REGION, WELCOMING WITH OPEN ARMS

moNAstEriEs AttrACt Not oNlY PilGrims

Thousands of years ago, the ruling dynasty of the Polotsk principality was famous for its special piety. Thus, the rst woman to become a monk in Russia was Princess Rogneda. Her son Izyaslav went down in history as a prince-scribe, and her grandson Vseslav Charodey (Vseslav the Sorcerer) erected amazingly beautiful St. Sophia Cathedral on the banks of the Western Dvina.

TO SEE PARADISE ON EARTH

everyone can taste apples from the Eden of Zhyrivichy, as well as visit the zoo there.

The Holy Dormition Zhirovichi Monastery owes its appearance to the pear tree. It was in its branches in 1470 that young shepherds found a small icon of the Mother of God in an eff ulgence. Th e image in jasper not made by human hands soon showed the miraculous power of healing the sick, and a temple was erected at the spot where it was found. Pilgrims started to come from all around – they founded a monastery there. Last year the convent celebrated its 500th anniversary. Th e main relic has been kept there to the present day and as before, performs miracles to the believers.

In memory of its fi nding, a huge orchard was laid out at the monastery, which the was laid out at the monastery, which the novitiates call Eden. Dozens of wild novitiates call Eden. Dozens of wild animals live among the endless animals live among the endless rows of fruit trees – rows of fruit trees – from roe deer from roe deer and foxes to and foxes to camels and camels and bears. bears. Today Today

TO ASK FOR PROTECTION FROM THE HEAVENLY ADVOCATRIX

But the legendary cross of Euphrosyne of Polotsk, alas, disappeared during the Great Patriotic War. Inside it there were fragments of the Cross of Christ with drops of his blood, a stone from the tomb of the Mother of God, a particle of the Holy

The great-granddaughter of Rogneda Sepulcher and other relics. Today, in the and Vladimir, Princess Predslava, is Saint Euphrosyne Monastery in Polotsk, rightfully considered the heavenly patroness one can see only an exact copy of the of the Belarusian lands. At the age of 12 she shrine, created by the Brest jeweler Nikolai refused to marry and secretly took monastic Kuzmich. vows under the name of Euphrosyne.

She copied books with her own hand, opened schools and libraries (in the 12th century!) and founded monasteries for men and women. The pearl of Polotsk architecture, erected by the order of Euphrosyne, is the Saviour the order of Euphrosyne, is the Saviour

Transfi guration Church. Impressive on Transfi guration Church. Impressive on the outside, but tiny on the inside, the outside, but tiny on the inside, it has survived almost intact. Th e it has survived almost intact. Th e stone walls are decorated with stone walls are decorated with unique frescoes dated by unique frescoes dated by the 1150s, and on the the 1150s, and on the second floor there is second floor there is a small cruciform a small cruciform cell, where the cell, where the saint retired saint retired for prayer. for prayer.

TO STAY OVERNIGHT IN A CONVENT AMONG THE SWAMPS

On the high bank of the Pripyat, near the ancient village of Yurovichi, there is the Holy Nativity-Theotokos Monastery. the Holy Nativity-Theotokos Monastery. According to a legend, the Mother of God According to a legend, the Mother of God herself chose a steep hill. In the 17th century, herself chose a steep hill. In the 17th century, a young priest set off with an expensive icon a young priest set off with an expensive icon of the Virgin on a long journey, travelled for of the Virgin on a long journey, travelled for a long time, until the horses stood rooted to a long time, until the horses stood rooted to the spot, nothing could make them move. the spot, nothing could make them move. It was then that a voice from above was It was then that a voice from above was heard: the holy heard: the holy picture should picture should remain in remain in

the Saviour transfi guration church in polotsk

Yurovichi. Th e huge monastic architectural complex is made in the style of the mature baroque, surrounded by a high brick wall and, despite the restoration work that has been going on for more than a decade, looks luxurious surrounded by forests and swamps of Polesie.

Every year on September 12, Cross Procession takes place from Yurovichi to Mozyr. Ahead, as usual, there is a copy of the miraculous icon that was brought there more than three hundred years ago.

TO GET ACUTE VISION

Looking for a miracle? Visit Pustynki on the border of Mogilev and Smolensk regions. The local Holy Dormition Monastery was founded in the distant 1380, but by the 21st century it was practically destroyed, without brethren and prior. The monks came back there only in 2003. On the fi rst night, they went to bed in one of the rooms which remained more or less intact and, in the morning, they found an image of Jesus Christ on the wall. Th e image becomes more legible every year. Experts and art critics shrug their shoulders – the Image is "Not-Made-By-Hands"! the Image is "Not-Made-By-Hands"! Duchess Elizabeth oneself in the world of batleyka (this is an

Th ese days a fl ow of pilgrims does not run Th ese days a fl ow of pilgrims does not run Fedorovna. Eight old folk puppet theater). Before Easter and short either in winter or in summer. Th e bell short either in winter or in summer. Th e bell temples, dozens of the Intercession, the festival "Joy" is held tower, residential buildings have been restored, tower, residential buildings have been restored, workshops, a school, there, which is attended by representatives and the reconstruction of the Church of the and the reconstruction of the Church of the refectories and of farmsteads from Russia, Ukraine, Nativity of the Most Holy Mother of God will Nativity of the Most Holy Mother of God will shops with Armenia, Georgia and other countries. soon be completed. Believers come not only soon be completed. Believers come not only delicacies and to look at the image of Christ on the wall, to look at the image of Christ on the wall, souvenirs. but also to get holy water. According but also to get holy water. According to the chronicles, at the end of the to the chronicles, at the end of the 14th century, the spring of Pustynki 14th century, the spring of Pustynki helped Prince Lugveny recover his helped Prince Lugveny recover his eye-sight. eye-sight.

batleyka

STAY ON A SHORT VISIT WITH JOY

A whole city in a city that beckons with shiny domes and stained-glass windows.

In the Belarusian capital, unlike the Th e best time for pilgrimage is Christian Russian one, there is only one monastery. holidays, on which the monastery usually But what a monastery! Founded in honor holds festivals and mass celebrations. So, of the Holy Martyr Grand before Christmas, one can always immerse Duchess Elizabeth oneself in the world of batleyka (this is an Fedorovna. Eight old folk puppet theater). Before Easter and temples, dozens of the Intercession, the festival "Joy" is held workshops, a school, there, which is attended by representatives refectories and of farmsteads from Russia, Ukraine, shops with Armenia, Georgia and other countries. delicacies and souvenirs.

Sofya Arsenyeva Arsenyeva Photo credit: BelTA Photo credit: BelTA

holy dormition monastery of pustynki