Occurrence of great sacred object. (September 26, 1997)

At the extended sitting of the Academic Council in the Belarussian Exarchate Cross of Venerable Evfrosinia, Mother Superior of Polotsk, The Ancient Cross which was made more than 800 years ago by mother craftsman Lazar Bogsha, utterly disappeared in 1941. But 5 years ago when 1000^th anniversary of the Polotsk Eparchy was celebrated, the project about reconstruction of the old Polotsk Cross sprang up. And soon, having got the blessing of sacred object in Ierusalim city and spiritual cramming with food and charge of the Church, an ardious process of erection of the Cross began.

This Saint Cross has been made in Brest by master N.P. Kuzmich according to the classical Byzantine technique of partitioned enamel. Just as the old one, the newly reconstructed Cross preserves in it small parts of Christ’s blood parts of Lord’s stone tomb f Saint Virfin’s tomb. Pieces of Sainted and life-giving cross, elements of saint relics of archdeacon and first martyr stephan, great martyr Dmitry Solunsky, great martyr and healer Panteleimon.

The revived whole orthodox sacred object which patronizes Belarus, specially is newly found national symbol. In fact, it was a symbol for our forefathers during 780 years - from 1161 till 1941.

The members of the Academic Council certify that the initial project has fully been carried out and is being planned now to erest on the place determined by Saint Evfrosinia in 1161. This spiritual focus of Belarus is Polotsk Convent of Saint Evfrosinia.

Leonid Pavlov.

Translated by Irina Kaverzneva. Please send mail about the quality of translation.