrafice din grotele și peșterile Moldovei (N. Chetraru's Contribution to Study of Caves and Grottoes) • Anatolie David, Contribuția arheologului Nicolae Chetraru la cercetarea teriofaunei pleistocenului superior din Republica Moldova (Archaeologist N. Chetraru's Contribution to the Research of the Fauna of the Upper Pleistocene of Moldova) • Diana Iepure, Eugenia Borodac la cei 60 de ani • Tudor Arnăut, Profesorul Mircea Babeș la cei 60 de ani
VI. Viața științifica și recenzii (Scientific life and reviews)
• Vlad D. Ghimpu, A XXXV-a Sesiune Națională de Rapoarte arheologice din România (23-27 mai 2001) • Maria Danilov, Sesiunea de comunicări științifice. Milenii Tezaurizate. Creație și spiritualitate. Buzău, 2001 • Elena Postică, Conferință Internațională la Universitatea din Oradea • Natalia Mateevici, Conferința de arheologie a Universității din Odesa • Maria Neagu, Republica Moldova - România: un deceniu de relații complexe • Valentina Chirtoagă, Heimatbuch der Bessarabiendeutschen - o monografie despre comunitatea etno-religioasă a germanilor din Basarabia (Recenzie)
VII. Cronica muzeală (Museums' chronicle)
• Aurelia Cornețchi, Activitatea Muzeului Național de Istorie a Moldovei în anul 2001
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
