#Exhibit of the Month

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.

Virtual Tour

“The train of pain”

The monument that is dedicated to the memory of the victims of the deportations of the communist regime (unofficially, also called the "Train of Pain") is a memorial that holds the memory of tens of thousands of Moldovans (Bessarabians) deported in the years 1940–1953 during the communist regime.

The location of the monument in the square of the Chisinau Railway Station has a special connotation: it was from here that most of the Bessarabians were forcibly taken to Siberia and Kazakhstan. Documentary materials about the deportees and their families are included in four volumes of the Memory Book. The volumes contain data on individuals subjected to repression (name, surname of the repressed, year of birth, place of origin, year and reason for repression, place of detention (deportation), data on rehabilitation) in the municipalities and districts of the Republic of Moldova. The documentary material is structured according to the administrative-territorial division of the Republic of Moldova until 12.11.1998. Within the district, the materials are distributed by communes, within the commune - in alphabetical order and respecting the chronology of repressions. To ensure maximum accessibility, the Memory Book has been digitized and encoded in a QR Code.

The monument is made by the sculptor Iurie Platon. The inauguration of the monument took place on August 23, 2013. The bronze sculpture is 3 meters high, 12 meters long and weighs 15 tons.

IURIE PLATON

Painter, ceramist, sculptor, organizer of numerous international projects of intercultural exchanges, teacher of art education,

visual artist with work in public and private collections from all around the world,

awarded with prestigious prizes and distinctions at contemporary art competitions.

Studies:

1974 – 1981 Republican High School of Fine Arts Igor Vieru, class of Professor Victor Marinescu, Chisinau

1982 – 1987 Institute of Arts, class of teachers Eve Mardna, Leo Rohlin, Tallinn, Estonia, Specialization: Fine and Applied Arts

Devotion:

1985 He made his creative debut with painting at the Youth Theater, Tallinn, Estonia

1987 The republican exhibition of decorative art participates with the work Memories

1987 Full member of the Association of Young Visual Artists and Art Critics of the USSR Union of Fine Artists

1991 Full member of the Union of Visual Artists of the Republic of Moldova

1997, 1998 Initiator and organizer of the International Symposium of small bronze sculpture, Chisinau

1996, up until now he continues to be an freelance visual artist in Germany and the Republic of Moldova

Teaching activity in art education:

1987 – 1996 P Professor at the Academy of Music, Theater and Fine Arts, Chisinau. He led the first class of graduates at the ceramics department, of which Oleg Dobrovolschi, Elena Mogorean, Ion Niţa, Vladimir Tabac integrated in the contemporary creative process.

2000, 2003, 2008 Professor of stone sculpture at the Summer Academy at the An der Copelschleuse Creation Center, Meppen, Germany

2005 Outdoor painting teacher at courses organized by the Imbert Gallery, Aix-en-Provance, France

Solo Exhibitions:

From the beginning of his artistic activity up until now, he carries out an extensive creative activity, accumulating in his record more than 60 personal and group exhibitions in the country and abroad: Argentina, Austria, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Lithuania, Macedonia, Moldova, Romania, Russia, Spain, Sweden, Hungary.

Monumental works for public:

Argentina, Czech Republic, Germany, Republic of Moldova, Romania

Works in public and private collections:

Argentina, Czech Republic, Estonia, Germany, Republic of Moldova, Romania

Distinctions / scholarships:

1991 Youth Prize for Fine Arts, awarded by the Ministry of Youth and Sports of the Republic of Moldova

1994 Iulian Antonescu Museum Complex Award, Bacău, Romania

1996 Lotus Company Award, Romania - awarded at the exhibition-contest of contemporary art Salons of Moldova: Romania-Republic of Moldova

1997 First Prize of the Radio Free Europe Sculptors Symposium, Czech Republic

2000, 2003, 2008 Scholarship awarded by the An der Copelschleuse Creative Center, Meppen, Germany

2006 Scholarship awarded by the International Confederation of Visual Artists' Unions of Moscow at the Cité Internaionali des Arts, Paris, France

2009 Prize of the Union of Visual Artists of the Republic of Moldova