Frescoes from the time of Euphrosyne of Polotsk in the Transfiguration Cathedral will be unveiled in two years

February 4, Minsk /Corr. BELTA/. Frescoes dating back to Euphrosyne of Polotsk will be uncovered in the Transfiguration Church of the Polotsk Holy Euphrosyne Convent in two years. This was reported to BELTA by the information center of the Belarusian Orthodox Church "All the Joyful" with reference to the Deputy Chairman of the Polotsk City Executive Committee Nikolai Ilyushonok. The Transfiguration Church was founded in the 12th century by architect John, with the blessing of Saint Euphrosyne, who was then the abbess of the Polotsk Convent. The interior of the church was painted by Byzantine and local masters. This is the only structure where wall paintings have been preserved since the time of the Principality of Polotsk. Last year, restorers hoped to uncover ancient images that were hidden under later layers of frescoes. "This is a painstaking process. We cannot rush. Not only must the unique paintings be uncovered, but also the later frescoes must be preserved – transferred to special films to be exhibited in a museum later. Therefore, the deadlines had to be postponed for two to three years," explained Nikolai Ilyushonok. A restorer uncovers only ten square centimeters of painting per day. Specialists from Moscow, who have extensive experience in uncovering frescoes in churches of the ancient Russian era in Russia, have been working in the Transfiguration Church for the third year. The cost of all works is Br3.1 billion. Last year, Br300 million was spent. -0-