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| Spaso-Evfrosinievsky monastery - women's Orthodox monastery in Polotsk |
The most ancient city of the Republic of Belarus is Polotsk.
Based on archaeological research, it can be argued that the territory of modern Polotsk was settled already in 780.
But the first mention of Polotsk as a city dates from 862.
The most important historical events took place at that time.
So in 986, a gradual baptism of the modern territory of Belarus began, and the beginning of this event was laid thanks to the construction of a Christian church in Polotsk.
During the reign of Vseslav Bryachislavich in Polotsk, many architectural monuments were built, which exist to this day, making up the bulk of the cultural fund of Belarus. So in the period from 1030-1060, St. Sophia Cathedral was erected in Polotsk, a truly unique work of architecture and construction, this temple was almost one of the very first churches in Russia. St. Sophia Cathedral was almost completely destroyed in 1710 and after some time was restored but in a different architectural style.
Also under the reign of Vseslav Bryachislavich and with the participation of the Monk Euphrosyne, the Spaso-Efrosinievsky monastery was erected, which in 1161 was decorated with a magnificent altar cross, the creator of which was the master Lazar Bogsha.
In 1498, Polotsk was one of the first Belarusian cities to receive Magdeburg law, while Polotsk was the center of the Polotsk Voivodeship. And in the future, the history of Polotsk is similar to the stories of almost all Belarusian cities, the period of the section of the Commonwealth. The result was that Polotsk became part of the Russian Empire.
As for the educational process in Polotsk, it also has deep historical roots. So in 1581 in Polotsk, with the support of Stefan Batory, a Jesuit collegium was established. And after more than two centuries, the Jesuit collegium, by decree of the emperor of the Russian Empire, was renamed the Polotsk Academy, which at that time was the first institution in Belarus to provide higher education. And only in 1993 was formed Polotsk State University.
Famous residents of the city of Polotsk include the famous poet of Belarus Pyotr Brovka, the first printer Francis Skorin, Simeon of Polotsk, a famous Belarusian religious figure and many other prominent people.
An important fact is that in spring 2008, Belarusian experts determined that the geographical center of Europe was located in Polotsk, these data were later confirmed by Russian colleagues. Which is also a kind of landmark of the city.
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| Belarusian experts determined that the geographical center of Europe |
Phone code of a city: +375 214.
And the zip code: 211291, 211400 - 211402, 211404 - 211415, 211422.
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