Orthodox writer Natalya Sukhinina. Books by Natalia Sukhinina

Euphrosyne of Polotsk: photo, description, biography, activities.

Euphrosyne of Polotsk. Photo of the saint. Description. Historical information. Activity. Interesting facts from life. Cross of Euphrosyne of Polotsk. Benefits.

Euphrosyne of Polotsk is known to almost every person, since at one time she was the first woman whom the Russian Orthodox Church decided to canonize. It is known from historical times that she once lived in White Rus', that is, in present-day Belarus. In ancient times, the lands between Ancient Russia, the Dnieper and Drudy were called White Russia, now these lands belong to the state of Belarus, and the Saint herself was from there. That is why almost every person who believes in Orthodoxy and the Almighty knows the path, exploits and good deeds of Saint Euphrosyne of Polotsk.

Features of life in Polotsk before the advent of the Mongols

Euphrosyne of Polotsk was one of the most educated women of Ancient Rus'. In order to understand what it cost her in those days, it is necessary to delve into the study of historical data and information.

It is known that the 12th century was a special period, since at that moment the inhabitants of the state actively took part in the Orthodox faith. Since it was at that moment that it arose in Ancient Rus', therefore, many facades of buildings, the image of various art and even literature have some resonances with the Orthodox Church and faith.

In those days, almost all Orthodox churches, temples and monasteries were decorated with special scenes from biblical legends. During that period, new scriptoria opened near the monasteries, where various translators specializing in Greek worked and translated books that were most relevant for the inhabitants of that period. In addition, in the 12th century in Ancient Rus', jewelry workshops were in great demand, since some residents and even Orthodox believers turned there to make a cross or an icon with the image of the Almighty.

From time immemorial, the city of Polotsk was considered the largest center for the production of books. That is why many people of that time sought to come to this city in order to get best education. Also in Polotsk, some chronicles and historical records were kept, which later became known to the wider world. It is from them that almost every person today draws knowledge about various outstanding personalities or Holy persons who lived at that time. It was there that the first story was written about the only woman in Ancient Rus' who was educated, and in our days she was canonized.

The childhood and adolescence of Saint Euphrosyne

To this day, scientists have not established exact date the birth of the Great Ascetic Euphrosyne, however, it is known that she came from a very noble Rurik family and was presented to the world around 1101. Historians of the present time claim that Euphrosyne of Polotsk was the granddaughter of Vladimir Monomakh and at the same time the daughter famous prince Polotsky George.

Her father, the prince, made sure that at a young age the girl Euphrosyne was educated by the best trained monks who lived in the city of Polotsk. It is also believed that in the house where the girl lived there was huge library, including a variety of religious books, as well as secular chronicles. Therefore, little Euphrosyne read a lot from childhood, and subsequently, with age, her interest in books only grew. The life of Euphrosyne can be open to every person, since it is written in a well-known chronicle. It is worth recalling that the chronicle was compiled by the monks of that time.

It is also known from the chronicle that Euphrosyne of Polotsk’s favorite books were Holy Bible and the Psalter. In the chronicle, the monks claim that the young girl spent a lot of time in the temple, praying earnestly. Over time, many noble princes in other states dreamed that Euphrosyne of Polotsk would become their wife, since rumors reached even the most distant lands that she was the smartest and wisest girl beyond her years.

Deciding to become a nun

Around when the girl was 12 years old, the prince turned to her parents and wooed her. The parents gave their consent and blessing, however, 12 summer girl Euphrosyne made a different decision and after some time secretly went to the monastery and took monastic vows. It was at this moment that life changed, and the biography received a new round of development.

From historical information it is known that the abbess in the church where Euphrosyne went was the widow of her uncle, who was called Roman. Initially, the abbess heard the girl’s request and insisted on a decisive refusal, but then she turned her attention to Euphrosyne, since she was a very young girl and too beautiful. Some time later, after the abbess saw from the side how Euphrosyne of Polotsk offered passionate prayers and believed in the Almighty, she changed her mind. The abbess was not afraid of her father, that is, George of Polotsk. Since then, that is, from the age of 12, young beautiful girl Euphrosyne of Polotsk became a nun.

tonsure

It is worth noting that at the time of her tonsure as a nun, Predslava, as Euphrosyne was previously called, was given a different name before she was tonsured. From the chronicle we know that the name was not chosen by chance; she was named in honor of Euphrosyne of Alexandria, who lived in the fifth century and was an unshakable example for the young girl. It is also believed that in the church the name Euphrosyne means joy, so the twelve-year-old child had no problems choosing a name for tonsure as a monk.

Naturally, Father George and Mother Euphrosyne were extremely saddened by such decisions own daughter, so they made more than once attempts to bring her home. There is evidence in the chronicle that George of Polotsk mourned his daughter as if she were dead, but his tears could not change anything. Predslava remained in the temple and surpassed all the nuns in zeal for prayer, fasting and night vigils, and she also daily offered prayers of praise to the Almighty and all the Saints.

When the girl became a nun, she turned to knowledgeable people in order to dedicate own life studying various sciences. It was in the monastery that she studied a large number of books that were located in the main church repository. It is important that the chronicle clarifies that the library contained various works written by Slavic theologians, as well as various ancient chronicles and works of Byzantine and Roman enlighteners. Thus, the girl expanded her horizons, studied historical information and, of course, did not forget about science.

Blessings Saint

A year later, Euphrosyne saw her own future destiny in a dream. One night an angel appeared to her and told her that she needed to create a monastery in locality called Seltso, which is located close to Polotsk. The girl saw such an omen several times, and later she learned that the same dream in reality was seen by a bishop, who was called Elijah. Therefore, the Bishop of Polotsk, seeing such a sign of God, transferred the Transfiguration Church, located in Seltso, under the leadership of Euphrosyne of Polotsk so that she could later found a convent there.

It is important to note that scientists and historians describe this saint in the form of a woman who was an educator, founder and trustee of various monasteries, not only for women, but also for men. It is worth noting that it is Euphrosyne of Polotsk who is considered the founder and trustee of the most famous Bogorodsky monastery.

She opened schools near the monasteries so that the monks could study various sciences and crafts. It was also she who insisted that every monk should be trained in literacy and the art of copying books.

Orthodox Christians claimed that at one time Euphrosyne of Polotsk was famous throughout the city as an adviser. Because she never refused people help or advice, because she believed that certain people needed her guidance in order to reach the Orthodox faith or faith in the Almighty. Often, people who wanted to change their lives turned to Euphrosyne of Polotsk because they believed that the power of this girl’s prayer was very great. Other people came to her so that she could help receive spiritual support, help and strength from the Almighty. Saint Polotsk is known to many Orthodox believers, since it is now known that it is she who can calm down quarrels, scandals, showdowns and create an idyll. There are cases from the chronicles when it was Euphrosyne who was able to calm down the princes who could not come to an agreement among themselves; since then, many Orthodox believers have turned to her for help.

Euphrosyne's dream

Saint Euphrosyne of Polotsk had one and only cherished dream, she had wanted to visit Palestine for a long time. Therefore, being in old age, the woman realized her cherished dream.

Until this moment, the woman devoted herself entirely to rewriting various books, as well as writing new ones, and in addition to this, she was engaged in teaching the laity and improving the lives of the inhabitants of the monastery. And after achieving such goals, she transferred the rule of the monastery of monks to her sister Evdokia, and at that time she herself went on a journey.

One day she was heading to Jerusalem and met the Patriarch of Constantinople Luke on the way. After she arrived in Jerusalem and visited the famous life-giving sepulchre, she decided to stay in a Russian monastery. It was here at this moment that a serious illness overtook her. And already on May 23, 1173, the woman died without having recovered from her illness. According to the will of St. Euphrosyne, her relics were buried near the monastery of St. Theodosius, located near Jerusalem. In 1187, the relics of the Holy Woman ended up in the repository of the Kiev Pechersk Lavra, and already in 1910 they were returned to their homeland in the city of Polotsk, and to this day the relics of the woman are located there.

Euphrosyne of Polotsk: interesting facts

The main attraction that is associated with the name of the Saint is the Orthodox cross that bears her name. Such a masterpiece of the Orthodox ancient Russian culture was created by order of the saint. According to historical data, Euphrosyne of Polotsk was a philanthropist; she was also responsible for the Polotsk chronicle and made sure that the library of the St. Sophia Cathedral was replenished with new editions of books, regardless of time.

If we remember about Orthodox cross, which is named after Euphrosyne of Polotsk, it is worth noting that such a relic was lost during the Great Patriotic War, but in 1997, Brest jewelers created a copy according to the descriptions of the chronicle.

Around 1547, Euphrosyne of Polotsk was canonized, and already in 1984 she was canonized in Belarus. And in 1994, May 23 was recognized as a sacred day, so to this day such a holiday is widely celebrated on the territory of the state of Belarus.

The famous Orthodox saint is St. Euphrosyne of Polotsk.

She was the daughter of Prince George Vseslavich and his wife Sofia. According to the life of the saint, compiled for the “Chetiy Menaion of Metropolitan Macarius (1481-15631)”, a source very close in time to the life of the saint, it is known that at the age of 12 Predslava, as her parents called her, came to the monastery to her aunt Abbess Romanova and announced her desire to take monastic vows. According to the chronicle, Prince Roman Vseslavich died in 1116; Predslava’s arrival in the monastery, therefore, occurred later, when Roman’s widow herself took on an angelic image and became abbess. Based on these scant data, it can be assumed that Predslava was born in 1102-1104, and her childhood was in 1102-1116.

The life tells that from childhood Predslava showed a great love for book education and heartfelt prayer. When her parents began to think about her marriage, twelve-year-old Predslava answered them: “What will happen if my father wants to give me away in marriage; if so, it will be impossible to get rid of the sadness of this world! What did our generations that came before us do? They got married and went out married, and reigned, but did not live forever, their life passed and their glory perished like dust, worse than a cobweb. But the ancient women, having taken the strength of men, followed Christ, their Bridegroom, and gave up their bodies to wounds, their heads to swords , and others, although they did not bow their necks under iron, but with a spiritual sword cut off carnal pleasures from themselves, gave their bodies to fasting, and vigil, and kneeling, and reclining on the earth - and they are remembered on earth, and their names are written in heaven ", where they, together with the angels, constantly glorify God. And this glory is dust and ashes, as if smoke dissipates, as if water vapor perishes!"

You shouldn’t smile ironically after reading about your twelve-year-old status future bride. In those days this was par for the course. “Russian people have the following custom,” wrote the Austrian prince Daniel von Buchau, who visited Rus' in 1578, “girls before reaching adulthood marry at 10 years of age, boys at 12 or 15.” At Predslava similar case introduced himself at age 12. She once heard her father say to her mother: “It’s too late for us to give Predslava for the prince!” Predslava was horrified: she remembered the books she had read, remembered the speeches of her monastic mentors: the lives of the princes “flow by and the glory of their destruction, like dust and worse than a web...”, this life “is not yours forever”, will not remain for eternity, for the salvation of the soul.

The princess secretly fled to the monastery to her aunt, the abbess, begging her to “rank among the real nuns under the yoke of Christ.” The old abbess was “confused,” the Life narrates, “for she saw “her youth and her blossoming age.”

The abbess, naturally, had other fears - the anger of the father of the twelve-year-old princess. The prince was stern. Undoubtedly, he had his own plans for Predslav; dynastic marriages always had a very important influence on state policy. And then the daughter went against the will of her father. There is no point in attributing such an act to Predslava’s excessive religiosity, although anything could have happened. It is quite possible that the proposed groom was by no means young and handsome, to say the least. Or maybe he had a reputation for being a “blue beard.” There was something to escape from to the monastery. No wonder the aunt was very afraid of the prince’s anger. The reprisal could be quick and merciless. The Life conveys the following dialogue:

“My child!” the abbess exclaimed mournfully, “how can I do this? Your father, having learned, with all anger will put harm on my head, and you are still young in age, you cannot bear the burdens of my life, and how can you leave the reign and glory of the world this?" But the child knew exactly what to desire: “The blessed maiden responded: “To my mistress and mother! All visible world The essence of this is red and glorifying, but it will soon pass like a dream! .

Such a reasonable statement of the twelve-year-old girl convinced the abbess: “Wondered at the intelligence of the young woman,” the Life testifies, “surprised at her love for God, the priest commanded the will of her being, announced her, cut her hair and called her name Euphrosyne and clothed her in black robes...” .

The abbess was unable to make such a decision. Bishop Elijah of Polotsk was involved in resolving the dispute. The bishop had big influence against the prince and the matter was amicably settled. With the blessing of Polotsk Bishop Elijah, Euphrosyne began to live at the St. Sophia Cathedral, rewriting books: “she began to write books with her own hands, and gave the profits to those in need.” Probably, talented master bookmakers worked at the cathedral, since the large library kept growing, and to create even one book required the work of an entire workshop and not for a short time.

"In eyes educated people“,” noted the secretary of the Polish king Stefan Batory, R. Heidenstern, describing the defeat of Polotsk by Batory in 1570, “the library found there was almost no less valuable than all the other loot. In addition to the chronicles, it contained many works by the Greek Fathers of the Church...” All this was kept in the St. Sophia Cathedral!

Indeed, in the Middle Ages, copying books was very labor-intensive and expensive; books were stored, fearing fires, in stone buildings and most often in churches. Ancient Bulgarian manuscripts, understandable in Rus' without translation, were readily distributed here by Byzantium. In the Kyiv Hagia Sophia, for example, the most valuable library of the Bulgarian Tsar Simeon was located - a trophy of Emperor John Tzimiskes, who captured most of Bulgaria in 972. His son Vasily II the Bulgarian Slayer gave his father's spoils as a dowry to his sister Anna, who married Vladimir the Saint. Ancient Bulgarian books were distributed throughout major cities and monasteries of Rus', but in most cases died in internecine wars and fires. Only in a few cities were books preserved: in Polotsk, in particular, the library was not damaged until the campaign of the Polish king Stefan Batory in 1579.

In 1128, the young nun apparently got bored with printing work and she turned to construction. The Life explains this act simply: “a miracle” and gives the following:

Once in a dream she saw how “an angel led her to Seltso” on the outskirts of Polotsk and said: “This is where you should be!” That same night, an angel appeared to Bishop Elijah, saying: “Lead you, the servant of God Euphrosyne, to the Church of the Holy Savior, called Seltse - that place is holy!”

Bishop Elijah, who also had a similar vision that same night, officially blessed, in the presence of numerous witnesses, the Monk Euphrosyne for the founding of a convent, determining the location of the monastery - Seltso, where there was the Church of the Savior and the burial place of the Polotsk bishops. It can be assumed that, calling Euphrosyne to Seltso, the bishop hoped that she would build a stone church of the Savior and erect a monastery.

The bishops revered the princes of Polotsk: the translation of Euphrosyne and these places was an important decision, which could only be made together with the princely family council. And the council took place: it was attended by the saint’s uncle, Prince Boris Vseslavich of Polotsk, her father and eminent boyars. The speech of Polotsk Bishop Elijah, delivered with all caution, boiled down to the following: “Behold, I give Euphrosyne the place of the Holy Savior with you, so that no one will judge my giving by my belly...”.

The Spaso-Preobrazhensky Monastery, founded by Euphrosyne, becomes widely known in the Polotsk lands. In the monastery, on the site of the former wooden church of Euphrosyne, construction of a stone cathedral began. This cathedral, finally built in 1161, has survived to this day. In the monastery, the saint taught young nuns how to copy books, sing, embroider and other crafts. There are several versions of the tonsure of the Euphrosyne sisters as nuns.

According to one of them, Euphrosyne’s cousin, daughter of Prince Boris Zvenislav, entered this monastery, giving the monastery “all her golden belongings and valuable vestments,” and took monastic vows under the name of Eupraxia. “So they began to live in the monastery in unanimity, in prayers to God; and they were like one soul in two bodies.”

According to another, the first act of the young abbess, judging by the Life, was the tonsure of two sisters Gordislava and Eupraxia in her monastery, which this time caused the violent anger of the parents. “Did I give birth to you in the village,” exclaimed, according to the Life, the indignant father. “Did my mother raise you in the village!”

Different chronicles say different things, but agree on one thing: one of the converts was Eupraxia. So this can be taken as historical fact.

But let's get back to construction. Having completed the Spaso-Preobrazhensky Monastery, Euphrosyne began building the Church of the Virgin Mary, at which she opened the monastery of the Virgin Mary. For this monastery and church, the saint acquired, with the permission of Patriarch Luke of Constantinople, the miraculous Hodegetria of Ephesus (an icon Mother of God), one of three written, according to legend, by the Evangelist Luke himself (however, various legends and traditions attribute various icons of the Mother of God to the brush of the evangelist). “The king (of Constantinople) saw her love and sent seven hundred of his armorers to Ephesus, and they brought the icon of the Holy Mother of God to Constantinople. Patriarch Luke gathered the bishops and the entire cathedral to St. Sophia and, blessing, gave the icon to the servant of the Venerable Euphrosyne; the same He joyfully took it and brought it to his mistress Euphrosyne." It is not entirely clear which icon is being referred to we're talking about. She appeared so mysteriously and disappeared just as mysteriously. The icon could also be not of Ephesus, but of the Constantinople Mother of God. Unfortunately, the fate of this image is still not entirely known. Some scholars are even inclined to believe that this icon is now known as the Czestochowa icon (the most famous Catholic icon in Poland).

In the monasteries founded by St. Euphrosyne, there were icon-painting workshops. Church items and frames for icons were made there.

Book copying workshops operated under the leadership of Euphrosyne. Pedagogical activity The great ascetic made a significant contribution to the cause of public education. The schools of Euphrosyne of Polotsk were advanced for their time both in terms of training programs and in terms of student composition. The latter were mostly children ordinary people. The style of her address to her disciples is interesting: “Behold, I have gathered you, like a mother hen, her chicks under her wings, into her pasture, like sheep, to feed in the commandments of God, so that I too may teach you with my heart, seeing the fruits of your labor, and such is the rain of teaching to she shed for you; but your fields stand in the same measure, without growing, without rising. And the year is already coming to an end, and the spade lies on the threshing floor! I am afraid that thorns will be in you, and you will be given over to the unquenchable fire! Try, children my, avoid it, become pure wheat, dare in the millstones with humility, prayer and fasting, so that you may be brought clean bread to the table of Christ!”

The pinnacle of Euphrosyne’s organizational activity can rightfully be considered the construction of the stone Church of the Savior in Polotsk.

Where should one look for the architect? The 1120s - 1130s were the time when Rus' already had its own masters: in architecture, in applied arts, sculpture, painting. Trained by the Byzantines, they dispersed throughout all Russian lands. So in Polotsk, one of these specialists named John was a novice of the Belchitsky monastery. It must be assumed that he learned the art of the architect from those Kyiv masters who, as P.A. found out. Rappoport, were invited by the Vseslavichs to Polotsk, erected a large Assumption Cathedral in the Belchitsky Monastery, and then a “high-rise” stepped temple-tomb of St. George in Solts. As N.N. Voronin showed, the first experiments of Master John - the churches of Saints Paraskeva Pyatnitsa, Boris and Gleb - were carried out precisely in the Belchitsky Monastery.

From some sources it is known that the architect John was able to begin his bold Belchitsky experiments no earlier than the 1140s. It is quite natural that the abbess of the Spassky Monastery began to take a closer look at this architect for a long time and eventually invited him to her monastery to build a new chrome.

According to the Life, construction proceeded quickly. In total it took 30 weeks, that is, 7 and a half months, which indicates a clear organization of construction; The temple was apparently built from April to October.

Researchers often turned to the church of St. Euphrosyne of Polotsk. The building really surprises from the very beginning with its proportions, gable, obviously late ceiling, unusual elongation of the drum... The interior of the church also seemed mysterious, strangely loaded with massive pillars with very thick walls.

The Spassky Church is the pinnacle of architectural thought in the Polotsk land, which influenced all further construction of ancient Russian churches. Its main significance for Russian architecture is that it is “the most early monument, in which new architectural forms emerged with sufficient certainty, which at the end of the 12th century became characteristic of all Russian architecture: tower-like composition, rich decorative development of the exterior, frequent and very significant discrepancy between external forms and construction, subordinate position of the internal space in relation to the external appearance" This is what experts write who have studied in detail the creation of the Polotsk architect.

After the construction of the Spassky Church, Euphrosyne took care of equipping it with liturgical books and everything necessary. She invited artists who brilliantly painted the walls of the temple biblical stories, images of saints. On the choir in a special cell intended for the venerable saint herself, the most rich painting was also done. A special place was reserved for the unique altar cross, which Euphrosyne ordered for her temple from the best jeweler Kievan Rus Lazar Bogshe.

Euphrosyne of Polotsk would not have been the first Russian female saint if there had not been so many mysteries and secrets around her. And there were plenty of them.

As we well know, ancient Russian princes very often communicated with each other in writing. These were either letters written on birch bark and sent by special messenger, or letters on parchment, sealed with the prince's seal and sent in the same way. Birch bark reading certificates for the most part were thrown away.

Parchment letters reach us very rarely (the text was erased after reading and, if necessary, written on them again; seals - small lead circles with a ribbon - were torn off and thrown away. Russian princes always had two names: the godfather, given at baptism, and the traditional one, given at birth. On one side of the seal one name was placed, and on the other - a second. This makes it possible to determine which of the princes this seal belonged to.

Among the numerous sphragistic materials (sphragistics is the science of seals), several seals found in different places Rus'. These are seals with the names of George and Sophia and with the name of Euphrosyne. These seals were found in Novgorod, Koknesse (ancient Kukenois) and in Polotsk itself. On two of them there is a double-sided image of Saints George and Sophia, on the third - Saint Euphrosyne, on the fourth - another saint, and on the back - an image of the Archangel Michael. Having proved that all these seals belong to women and come from Polotsk (George and Sophia are the father and mother of Euphrosyne), and noting that the seals of women are very rare, and monastic seals are completely unknown, V.L. Yanin was perplexed why the seals from Polotsk were for women? Why did the approval of acts - a male occupation - in Polotsk in the 12th century end up in the hands of women? “What kind of matriarchy is this in a feudal principality?” exclaimed V.L. Yanin.

In 1132-1144, Vasilko Svyatoslavich ruled in Polotsk, whom the Polotsk people placed on the Polotsk throne. If we assume that Euphrosyne’s father George’s name in the world was Svyatoslav, then the conclusion remains that Vasilko, who was not exiled with his parents to Byzantium, was her brother!

Contrary to the tradition established in Rus', the founder of the Polotsk Spassky Monastery and its main organizer, the Venerable Euphrosyne, perhaps thanks to direct contacts with Byzantium and, in particular, with Patriarch Luke Chrysoverkh, felt confident and independent and, if necessary, sent to various cities Rus' and, probably, Constantinople, important documents, sealing them with a personal seal.

The Polotsk enlightener decided to end her days in the Holy Places at the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem. She was already many years old, and the path to Palestine was not easy. But her decision to “reach the Holy City of Jerusalem and venerate the Holy Sepulcher and all the Holy Places, see and kiss and die there” was firm.

The pilgrimage was on foot, not by water, “from the Varangians to the Greeks.” The convoy traveled 30-40 kilometers a day, stopping with the rulers of neighboring lands, who gave the saint “great honor.” On the way, the venerable pilgrim met the Byzantine emperor, “going to the Ugrians.” It was the warlike Manuel Komnenos (1123-1130), who was marching against the Hungarians. The Byzantine historian Niketas Choniates portrays him to us as a very brave man, the first to rush into battle, not afraid of either mountain or forest crossings, sleeping on brushwood, even without bedding, in the rain, among his warriors. The Emperor received the Polotsk abbess, whom he had long known in absentia, with all cordiality and “sent her to Constantinople with honor.”

The emperor went with soldiers against the Hungarians in 1163-1164. Apparently, the Venerable Euphrosyne went to the Holy Places in 1163, not only rebuilding the Spassky Church, but also putting a unique cross into it (1161).

Having venerated the shrines of Constantinople, she reached Jerusalem, where in a Russian monastery Holy Mother of God and found eternal rest on May 23, 1173.

Around 1187, the body of Saint Euphrosyne was transferred to the Kiev-Pechersk Monastery, and in 1910 the saint’s relics were solemnly transported to Polotsk, to the monastery she founded. They were transported along the Dnieper in front of huge crowds of people, and during the stops of the Golovachev steamship, solemn services were held. From Orsha to Vitebsk, and then to Polotsk, believers reverently carried the shrine in their arms. By this time, a refectory church, a bell tower and one of the the most beautiful temples Rus' - three-altar Holy Cross Cathedral

On May 13, 1922, by order of the “People's Commissariat of Justice of the RSFSR,” the cancer with the relics was opened, then the relics were sent to an atheistic exhibition in Moscow, and from there to Vitebsk, where they were displayed for almost two decades in the local local history museum.

During German occupation Believers transferred the saint's shrine from the museum to the Holy Protection Church, and on October 23, 1943, the incorruptible relics returned to the Polotsk Spaso-Efrosyne Monastery, where they rest to this day.

Another mystery is associated with the name Euphrosyne.

In 1161, after the construction of the Spassky Church, Abbess Efrosinia worked to provide it with liturgical books and everything necessary. She invited artists who skillfully painted the walls of the temple with biblical scenes. A special place was reserved for storing the unique altar Cross - the Venerable Euphrosyne ordered it from the best jeweler of Kievan Rus, Lazar Bogshe. He, possessing exceptional talent and professional skill, founded an entire direction in ancient Russian jewelry art.

The presence of the exact date of manufacture - 1161 - and the name of the master indicated on the cross give grounds to consider the Polotsk masterpiece a great treasure of the culture of Ancient Rus'. The Polotsk Cross is also a pan-Orthodox shrine, a precious relic of universal Christianity.

The six-pointed shape of the cross, according to theologians, symbolizes the primeval light: the six ends mean the six days of the creation of the world. The images on the Cross illustrate almost the entire history of the New Testament and the ancient church.

Cross decorated precious stones and metals. Images of Jesus Christ, the Mother of God, John the Baptist, Archangels Michael and Gabriel, the four evangelists, the apostles Peter and Paul, Saint Euphrosyne and other saints are made on plates of cloisonne enamel - this is an extremely complex jewelry technique of the Middle Ages.

The particles of holy relics placed in the Cross give the relics special value. On the front side there is the Blood of Christ in the upper crosshair, the “Life-Giving Tree” in the lower crosshair. On back side- a stone from the Sepulcher of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the upper crosshair, a particle of the Holy Sepulcher in the lower crosshair. The Cross also contains the blood of Saint Dmitry, particles of the relics of the holy great martyr and healer Panteleimon and other saints of God. These holy relics were delivered to Polotsk by a special expedition sent to Byzantium by the Venerable Euphrosyne.

The creation of the plan cost so much great job and effort, required such significant material resources that the venerable customer blessed to engrave the inscription on the side plates of the Cross, by whose efforts, for which church the Cross was made and how much it cost. Famous princes sometimes donated very expensive things for churches, but there was nothing equal to the Cross of Euphrosyne of Polotsk.

The fate of this exceptional Christian shrine is also exceptional. At first the Cross was in the church of Abbess Euphrosyne. In the 13th century, it was transported to Smolensk by the Smolensk princes who captured Polotsk. At the beginning of the 16th century. After the capture of Smolensk by Moscow Prince Vasily III, the cross was delivered to Moscow. In 1563, he was returned to Polotsk by Ivan the Terrible, when the latter was atoning for his sins after the bloody crimes committed on his orders in Polotsk. In 1812, during the occupation of the city by the French, the cross was kept in the wall of the St. Sophia Cathedral in a walled niche. In 1841, the Cross, after a stay in Moscow and St. Petersburg, was delivered to Polotsk. Procession from the St. Sophia Cathedral to the repaired cathedral of the Spaso-Efrosinyevsky Monastery testified that the holy relic returned to the place that Abbess Euphrosyne assigned to the Cross.

In 1921, the cross, among other church valuables, was requisitioned by the Bolsheviks. In 1928, the director of the Belarusian state museum went on an expedition to Polotsk in order to find the relic. The cross was found in the local financial department and transported to Minsk. In those years, it was planned to move the capital of Belarus to Mogilev. The Cross of St. Euphrosyne of Polotsk ended up there in 1929 - it was in the safe room of the Mogilev regional committee and city party committee.

The Great Patriotic War began. The cross disappeared without a trace. All further efforts to find him were unsuccessful.

During the celebration of the millennium of the Polotsk diocese and the Orthodox Church in Belarus (1992), it was decided to restore the pan-Orthodox shrine. With the blessing of Patriarch Diador II of Jerusalem and Patriarchal Exarch of All Belarus, Metropolitan Philaret, the Brest jeweler-enamel maker Nikolai Petrovich Kuzmich was commissioned to recreate the shrine. The technique of cloisonné enamel, which had seemed lost forever, was restored.

Five years have passed since the start of restoration work on the shrine. In 1997, the restored ancient Cross of St. Euphrosyne of Polotsk was consecrated in the St. Simeon Cathedral in Brest, and then placed in the Church of the Transfiguration of the Lord in the Polotsk Spaso-Ephrosyne Monastery.

P.S. The Cross of Euphrosyne of Polotsk, like the notorious Amber Room, is one of the ten most valuable missing art objects. The hunt for them has never stopped, and apparently will not stop. You can make a copy that is no different from the original, but the spiritual and historical content

The third chapter of the work will also be devoted to the political and economic state of Russia at that time. The conclusion summarizes the entire thesis, conclusions are drawn. CHAPTER 1. DEVELOPMENT OF MUSEUM BUSINESS IN THE 18TH CENTURY IN RUSSIA museum exhibit collection art culture The study of the causes and mechanisms of its appearance and development is of utmost importance for understanding the museum. The emergence...

s common culture peculiar proto-nationalities with the germs of class and state system. Christianity came to Belarusian soil along with the baptism of all Rus' at the end of the 10th century. This was the beginning of a complex and long-term process of Christianization of a huge Old Russian state, a state association of East Slavic tribes. “In the summer of 990...,” says the Gustyn Chronicle, “...

You shouldn’t smile ironically when you read about the twelve-year-old status of the future bride. In those days this was par for the course. “Russian people have the following custom,” wrote the Austrian prince Daniel von Buchau, who visited Rus' in 1578, “girls before reaching adulthood marry at 10 years of age, boys at 12 or 15.” Predslava had a similar opportunity at the age of 12. She once heard her father say to her mother: “It’s too late for us to give Predslava for the prince!” Predslava was horrified: she remembered the books she had read, remembered the speeches of her monastic mentors: the lives of the princes “flow by and the glory of their destruction, like dust and worse than a web...”, this life “is not yours forever”, will not remain for eternity, for the salvation of the soul.

The princess secretly fled to the monastery to the aunt of the abbess, begging her to “rank among the real nuns under the yoke of Christ.” The old abbess was “confused,” the Life narrates, “for she saw “her youth and her blossoming age.”

“My child!” the abbess exclaimed mournfully, “how can I do this? Your father, having learned, with all anger will put harm on my head, and you are still young in age, you cannot bear the burdens of my life, and how can you leave the reign and glory of the world this?" But the child knew exactly what to desire: “The blessed maiden responded: “To my mistress and mother! Everything visible in this world is red and glorifying, but it will soon pass like a dream! .

The abbess was unable to make such a decision. Bishop Elijah of Polotsk was involved in resolving the dispute. The bishop had great influence on the prince and the matter was amicably settled. With the blessing of Polotsk Bishop Elijah, Euphrosyne began to live at the St. Sophia Cathedral, rewriting books: “she began to write books with her own hands, and gave the profits to those in need.” Probably, talented master bookmakers worked at the cathedral, since the large library kept growing, and to create even one book required the work of an entire workshop and not for a short time.

“In the eyes of educated people,” noted the secretary of the Polish king Stefan Batory, R. Heidenstern, describing the defeat of Polotsk by Batory in 1570, “the library found there had almost no less value than all the other loot. In addition to chronicles, it contained many Greek works Fathers of the Church..." All this was kept in the St. Sophia Cathedral!

Indeed, in the Middle Ages, copying books was very labor-intensive and expensive; books were stored, fearing fires, in stone buildings and most often in temples. Ancient Bulgarian manuscripts, understandable in Rus' without translation, were readily distributed here by Byzantium. In the Kyiv Hagia Sophia, for example, the most valuable library of the Bulgarian Tsar Simeon was located - a trophy of Emperor John Tzimiskes, who captured most of Bulgaria in 972. His son Vasily II the Bulgarian Slayer gave his father's spoils as a dowry to his sister Anna, who married Vladimir the Saint. Ancient Bulgarian books were distributed throughout large cities and monasteries of Rus', but in most cases they were lost in civil wars and fires. Only in a few cities were books preserved: in Polotsk, in particular, the library was not damaged until the campaign of the Polish king Stefan Batory in 1579.

In 1128, the young nun apparently got bored with printing work and she turned to construction. The Life explains this act simply: “a miracle” and gives the following:

Different chronicles say different things, but agree on one thing: one of the converts was Eupraxia. This means that this can be taken as a historical fact. Polotsk Holy Transfiguration Monastery

But let's get back to construction. Having completed the Spaso-Preobrazhensky Monastery, Euphrosyne began building the Church of the Virgin Mary, at which she opened the monastery of the Virgin Mary. For this monastery and church, the monk acquired, with the permission of Patriarch Luke of Constantinople, the miraculous Hodegetria of Ephesus (icon of the Mother of God), one of three painted, according to legend, by the Evangelist Luke himself (however, various legends and traditions attribute various icons of the Mother of God to the brush of the evangelist). “The king (of Constantinople) saw her love and sent seven hundred of his armorers to Ephesus, and they brought the icon of the Holy Mother of God to Constantinople. Patriarch Luke gathered the bishops and the entire cathedral to St. Sophia and, blessing, gave the icon to the servant of the Venerable Euphrosyne; the same with joy he took it and brought it to his mistress Euphrosyne." It is not entirely clear what kind of icon we are talking about. It appeared so mysteriously and just as mysteriously disappeared. The icon could also have been not the Ephesus, but the Constantinople Mother of God. Unfortunately, the fate is still not entirely known This image.Some scholars are even inclined to believe that this icon is now known as the Czestochowa icon (the most famous Catholic icon in Poland).

In the monasteries founded by St. Euphrosyne, there were icon-painting workshops. Church items and frames for icons were made there.

Book copying workshops operated under the leadership of Euphrosyne. The pedagogical activity of the great ascetic made a significant contribution to the cause of public education. The schools of Euphrosyne of Polotsk were advanced for their time both in terms of training programs and in terms of student composition. The latter were mostly children of ordinary people. The style of her address to her disciples is interesting: “Behold, I have gathered you, like a mother hen, her chicks under her wings, into her pasture, like sheep, to feed in the commandments of God, so that I too may teach you with my heart, seeing the fruits of your labor, and such is the rain of teaching to she shed for you; but your fields stand in the same measure, without growing, without rising. And the year is already coming to an end, and the spade lies on the threshing floor! I am afraid that thorns will be in you, and you will be given over to the unquenchable fire! Try, children my, avoid it, become pure wheat, dare in the millstones with humility, prayer and fasting, so that you may be brought clean bread to the table of Christ!”

The pinnacle of Euphrosyne’s organizational activity can rightfully be considered the construction of the stone Church of the Savior in Polotsk.

Where should one look for the architect? The 1120s - 1130s were a time when Rus' already had its own masters: in architecture, applied art, sculpture, painting. Trained by the Byzantines, they dispersed throughout all Russian lands. So in Polotsk, one of these specialists named John was a novice of the Belchitsky monastery. It must be assumed that he learned the art of the architect from those Kyiv masters who, as P.A. found out. Rappoport, were invited by the Vseslavichs to Polotsk, erected a large Assumption Cathedral in the Belchitsky Monastery, and then a “high-rise” stepped temple-tomb of St. George in Solts. As N.N. Voronin showed, the first experiments of Master John - the churches of Saints Paraskeva Pyatnitsa, Boris and Gleb - were carried out precisely in the Belchitsky Monastery.

The Spassky Church is the pinnacle of architectural thought in the Polotsk land, which influenced all further construction of ancient Russian churches. Its main significance for Russian architecture is that it is “the earliest monument in which new architectural forms were revealed with sufficient certainty, which at the end of the 12th century became characteristic of all Russian architecture: tower-like composition, rich decorative development of the exterior, frequent and very significant discrepancy between external forms and design, subordinate position of internal space in relation to the external appearance." This is what experts write who have studied in detail the creation of the Polotsk architect.

After the construction of the Spassky Church, Euphrosyne took care of equipping it with liturgical books and everything necessary. She invited artists who brilliantly painted the walls of the temple with biblical scenes and images of saints. On the choir in a special cell intended for the venerable saint herself, the most rich painting was also done. A special place was reserved for the unique altar cross, which Euphrosyne ordered for her temple from the best jeweler of Kievan Rus, Lazar Bogshe.

Euphrosyne of Polotsk would not have been the first Russian female saint if there had not been so many mysteries and secrets around her. And there were plenty of them.

As we well know, ancient Russian princes very often communicated with each other in writing. These were either letters written on birch bark and sent by special messenger, or letters on parchment, sealed with the prince's seal and sent in the same way. Once read, the birch bark letters were mostly thrown away.

Among the numerous sphragistic materials (sphragistics is the science of seals), several seals found in different places in Rus' are interesting. These are seals with the names of George and Sophia and with the name of Euphrosyne. These seals were found in Novgorod, Koknesse (ancient Kukenois) and in Polotsk itself. On two of them there is a double-sided image of Saints George and Sophia, on the third - Saint Euphrosyne, on the fourth - another saint, and on the back - an image of the Archangel Michael. Having proved that all these seals belong to women and come from Polotsk (George and Sophia are the father and mother of Euphrosyne), and noting that the seals of women are very rare, and monastic seals are completely unknown, V.L. Yanin was perplexed why the seals from Polotsk were for women? Why did the approval of acts - a male occupation - in Polotsk in the 12th century end up in the hands of women? “What kind of matriarchy is this in a feudal principality?” exclaimed V.L. Yanin.

Having venerated the shrines of Constantinople, she reached Jerusalem, where she found eternal peace on May 23, 1173, in the Russian monastery of the Most Holy Theotokos.

Around 1187, the body of Saint Euphrosyne was transferred to the Kiev-Pechersk Monastery, and in 1910 the saint’s relics were solemnly transported to Polotsk, to the monastery she founded. They were transported along the Dnieper in front of huge crowds of people, and during the stops of the Golovachev steamship, solemn services were held. From Orsha to Vitebsk, and then to Polotsk, believers reverently carried the shrine in their arms. By this time, a refectory church, a bell tower and one of the most beautiful churches in Rus' - the three-altar Cathedral of the Exaltation of the Cross - had been erected on the territory of the monastery.

During the German occupation, believers transferred the saint’s shrine from the museum to the Holy Protection Church, and on October 23, 1943, the incorruptible relics returned to the Polotsk Spaso-Efrosyne Monastery, where they rest to this day.

Euphrosyne of Polotsk - the first woman to be canonized by the Russian Orthodox Church. By the place of her birth, she belongs to White Rus', that is, Belarus, as the lands of Ancient Rus' between the Dnieper and the Drut are now called. You will learn about the life path of this Saint, her exploits and good deeds by reading this article.

Features of life in Polotsk before the advent of the Mongols

This story should begin with a brief description of the life of the inhabitants of Ancient Rus' in order to understand at what time Euphrosyne of Polotsk, one of the most educated women of her time, was born.

The 12th century was a period when the inhabitants ancient Rus' began to actively accept the Orthodox faith. New faith began to be reflected in architecture, literature and art.

Orthodox churches were decorated with scenes from the Bible; scriptoriums were opened at many monasteries, where translators from Greek and copyists of books worked; Jewelry workshops have become relevant.

Polotsk itself at that time was one of the largest centers for the production of books, as well as an excellent place for those wishing to receive an education. Chronicles were written here, from which we can now glean knowledge about outstanding personalities of that time.

The childhood and adolescence of Saint Euphrosyne

The exact date of birth of the Great Ascetic is unknown. Historians have established that Euphrosyne of Polotsk was born in the world of Predslava, approximately in 1101. The girl's pedigree was similar to that of the noble Rurik family. She was the granddaughter of Vladimir Monomakh himself, as well as the daughter of Prince George of Polotsk.

Predslava's father early years took care of his daughter’s education; she was taught by monks. In the prince's house there was a very large library, where there were many books of both a religious and secular nature. It was in reading that the girl had a great interest. The description of Euphrosyne of Polotsk and her life was taken from chronicles that were written by witnesses of that time.

Among her favorite books were the Holy Scriptures and the Psalter. In addition to reading, the girl prayed often and earnestly. Rumors about a girl wise beyond her years quickly spread far beyond the borders of the land of Polotsk, so many of the noble princes dreamed of such a wife.

Deciding to become a nun

When Predslava was 12 years old, one of the princes took her in marriage. The parents gave their consent, but the girl made a completely different decision. Euphrosyne of Polotsk, whose biography from that moment received a new twist, secretly went to the monastery.

The abbess of this monastery was the widow of her uncle Roman. When the abbess heard a request for permission to take monastic vows, her first decision was to refuse. The girl was still too young and also very beautiful. Yet over time, seeing the passionate prayer, faith and intelligence of Predslava, the abbess gave her consent, not fearing the anger of the girl’s father.

So Euphrosyne became a nun.

tonsure

When she was tonsured, Predslava was given a different name, now she became Euphrosyne. The choice of this name was not accidental. Euphrosyne of Alexandria, who lived in the 5th century, was an excellent example for a girl. In addition, this name means “joy,” so there were several prerequisites for choosing this name.

Euphrosyne's parents were saddened by her decision and made attempts to bring their daughter home. According to the chronicle, Prince George cried for his daughter as if she were dead, but these tears did not change anything. Euphrosyne of Polotsk remained in the monastery, where she surpassed everyone in her zeal for prayer, fasting and night vigils.

Having become a nun, the girl devoted herself to various sciences. She studied the books that she found in church repositories, and these were the works of Slavic theologians, ancient chronicles, as well as the works of Byzantine and Roman enlighteners.

Blessings Saint

Saint Euphrosyne learned about her destiny from a dream. The Angel himself, who appeared in a dream, ordered her to found a new monastery near Polotsk, in an area called Seltso. Having seen such an omen several times, Euphrosyne learned that Bishop Elijah of Polotsk had also seen the same dream. These signs of God led Bishop Elijah to give her the Church of the Transfiguration so that a convent could be founded there.

Euphrosyne of Polotsk can be described as a woman who became famous for the founding and guardianship of monasteries. Indeed, in addition to the convent, she was the trustee and founder of the Bogorodsky men's monastery.

The saint opened schools at the monasteries, where novices were taught various crafts, literacy, and the art of copying books.

Euphrosyne became famous as an adviser; she never refused advice to those who needed guidance on the path to faith. The power of her prayer was so great that those who wanted to change and live a godly life often turned to her for help. Many who came to her received spiritual support and help. She was able to calm down the quarrels and showdowns that at that time often occurred between the princes.

Euphrosyne's dream

The Venerable Euphrosyne had her own cherished dream - she really wanted to visit the holy places of Palestine. She decided to fulfill this desire, being far in old age.

Previously, the life of Euphrosyne of Polotsk was devoted to rewriting and writing her own books and teachings for the laity, as well as organizing the life of monks at monasteries. Having achieved what was planned, she, leaving the monastery to her sister Evdokia, went on a journey.

On the way to Jerusalem, she met with Patriarch Luke of Constantinople. And having arrived at her destination and visited the Life-Giving Sepulcher of the Lord, she stopped at the Russian Monastery.

It was here that illness overtook her. On May 23, 1173, without being cured, Euphrosyne passed away. According to the saint's will, her body was buried in the monastery of St. Theodosius, not far from Jerusalem.

Since 1187, her relics were kept in the Kiev Pechersk Lavra, and in 1910 they were returned to Euphrosyne’s homeland in Polotsk, where they are still located.

Euphrosyne of Polotsk: interesting facts

The saint was a famous philanthropist. She made her efforts to ensure that the Polotsk chronicle was not stopped; took care of the constant replenishment of the library of the St. Sophia Cathedral with new books.

One of the main attractions associated with her name is the cross of Euphrosyne of Polotsk. This masterpiece of ancient Russian culture was created by her order and named after her.

The cross had miraculous powers; it was used only in special ceremonial services. There is a legend that Ivan the Terrible took the cross of Euphrosyne of Polotsk with him on his campaign against Polotsk. He promised that if he won, he would return the relic to its place, and, despite the enormous value of the cross, he kept his word.

Unfortunately, the relic was lost during the Great Patriotic War, but in 1997, according to surviving descriptions, a copy of the cross was made by Brest jewelers.

Euphrosyne was canonized in 1547, and in 1984 she was included in the Council of Belarusian Saints. Since 1994, the day of the saint’s death has become Saint Euphrosyne’s Day and is widely celebrated in Belarus.

Euphrosyne of Polotsk is the first Belarusian, and according to some historical information, East Slavic enlightener. In addition, we know her as the first woman in Rus' to be canonized. Despite the fact that the life of Euphrosyne of Polotsk occurred at a time when Christianity had already split, she is equally highly revered by both the Orthodox and Catholic churches.

The main merits of the saint are considered to be the translation and rewriting of books, as well as the construction of her own monasteries and churches, which were real educational centers of the Principality of Polotsk.

Euphrosyne of Polotsk... This name is inscribed in golden letters not only on the pages of the spiritual life that existed in the East Slavic lands, but also in the entire history of the culture of Belarus.

Euphrosyne of Polotsk - princess and nun. But, above all, she is a famous educator who left an unforgettable memory in the souls of people. Between the present time and the period when the famous princess lived, there are more than eight centuries. And therefore, it is not surprising that not much information about it has been preserved in the history of the East Slavic people. However, they are also able to evaluate the great Polotsk woman as a talented female educator, pointing out her pan-European significance. All the activities of Euphrosyne, as well as her famous compatriots K. Smolyatich and K. Turovsky, without any doubt, speak of the high cultural upsurge that was observed in those years on Belarusian soil.

Life of the Holy Princess

The future Saint Euphrosyne of Polotsk was born in 1110. Initially she was given the name Predslava. She was the daughter of the Polotsk prince Svyatoslav (son of Vseslav the Magician) and was the great-granddaughter of Princess Rogneda and Prince Vladimir. Predslava’s father did not receive an inheritance from his parents, and therefore, together with his family, he lived at the court of his elder brother, Boris Vseslavich.

At the end of the 12th century, the book “The Life of Euphrosyne of Polotsk” was written. Its author is unknown to us. Most likely, he was an abbot or a monk who lived in one of the monasteries founded by the princess. There is a high probability that the author of the book is a student of Euphrosyne herself. But be that as it may, this narrative tells readers in detail about the life of the holy woman.

Unfortunately, “Life...” in its first edition has not survived to this day. This is due to wars and fires. However, we can familiarize ourselves with the book in six editions and in almost 150 lists. This confirms the great popularity of the work. One of the most full lists is Pogodinsky. It dates back to the 16th century.

“The Life of St. Euphrosyne of Polotsk” is a real monument of hagiographical East Slavic literature of the 12th century. The text of the book is built according to the canons that distinguished hagiographic literature. It is believed that this work has its own prototype. The work “The Life of Euphrosyne of Alexandria” could well serve them. However, the author of the East Slavic literary monument introduced into his work individual characteristics. Thus, researchers note the brightness of the dialogues and monologues of Euphrosyne herself. It is likely that they were taken from books written by the holy princess.

Structure of “The Life of Euphrosyne of Polotsk”

The famous work is preceded by a rhetorical introduction, traditional for hagiography. The main part follows. It tells about the life path of the Polotsk saint, confirming her spiritual ascent. The final part of the work is Praise. Here, despite the hagiographic traditions, there are no stories about posthumous miracles that occurred. For those who have not read The Life of Euphrosyne of Polotsk, a brief summary of the book will be given below.

A thirst for knowledge

The work “The Life of Euphrosyne of Polotsk” tells us that from childhood she showed a great love for heartfelt prayer and books. Predslava, according to some sources, received her education in the St. Sophia Cathedral, and according to others, at home, directly at the princely court (this version is considered more likely).

The girl's teachers were only clergy. They gave her an education, using hagiographic literature and Holy Scripture instead of textbooks. From the words of the teachers and from the lives of the saints, the girl received an idea of the rules and customs that existed in the monastery. Science came easy to her. She was ahead of her peers in many ways. The “Life…” notes her unusual love of learning, great abilities and diligence. Predslava had wide access to books. In her house there was an extensive library, where, in addition to religious literature the girl read a novel about the exploits of A. Macedonsky, collections with aphorisms and sayings, etc. Somewhat later, she became interested in works describing theological interpretations of the essence of nature, as well as books with ancient history.

The “Life…” also indicates that from a very early age the girl combined her love of education with concentrated prayer. It was not only her parents who “wondered” her wisdom. The fame of Predslav spread to many cities.

Choosing a life path

The Polotsk princess was distinguished not only for her wisdom, but also for her beauty. However, she rejected the numerous marriage proposals she received without any hesitation. Predslava consciously decided to abandon worldly life at the age of 12. This was the period when parents first began to think about their daughter’s marriage. The girl was guided by ideas about ascetic service to high moral ideals and the importance of spiritual improvement. The princess decided to follow her “Groom” - Christ.

Predslava turned to a relative who lived in Polotsk, the widow of her uncle Roman Vseslavich. She was an abbess and could help the girl become a nun. However extraordinary beauty Predslava and her early age seemed to the old princess incompatible with tonsure. The girl’s deep intelligence and high religious conviction helped to convince the old princess. The abbess called a priest, who tonsured him, giving Predslav the name Euphrosyne.

Monastic years

For some time, Euphrosyne of Polotsk attended the school of obedience to the Lord. At the same time, she lived in the same monastery in which she took monastic vows. However, a little later she received the blessing of Bishop Elijah of Polotsk and went to live in St. Sophia Cathedral. Her room was a cell - a “stone cabbage”. In this cathedral, Euphrosyne was especially attracted by the library. From the books in it, the nun “was saturated with wisdom,” and the princess’s amazing concentration helped her to deeply comprehend it.

All these years, the reverend’s love for teaching did not leave her. And at the same time, she believed that spiritual enlightenment is an integral part of mercy and love for people. Euphrosyne began to rewrite books, revealing wisdom to everyone with the help of her hard work. In those years, only men did this difficult work. And the mere fact that a young woman took on such work was a feat in itself.

Some of the books rewritten by Euphrosyne went for sale. The proceeds from this, at the request of the nun, were distributed to the poor. At the same time, the famous princess began to write her own books. In them she captured teachings and prayers, and also made translations from Latin and Greek. In addition, Euphrosyne corresponded with brothers in spirit and with her compatriots. One of them was Kirill Turovsky. At the same time, the Reverend did not fight against existing old traditions. She sought “illumination with light,” in which the highest wisdom of a woman was manifested.

Opening your own monastery

According to the “Life…”, Elijah, Bishop of Polotsk, received confirmation from God’s angel of the height of Euphrosyne’s asceticism and service. At the same time, higher powers pointed out to him that he should place a nun at the head of the monastery. Three times with similar news an angel appeared to St. Euphrosyne, who joyfully accepted Christ’s choice. Seltso, located not far from Polotsk, was chosen for the location of the monastery. The Church of the Savior was located here and the burial place of bishops was located.

The ceremonial transfer of Selts to Euphrosyne took place in the St. Sophia Cathedral. Bishop Ilya himself blessed the Venerable One to create a nunnery in this place.

The heyday of the monastery

The Venerable Euphrosyne of Polotsk became the founder of the Spaso-Preobrazhensky Convent. This monastery became widely known throughout Polotsk. Sister Euphrosyne also took monastic vows here.

A girls' school was established at the monastery. The educational activities of Euphrosyne of Polotsk were carried out there. The princess, who gathered young girls, taught them singing and writing books, needlework and many other useful crafts. The nun also made sure that the girls knew the law of God and were hardworking. It is worth noting that the school, founded at the Spaso-Preobrazhensky Monastery, largely contributed to the rapid flourishing of the monastery.

Construction of the temple

In the middle of the 12th century, on the site of the wooden church, Euphrosyne of Polotsk decided to build a stone one. To fulfill her dream, she came to John for advice. This monk already had experience in building temples. According to “Life...” all the work went quite quickly. Already after 30 weeks, the temple of Euphrosyne of Polotsk was erected. Its opening took place in 1161. “Life...” tells about a miracle that happened at the very end of construction. It was that during the construction process the bricks ran out and the masons did not know how to complete their work. But the next day, after the saint’s prayer, the craftsmen discovered the required material in the furnace.

The Temple of Euphrosyne of Polotsk never ceases to amaze researchers. It differs from many buildings of that time in its proportions, gable roof, and unusual elongation of the drum. The interior of the church itself seems mysterious to visitors: despite the massive walls, it is loaded with thick pillars.

Temple equipment

After the construction of the new church, Euphrosyne actively worked to ensure that this house of God had everything necessary for holding services. The nun invited artists who painted the walls with biblical scenes, which depicted the faces of saints. Drawings of amazing beauty were painted on the choir, as well as in the cell intended for the Reverend.

For her own monastery in the church, Euphrosyne acquired an icon of the Mother of God (the miraculous Hodegetria of Ephesus). According to legend, it was written by the Evangelist Luke himself.

Altar Cross

A special place in the new temple was given to the item made by the best jeweler of Kievan Rus, Lazar Bogsha. This is the cross of Euphrosyne of Polotsk. It was ordered by a nun specifically for the church she built. The exact date of manufacture (1161) and the name of the master were visible on the cross.

The cross of Euphrosyne of Polotsk has a six-pointed shape. According to theologians, such a decision is a symbol of primeval light. The six ends of the cross mean the six days during which the Lord created the world. The masterpiece of ancient jewelry was decorated with illustrations relating to the entire history of the New Testament, as well as the ancient church. The cross (see photo) of Euphrosyne of Polotsk had images of Christ and the Mother of God, Archangel Gabriel and Michael, the apostles Paul and Peter, Saint Euphrosyne herself, as well as John the Baptist. Decorated this historically significant thing precious metals and stones.

But the particles of holy relics gave the relics special value. Thus, in the upper crosshair on the front side of the Cross the Blood of Christ was placed. A little lower is the “Life-Giving Tree.” In the upper crosshair on the reverse side there was a stone taken from the Sepulcher of the Most Holy Theotokos, and below was a particle of the Holy Sepulcher.

Unfortunately, during the war with Nazi Germany, the shrine disappeared without a trace. This Cross, like the notorious Amber Room, is considered one of the most valuable works of art, the search for which continues to this day. Today in the St. Euphrosyne Monastery of Polotsk there is exact copy relic, which was made in 1997 by Brest jeweler-enamel maker N.P. Kuzmich.

Monastery

Euphrosyne of Polotsk is considered the founder of not only the women's monastery. By her order, a monastery was built, and with it - the Church of St. Mother of God.

Subsequently, both monasteries became real centers of education for the Principality of Polotsk. In the schools they opened, young people learned writing and literacy. Libraries and book writing workshops operated here, as well as icon painting and jewelry works. The Venerable Euphrosyne of Polotsk herself created and then recorded prayers and sermons. But besides my educational activities the nun was known to contemporaries as an adviser, peacemaker and fair judge.

last years of life

Being in old age, Euphrosyne decided to go on a pilgrimage to Holy Jerusalem. There she, exhausted after a long journey, fell ill and soon died. The Polotsk princess was buried not far from Jerusalem, in the monastery of St. Feodosia. In 1187 the saint was reburied. Her remains were transported to the Feodosieva Cave of the Kiev Pechersk Lavra. Only in 1910 were the saint’s relics delivered to Polotsk.