What restoration work is being carried out in Polotsk for the 900th anniversary of the Spaso-Euphrosinievsky Stauropegic Convent?
To hold anniversary celebrations at a high level, a republican organizing committee has been created, and a plan of events of a secular and spiritual nature has been approved. Among the main tasks is the completion of restoration work on the Transfiguration Church, the pearl of the monastery complex, built during the life of Euphrosyne of Polotsk. The object has the highest category in the list of historical and cultural values of Belarus, is included in the State Investment Program and the Set of Measures for the Development of the Polotsk District until 2025. In the Church of the Transfiguration of the Savior, the only monument of the 12th century in Belarus, fresco painting has been preserved almost completely, from the base of the walls to the dome. Restoration work is being carried out both on the facades and in the interior of the temple. They should be completed by the end of 2024.
“I will not sin against the truth if I clarify that it is not Polotsk, but the whole of Belarus that is preparing for this solemn date,” says the chairman of the Polotsk regional executive committee, Igor Markovich. – This issue is under the control of Deputy Prime Minister Igor Petrishenko, and the honorary citizen of Polotsk, a true patriot of our city, Chairman of the Council of the Republic of the National Assembly of the Republic of Belarus Natalya Kochanova, pays close attention to it. From Brest, where a large-scale theatrical production is being prepared, a whole series of large and small events will take place across the whole of Belarus in a real all-Belarusian religious procession.
Under the auspices of the Ministry of Education, a number of scientific and practical conferences are planned, the projects of which are already being worked on by both young and experienced scientists.
The Ministry of Culture holds monthly headquarters in the monastery to monitor the progress of restoration work. Thanks to rhythmic funding from the republican budget, work is being carried out according to schedule. Although the ancient temple presents restoration specialists with difficult engineering challenges.
“The most pressing issue so far remains the construction of a refectory for the nuns of the monastery,” noted the head of the district government. – Construction work is progressing thanks to the caring of true believers and the ascetic determination of the abbess of the monastery, Mother Evdokia. In difficult moments, she never tires of repeating: “Don’t despair, the Lord will manage everything.” And we believe in the main thing that the saint herself does not leave us without her protection. The approved plan to prepare for the 900th anniversary celebration included renovations to the city center. We thought and looked for sources of funding. Today, thanks to the fact that a number of events of the Forum of Regions of Belarus and Russia will be held in Polotsk in June 2024, sources of funding have been identified.
I believe that in the future all true Polotsk residents will work for the glory and prosperity of their native city, and the saint will not leave us without her protection.
As it became known, among the events planned for the anniversary date is the creation of an exhibition dedicated to the history of the monastery, as part of the opening of the archaeological museum - another branch of the National Polotsk Historical and Cultural Museum-Reserve.
