Restoration of the Transfiguration Church in Polotsk is on schedule - Belarusian Minister of Culture Anatoly Markevich
The minister noted that the land of Polotsk is rich in people who have glorified Belarus and contributed to the development of world culture. Much effort has been made to ensure that the monastery thrives and people visit it. "We see how thoughts and work are combined and yield results. The state pays close attention to the history of the monastery, allocating significant funds to bring all ideas to life. Today, we spoke with the builders, and all work in the Savior-Transfiguration Church is proceeding according to schedule. There are no concerns that the restoration will be delayed and not completed in 2024 (as planned)," Anatoly Markevich said.
The minister added that next year funds from the republican and local budgets will be allocated for the restoration of the church. In total, this is more than Br1.2 million.
The Savior-Transfiguration Church was built in the 12th century. The temple is adorned with unique frescoes, which have been preserved by 90%. The first restoration work began in 1991. Excavations have also been carried out near the church walls in recent years. In 2015, archaeologists established that the temple in its original form was significantly larger. At one time, galleries were added to it, and an exonarthex was located at the entrance. In 2018, specialists unearthed the remains of a room at a depth of about 3 meters, where, presumably, the father of Euphrosyne of Polotsk might have been buried. Examples of such underground structures in Old Russian architecture of the 10th-13th centuries in Eastern Europe have not been found, which confirms the individual approach in the construction of the temple at the request of the saint.
