Overview:

Polotsk Cathedral in Polotsk, Belarus is a Russian Orthodox Church and a belfry of the 16th century. The Polotsk Cathedral is the main shrine of the Polotsk Region and features frescoes from 1252, an array of ancient icons, and valuable jewelry. It is the oldest Christian temple in the Eastern part of the former Grand Duchy of Lithuania and the only Orthodox temple of the City of Polotsk. The Cathedral, founded by the Prince of Polotsk Drohdycja, was sanctified in 1213. It underwent major reconstruction in 1643, when the Church of the Nativity was constructed, as well as in 1750. The Polotsk Cathedral is included in the list of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites. It is one of the most beautiful monuments in Belarus
Prominent Features:

1. Sixteenth-Century towers with four corner turrets. 2. Red-tinted dome and grand cupola crowning the cathedral sanctuary. 3. Monument to St. Euphrosyne of Polotsk right outside the cathedral's entrance. 4. Walls decorated with two enormous frescoes – one depicting the Last Judgement and the other illustrating historical moments of the city of Polotsk. 5. Colorful stained-glass windows patterned with biblical images, angels, saints and monarchs. 6. Exquisite iconostasis inside the cathedral with carvings and wooden sculptures. 7. Bell tower watching over the cathedral and the town from the north cliff. 8. Icon of the Virgin Mary and Jesus known as the “Black Madonna”, which dates back from the 11th century. You can learn history, culture, and heritage through these magnificent monuments in Belarus.

History:

The Polotsk Cathedral is a historic Eastern Orthodox cathedral located in Polotsk, Belarus. It is currently the cathedral of the Polotsk and Vitebsk Diocese of the Belarusian Orthodox Church. The site of the cathedral has been an important religious site since the 10th century and is believed to have been built atop a pagan temple. The current structure is a 12th-century three-nave basilica with two towers. It was founded in 1128 by Rogvolod, prince of Polotsk. It is believed that it was built in the same style as St. Cyril and St. Methodius Church in Kiev. The original structure was renovated in the 13th century and replaced by a brick structure in 1510. During the 15th-16th centuries, it was renovated multiple times and underwent a number of reconstructions and a new belfry was built. In 1654, the cathedral was used as a fortification during the Russian-Polish-Lithuanian war. It was heavily damaged from the battle, but was repaired and refurbished by the local nuns in the 18th century and remains mostly unchanged since then. The Cathedral was closed during the Soviet Union era but was re-opened in the late 1980s. It is a popular tourist destination in Belarus and a major example of Belarusian architectural art. Visit one of the famous monuments of Belarus with your friends and family.

Interesting facts:

1. The Polotsk Cathedral is the oldest surviving Eastern Orthodox Church in Belarus, dating back to 1067. 2. The main entrance to the cathedral is through a columned entrance covering the mosaics of 12 Apostles. 3. The Polotsk Cathedral is home to some of the oldest and most beautiful frescoes in Eastern Europe. 4. The Cathedral is home to about 350 ancient icons, some dating back to the 13th century. 5. Inside the Cathedral, visitors can find several old sources of light, including one from the 13th century. 6. The Cathedral is also home to a collection of 16th and 17th century Russian icons. 7. The whole church was completely renovated in the 17th century and again in the 19th century. 8. The Polotsk Cathedral is the burial place of much of the city’s aristocracy, including Vseslav the Sorcerer and Jano Sapego, the founder of the city. One of the historical monuments of Belarus, it tells the story of a bygone era