Congratulations of the Chairman of the Regional Executive Committee A. Kosinets on the occasion of the 1150th anniversary of Polotsk

Congratulations of the Chairman of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee A. Kosinets on the 1150th anniversary of Polotsk

 Dear residents of the Dvina region!

Ancient Polotsk is celebrating the 1150th anniversary of its first chronicle mention in the "Tale of Bygone Years".

Polotsk is the cradle of Belarusian statehood. It is called the "father of Belarusian cities," which laid the foundation for the creation of Belarusian statehood, the unity of political, economic, and ethnic structures. The prototype of the Belarusian nation was born here.

Polotsk is the spiritual center of the Eastern Slavs. In 992, the third Orthodox diocese in the ancient Russian lands, after Kyiv and Novgorod, was founded. Since then, Christianity in White Rus began its count, playing a huge role in uniting the Slavic peoples, and the formation of our civilization and culture.

The Dvina region is inextricably linked with the name of the great enlightener Euphrosyne of Polotsk – one of the first women canonized in the Eastern Slavic lands. Her name is a national symbol of service to spiritual ideals and the motherland.

Francysk Skaryna and Symeon of Polotsk, with their glorious deeds, prepared the city for the great mission of an educational center of the Belarusian lands. Here, in the 16th century, the Polotsk Jesuit Collegium was founded, which marked the beginning of university education in Belarus. Famous scholars of their time taught there.

The confirmation of its status as the geographical center of Europe and the unveiling of a commemorative sign became a landmark event for the city. It raised the bar for the level of improvement, development of infrastructure, and culture of the city.

The Saint Sophia Cathedral, a contemporary of the cathedrals of Kyiv and Novgorod, is rightfully considered the calling card of Polotsk. The entire history of the Belarusian people, their aspiration for independence, is reflected in the fate of the Polotsk Sophia. The Transfiguration Church of the Saint Euphrosyne Monastery is one of the phenomena of its era. Many modern Polotsk museums and monuments have no analogues: the Museum of Belarusian Book Printing, monuments to Saint Euphrosyne of Polotsk, Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker, Prince Vseslav Bryachislavich, and a commemorative sign to the letter "Ў" of the Belarusian alphabet.

Having visited the city once, people return here again and again. It is no coincidence that in 2010 Polotsk was declared the first cultural capital of Belarus. The implementation of the City Development Concept for 2012-2015 will be the next step in reviving its historical and cultural heritage.

Modern Polotsk is a developed economic center. It has been officially admitted to the Hanseatic League of the New Era, the goal of which is to develop trade and tourism. Conditions have been created in the city for the development of small and medium-sized businesses. In 2011, Polotsk won the republican competition "Best City for Business in Belarus".

New approaches to preserving historical and cultural heritage reflect the changes in our society. We are becoming wiser, learning to treat Christian shrines and the spiritual origins of the Belarusian people with care.

I am confident that the example of selfless service to our native land by our great countrymen is a source of pride, creation and goodness, and love for the Belarusian land.

I sincerely wish all residents of the Pridvinye region health, happiness, and well-being!

Sincerely, A. N. Kosinets,
Chairman of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee