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.
• Ilie Borziac, Nicolae Chetraru, Bone Objects with Traces of Activity Characteristic for Mousterian Culture between Prut and Dniester • Serghei Fidelschi, Trade Development of the Settled Population of the Lower Dniester in the 7th-3rd Century B.C. • Alexandru Levinschi, Serghei Covalenco, Sergiu Bodean, New Getian Vestiges in the Zone of the Moldavian Codri • Igor Cetvericov, Natalia Mateevici, Epigraphic Pieces from the Barbarian Settlement by the River of Crasnaia in the Area of Lower Dniester · Vlad Vornic, Glass Vessels Discovered in the Archaeological Centre of Budești • Gheorghe Postică, Observations concerning the topography and the structure of the early medieval settlements from Prut-Dniester space • Vlad D. Ghimpu, Les Roumains dans la région du Dniestr et Danube en VIII-XII siècles • Ecaterina Abâzova, Svetlana Reabțeva, Some New Examples of Medieval Non-Ferrous Artifacts in the Collections of the National Museum of History of Moldova • Ion Eremia, International Juridical Status of Moldova to the end of the 14th Century • Ion Chirtoagă, Foreign Commerce in the East of the Carpathian Mountains in 14th -early 15th Century • Angela Zubco, Foreign Pressure and Interferences to the Foundation of the Metropolitanate of Moldova • Andrei Eșanu, Valentina Eșanu, From Weapons to a Compromise in the Home Policy of Stephen the Great: Forming of the First Gospodar's Council (1457) • Tamara Nesterov, Reliques du canon médiéval de proportion dans l'architecture ecclésiastique en pierre de Bessarabie • Eduard Baidaus, Victor Damian, The zaporozhian cossacks and the "moldavian" policy of poland (The end of 16th - beginning of the 17th centuries) • Lilia Zabolotnaia, Image of Woman from Moldova Reflected in Internal Documents and Formers' Descriptions (the l6th-17th Centuries) • Nicolae Răileanu, Moldavian-Turkish Relations and the Juridical Status of the Romanian Principalities • Violeta Tipa, Medieval Moldavian Gala Dress: Between Occidental and Oriental Influences • Andrei Emilciuc, Port Odesa in the tsarist policy of consolidation of Russia's positions in the black sea basin • Valentin Tomuleț, Maria Maftei, L'institution de la barrière d'Ismail (1812-1818) • Valentin Tomuleț, Les sources de profit et le niveau de richesse de la bourgeoisie commerciale de bessarabie (les années 1831-1868) • Marian Petcu, The Origins of News Items in the Romanian Press • Aliona Gheorghiță, The Numerical Evolution of the Bulgarian Population in Bessarabia During the 19th Century • Valentin Tomuleț, Tatiana Chicaroș, Considérations générates sur l'évolutoin de I'enseignement secondaire pour les jeunes filles en Bessarabie dans la deuxième partie du XIX siècle - le debut du XX siècle • Maria Danilov, Romanian Books from the Library of the Harjauca Cloister (19th-early 20th Centuries) • Keziban Acar, Images of the turkes in russian patriotic culture during the russo-turkish war of 1877-1878 • Elena Ploșnița, About the "Monumental" Policy of the Russian Tsarism and the "Monumental" Heroes in Bessarabia (1812-1918) • Anatol Povestca, La vérité historique sur la question de Bessarabie • Lidia Pădureac, Impact of Home Policy on Foreign Policy: The Romanian-Soviet Relations in 1917-1934 • Artur Cavalini, Corneliu Zelea Codreanu and the Italian neo-fascism • Elena Postică, Certaines considérations sur l'histoire et la signification des monuments de la gloire militaire dans la République de Moldova II. Personality, politologie et histoire locale
• Dorin Teodorescu, Antim Ivereanul, the Bishop of Ramnic in 1705-1708 • Dinu Poștarencu, The Family of Stroescu from Bessarabia • Vasile Dobrescu, "Astra", Vasile Stroescu and the Credit Cooperative movement from Transylvania. Projection and Accomplishments • Maxim Melinti, Bishop Nicodim (Krotkov) - worthy attendant of Besarabia • Silvia Şaranuța, Albina Osterman (1856-1936) • Ludmila Năstase, Les trois Maries de la famille Sciusev • Vasile Malanețchi, Ten Letters Written by Leon Boga to Father Alexandra Bardieru • Silviu Andrieș-Tabac, Les Armes et les Drapeaux des villages de Bubuieci et Colonița • Ion Rotaru, Some Considerations Concerned the Origin of the HarbovatVillage Name • Nicolae Bulat, "Încercari" - the Magazine of Soroca Pupils of Lyceums (1936-1939) • Nicolae Demcenco, Nos coeurs en granit • Essam Abou Salem, A New Way of Adjustment of the Palestinian-Israeli Conflict • Aurelia Popușoi, The Correlation between Political Institutions and Political • Constantin Solomon, Parliamentary Election 2005 in Moldova • Victoria Perciun, Elections and Their Role in the Social Development
III. Religion, museografie et etnographie
• Natalia Chișcă, From Theology to Iconography · Alina Felea, Testaments as a Source of Study of Attitudes to the Death • Emanuil Brihuneț, Tombstones of 18th - Early 19th Century in the Lower Dniester Region • Svetlana Lupașco, La découverte de l'original dans l'iconographie. XVII-XIX siècles • Victor Filatov, Some Considerations Concerned the Identification of a Chain Mail • Ludmila Istomina, From the History of Construction of the Archangel Michael Cathedral Church from Cahul • Irina Goncearova, Medals with the Images of the Popes from the Collections of the National Museum of History of Moldova • Eugenia Borodac, Tamara Stamatov, Examples of the Caucasian Cold Steel from the Collection of the National Museum of History of Moldova • Ana Grițco, La collecton de cartes posrales du parrimoine du Musée National d'Histoire de Moldova) • Liubov Malahov, The Gospel from the Kievo-Pecherskaya Lavra (1890) - a Rare Book from the Collections of the National Museum of History of Moldova • Silvia Şaranuța, Ornements populaires moldaves du patrimoine du Musée National d'Ethnographie et d'Histoire Naturelle • Varvara Buzilă, The ritual of wine "honoring"
IV. Comptes - rendus, chronique museale, ommages
• Constantin Stere, Un caz de conștiință, Editura Viața Românească, București, 1921, 86 p., [Dragoș Toma, O carte rară din colecția Muzeului Național de Arlieologie și Istorie] • Presa din Basarabia. Analize, contexte, valori (2854-2004), Cartdidact, Chișinău, 2005, 144 p. [Constantin Drachenberg, "Un valoros studiu științific"] • Cartea Memoriei. Catalog al victimelor totalitarismului comunist, vol. I-IV, Ştiința, Chișinău (vol. I,1999,464+XIV p.; vol.II, 2001, 464 p.; vol. III. 2003, 424 p.; vol.IV, 2005, 438 p.) [dr. hab. prof. univ. Anatol Petrencu, "Un important studiu privind trecutul totalitar"] • Analecta Catholica. Episcopia Romano-Catolică de Chișinău, I, Chișinău, 2005, 300 p. [Aurelia Cornețchi] • Silvia Grossu, Written Romanian Press in the Past, at Present and in Perspective. The National Symposium of Journalism, 2005 · Ana Grițco, "Le cygne de Bessarabie" est revenue à la maison · Valeriu Nazar, In the Universe of the Bessarabian Press • Ecaterina Bondarenco, L'exposition "Le visage visible et invisible de l'objet du patrimoine" · Aurelia Cornețchi, Exhibition "Destinies in the Light of Arts" • Natalia Chișcă, Cultural-Scientific Activities of the National Museum of History of Moldova in 2005 · Nicolae Chetraru: at the origines of the Bessarabian Archaeology • Alexandra Primac: a Hardened Destiny.
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
