The restoration of the altar part of the 12th-century Transfiguration Cathedral in Polotsk has been completed

August 22, Vitebsk / Diana Kurilo - BELTA/. The restoration of the altar part of the 12th-century Transfiguration Church in Polotsk has been completed, as reported to BELTA by the customer of the works - the capital construction department of the Polotsk City Executive Committee.

The frescoes in the altar, prothesis, and diaconicon have been revealed in their original form. Currently, restorers are proceeding with the restoration of the paintings in the northern and southern parts of the church. Similar to the work in the altar part, the 19th-century pictorial layers, applied during its renovation in the first half and at the end of the century before last, will be preserved. More recent frescoes, however, no less valuable from a historical and artistic point of view, are being laid and fixed by restorers onto a solid base so that as many people as possible can see them in museum exhibitions. Currently, over 270 sq.m of frescoes have been restored. Before the full completion of the work, approximately 490 sq.m of frescoes still need to be restored.

The best specialists in pre-Mongol wall painting from Russia and Belarus have been invited to participate in the works.

Br1.5 billion from the republican and regional budgets have been allocated for the restoration work in the Transfiguration Church this year. The recreation of the unique paintings is included in the "Culture of Belarus" program for 2011-2015. Based on the Resolution of the Council of Ministers, Br1 billion will be allocated annually from the republican and regional budgets starting from 2011 to complete the restoration of the fresco paintings of the Transfiguration Church in 2015.

The Transfiguration Church is rightfully considered a pearl of East Slavic architecture. According to legend, the church was built with the blessing of Euphrosyne of Polotsk, the abbess of the Polotsk Monastery, and experts believe that the design of the paintings also belongs to her. The uniqueness of the Polotsk frescoes also lies in the fact that such a large volume of ancient East Slavic painting has survived to this day in only two monuments - the Church of the Mirozhsky Monastery in Pskov and the Transfiguration Church of the Spaso-Yefrosinievsky Monastery in Polotsk.

The restoration project of the Transfiguration Church provides for the restoration of preserved and the conservation of already uncovered 12th-century frescoes, as well as the restoration of 19th-century oil paintings for their separate exhibition. -0-