POLOTSK, 15 January (BelTA) - The Church of the Transfiguration of the Savior of the Savior and St Euphrosyne Convent in Polotsk reopened after many years of restoration, BelTA learned.
The majestic church is one of the oldest stone religious buildings in Belarus. During the restoration of the wall painting, many frescoes dating back to the 12th century were discovered. They cover 90% of the walls. The best restorers from Belarus and Russia worked for several years to uncover them.
According to experts, the restoration was not easy. The wooden elements in the church had significantly deteriorated due to the improper microclimate. Even microbiologists got involved in the work to help the artists and restorers identify fungus and remove it. By the way, the oil wall painting of the 19th century was also preserved, and now it is exhibited in the Art Gallery of Polotsk. To preserve the frescoes in the church a special digitally-regulated climate has been created. Experts also note that the uncovered elements are unique. They were created on the instructions of Euphrosyne. There are no analogues in any of the existing ancient Orthodox churches of the 12th century.
Metropolitan of Minsk and Zaslavl Veniamin, Patriarchal Exarch of All Belarus, conducted a thanksgiving prayer service in honor of the opening of the church in the convent. His Eminence emphasized that a great team was involved in the great deed. “We give thanks to God that such a work has been accomplished. We also express our gratitude to the president of our country, who gave the order to restore the church and help it shine in all its beauty and splendor. The frescoes were restored, architectural structures were renewed. The church will be preserved for many years serving as a testimony of antiquity, Orthodoxy and efforts by the Venerable Euphrosyne of Polotsk to preserve faith and piety in our Belarusian lands,” Metropolitan Veniamin said.
The ceremony was attended by Chairperson of the Council of the Republic of the National Assembly of Belarus Natalya Kochanova. She read out the welcome address from the president and noted that the preservation of such churches is a matter of national pride. “This event became possible thanks to the efforts of restorers, designers, builders, all people who understood the importance of this work, because these are the spiritual roots of our Belarus,” she said.
According to experts, the restoration was not easy. The wooden elements in the church had significantly deteriorated due to the improper microclimate. Even microbiologists got involved in the work to help the artists and restorers identify fungus and remove it. By the way, the oil wall painting of the 19th century was also preserved, and now it is exhibited in the Art Gallery of Polotsk. To preserve the frescoes in the church a special digitally-regulated climate has been created. Experts also note that the uncovered elements are unique. They were created on the instructions of Euphrosyne. There are no analogues in any of the existing ancient Orthodox churches of the 12th century.
Metropolitan of Minsk and Zaslavl Veniamin, Patriarchal Exarch of All Belarus, conducted a thanksgiving prayer service in honor of the opening of the church in the convent. His Eminence emphasized that a great team was involved in the great deed. “We give thanks to God that such a work has been accomplished. We also express our gratitude to the president of our country, who gave the order to restore the church and help it shine in all its beauty and splendor. The frescoes were restored, architectural structures were renewed. The church will be preserved for many years serving as a testimony of antiquity, Orthodoxy and efforts by the Venerable Euphrosyne of Polotsk to preserve faith and piety in our Belarusian lands,” Metropolitan Veniamin said.
The ceremony was attended by Chairperson of the Council of the Republic of the National Assembly of Belarus Natalya Kochanova. She read out the welcome address from the president and noted that the preservation of such churches is a matter of national pride. “This event became possible thanks to the efforts of restorers, designers, builders, all people who understood the importance of this work, because these are the spiritual roots of our Belarus,” she said.
The speaker emphasized that large-scale work to restore the church entered an active phase thanks to the involvement of the head of state, who visited the site and saw the state of the church. “These works began thanks to the instruction of our president and with the financial support of the state. It was not easy, but the president understood that it should be done for the good of Orthodoxy and our people. All the work was performed in full,” Natalya Kochanova said.
Vitebsk Oblast Governor Aleksandr Subbotin, who was present at the opening ceremony of the church, thanked the large team that worked on the restoration. These are representatives of the culture, architecture and construction ministries, restorers. “This is a jewel not only of the Polotsk land, but of the whole Belarus, of the whole Orthodox world. The restoration of the church is another proof that we are doing everything right,” the governor said.
The church will be open to visitors and pilgrims from all over of the world.
Photos by Aleksandr Khitrov
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