Impossible to forget this day !!!

August 11, 2008 

Robert was born

September 16, 2009
when Robert made his first few steps by himself!
Before this time he was trained such way - pushing his stroller.

The first travel the three of us together to Polotck Belarus

My husband, Neal, son, Robert, and I, traveled on September 13th to the small museum-city of Polotsk. 

At 2 o'clock at night we took a train and already in the morning at 8 were on a place. 

I never was in Polotsk till now and I would like to look this most ancient of the cities of the East Slavs.  

Polotsk is the contemporary of Kiev and Novgorod and is mentioned for the first time in 862 AD in ancient annals. 
When we arrived, morning was cool and raining. Neal bought a map and we started out. I was thinking, we have not chosen that day. I got wet, and I wanted to be in a warm place. But the purpose has been put, and it was necessary to go forward. 

A short distance from the station, we saw the monument of the Great Polotsk Prince Vseslav Bryachislavich (Wizard). Ho ruled the land from 1044 to 1101 and under his rule was built famous St.Sofia cathedral. But more about this later.

 

Next we passed over the "red bridge". It is painted red, but carries such a name not because of its color, but because here was a bloody fights between Frenchmen and Russians  in the "War of 1812".

I noticed locks on the bridge. Certainly the "enamoured" hang the locks there .

We approached a monument of Euphrosyne of Polotsk. The princess was born nearby in 1110 and was the leading woman of her time. She has based the woman's and man's monasteries in Polotsk principality. They become a centre of the enlightenment.

We passed little onward and before us started to shine the dome of Bogoyavlenskay Church. Restoration was underway and I not able to value the beauty of this Church.

The rain ended and I immediately became more cheerful. We searched for the famous "Sofia Cathedral". On the left was, as we walked, the broad river, West Dvina.

Ahead we saw the majestic "Sofia". This Cathedral was built by Byzantian architects between 1044-1066 years intended as a symbol of equality (with the "second Rome" - Constantinople) and a challenge to Kiev and Novgorod which also had cathedrals in honor of Saint Sofia. In 1710 by order of Peter I the Cathedral was blown up and reconstructed only in1750 in the style of the late baroque. It seems to me the cathedral in this style is more elegantly.

We found a big stone beside the Cathedral. This is the, so-called, Borisov stone - a boulder with graven cross and inscription "My God, help your slave, Boris". This inscription was made by order of prince Boris Vseslavovich in first third of XII century. The Borisov Stone is a symbol of a triumph of Christianity in Belarus. An inscription practically not possible to analyse.

It is a pity to me that St. Sofia Cathedral is now used as only a museum. Today Cathedral is employed as a architectral exposition, as a concert hall  and for its viable organ.

Then we returned to the center, passed through the park, where we found the sign "Geographical Centre of Europe", and alse monuments of Frantsisk Skorina and Simeon of Polotsk. But we were unable to enter the Museum of the Belarus publishing. At first we passed by it, but did not plan return.
But then we returned on the Dvina bank and on the other side of the street we saw an unusual building of red color - a History museum of the region. This museum is located in the building of a former Lutheran church. It is a monument of architecture of  neogothic style XIX-XX centuries. It was constructed by order of Ekaterina II and was a church until 1924 (as the museum guide not surely informed me).

And then it was necessary to come back to station because battery of the camera Neal was almost discharged. But we had still some time before train sending, and decided not to lose time and have gone to one place noted on the map.
It was Rescue-Euphrosyne monastery, erected in the 20 year of the XII century by request of Euphrosyne of Polotsk. The monastery is one of the first female monasteries in Belarus. We had not enough time to examine all in detail. In the Cathedral I asked one nun, whether it is allowed to take pictures? But she fearfolly answered a categorical "no". In the Sabor is much beauty.  I tried to consider persons of nuns - all of them such young. Interestingly, they have left in the monastery because were disappointed in our every day life or for the sake of faiths - to serve only to God???

In general, each step on this city - as touch to histories. Even a small homely white house which we saw on the way to the Sofia Cathedral was Peter the Great's house. Ho arrived in Polotsk for the management of Russian troops in the war with Swedes (for an exit of Russia to Baltic sea in 1705).
It was late and we run back to the station. Our train already expected the passengers.
We wereat home already in the night, about 1A.m.
How it is not strange, but Robert peacefully carry this journey on "saint places".
If you like this place as well as I, it is possible to go here,  

http://polotsk.museum.by/en

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polatsk
http://globus.tut.by/polock/index.htm 

http://www.belarus.nemiga.info/polotsk.htm 

Do You know where Belarus is?

Belarus is the center of Europe.
Belarus borders on Lithuania, Latvia, Russia, Ukraine and Poland.
Belarus is the country of lowlands, small hills and blue lakes.

Belarus is the country which one could not help falling in love with!

So why not to use the possibility and not to go to travel on the lands where the way "from the Varangian to the Greeks" laid?

Welcome to Belarus!

This decorative sign is found in city Polotsk and means "Geographical Centre of  Europe"

http://www.belarus.by/en/ 

 http://www.mfa.gov.by/en/consular/ 

7 Cosy Belarusian Towns For An Ideal Weekend Getaway

http://www.degaston.org/information/Belarus/index.htm 

http://www.president.gov.by/en/