The Savior-Transfiguration Church in Polotsk was opened after restoration
The Spaso-Transfiguration Church of the Polotsk Spaso-Euphrosynia Women's Monastery was opened after many years of restoration, reports BELTA correspondent.
The majestic church is one of the oldest stone cult structures in Belarus. During the restoration of the monumental painting, many frescoes dating back to the 12th century were discovered, covering 90% of the walls. The best restorers from Belarus and Russia worked for several years to uncover them.
As specialists noted, the restoration of the architectural and painting monument was not easy. The wooden elements in the church were significantly damaged due to the improper microclimate. Even microbiologists were involved in the work, helping artists and restorers identify mold with special equipment to remove it before applying solutions. By the way, the oil wall painting of the 19th century was also preserved, and it is now exhibited in the Polotsk Art Gallery. To preserve the frescoes, a special climate was created in the church, which is regulated, among other things, with the help of digital equipment. Experts also noted that the discovered elements are unique, made at the direction of Euphrosynia, with no analogs in any of the existing ancient Orthodox churches of the 12th century.
A thanksgiving service in honor of the opening of the church in the monastery was conducted by Metropolitan of Minsk and Zaslavl Benjamin, Patriarchal Exarch of all Belarus. The hierarch emphasized that a large team contributed to this great endeavor.
— We give thanks to the Lord for this great deed. We also express our gratitude to the President of our country, who instructed that the restoration of the church should proceed and that it should be presented in all its beauty and splendor. The frescoes were restored, architectural structures were renewed, so that the church would be preserved for many years and delight visitors, serving as a testament to antiquity, Orthodoxy, and how the Venerable Euphrosynia of Polotsk cared for the preservation of faith and piety in our Belarusian lands, — emphasized the Patriarchal Exarch.
The solemn ceremony was attended by the Chairperson of the Council of the Republic of the National Assembly of Belarus Natalia Kochanova. She read a welcoming address from the President and noted that the preservation of such shrines is a matter of national pride.
— This event became possible thanks to the efforts of restorers, designers, builders, and all the people who understood that this needed to be done for the good of our people and our country, because these are the spiritual roots of our Belarus, — she said.
The speaker emphasized that the large-scale restoration work on the church entered an active phase thanks to the participation of the head of state, who visited here and saw the condition of the shrine.
— This work began thanks to the instruction of our President and with the financial support of the state. And it was not easy, but the President understood that this needed to be done for the good of Orthodoxy and our people. All work was completed in full, — noted Natalia Kochanova.
Present at the opening ceremony, the chairman of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee Alexander Subbotin thanked the large team that worked on the restoration. These are representatives of the ministries of culture, architecture, and construction, restorers.
— This is a gem not only of the Polotsk land but of all Belarus, of the entire Orthodox world. The restoration of the church is further proof that we are doing everything right, — said the regional head.
The church will be accessible to visitors and pilgrims from all corners of the world.