Address:
Vitebsk region, Polotsk District, Polotsk, E. Polotskaya Street, 89/1
Transfiguration Church is the only fully preserved monument of history, culture, and architecture of Kievan Rus' from the 12th century.
About the Church
Built in the mid-12th century, it is the only completely preserved monument of history and culture of the Polotsk land from the late 10th to the first third of the 13th century. The architectural appearance of the church embodies a combination of several architectural schools and influences.
According to ancient hagiography of the venerable Euphrosyne, the talented architect John was called upon to build a stone church in honor of the All-Merciful Savior.
The Convent of Saint Euphrosyne. View from the bank of the Poloty River. Photo from the 1960s
The main characteristics of Transfiguration Church are its elongated proportions and unique vertical structure. The church is a six-pillared three-nave single-dome building, covered with vaults and wide semi-arches, with a narthex and choirs located on the second floor, accessed by a narrow staircase inside the wall. On both sides of the choir there are two narrow cross-shaped cells. In one of them (southwest), the venerable Euphrosyne prayed in her spiritual struggle, and in the other (northwest), one of her relatives, either nun Eudocia (sister) or nun Eupraxia (cousin), prayed. The cells are tiny adjacent cross-domed churches, one of which (southwest) is covered by a small dome, while the other (northwest) has a cylindrical vault. Referring to the plan of Transfiguration Church, the elongation of proportions along the east-west axis is immediately noticeable. This characteristic is typical of other Western Russian churches of the 12th century, indicating the formation of its own architectural tradition in Polotsk during that period. The main feature of both the interior and exterior of Transfiguration Church is the verticality of its composition, emphasizing the upward striving. The church is extremely small in size: its length is 14.4 meters, width is about 10 meters, and height is 22 meters.
P. A. Rappoport considers this monument to be the first example of a "majestic column-like church", in which the architects of Kievan Rus' departed far from Byzantine canons.
This is the best-preserved monument of ancient Polotsk architecture, despite the alterations during the neoclassical period. In Soviet period, the church continued to operate, remaining for a long time the only functioning church of the Polotsk diocese.
Graffiti 5 depicting the Assumption of Mother Oculina
Inside the church, ancient frescoes from the 12th century have been preserved, which are a unique historical heritage. Among the interesting features of the church are graffiti on the walls and the rare scene "Saint Anthony and the Centaur".
Holy Eucharist. Communion with wine. Detail of the composition.
The church is the cultural heritage of the Republic of Belarus of "Category 0", proposed for inclusion in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Transfiguration Church embodies the greatness and beauty of architecture of Kievan Rus', attracting tourists with its unique architecture and historical treasures.