Cross of Saint Euphrosyne
Encyclopedia
The Cross of Saint Euphrosyne was a revered relic
of the Russian Orthodox Church
and Belarus
, which was made in 1161 by Lazar Bogsha for the order of Saint Euphrosyne of Polatsk
and lost in June 1941 in Mahilyow.
Euphrosyne, mother superior
of Polotsk Convent, ordered the cross to decorate the new Transfiguration church. The simple cypress
cross was decorated with gold, gemstones and enamel
, depicting Jesus Christ, John the Baptist
, Theotokos
, the Four Evangelists
, archangels Gabriel and Michael, and three patron saints of Euphrosyne and her parents. The work cost 120 hryvnas. Inside, the cross contained pieces of the Holy Cross
and other relics.
In the 13th century, the cross was relocated to Smolensk
; after a long travel across the country, it was returned to Polotsk in 1841. The cross was thoroughly photographed for the record in 1896. In 1928 the nationalized relic was taken to Minsk
, then, in 1929, to Mahilyow, and was locked in a safe box of regional Communist Party
headquarters.
by German forces (June-July 1941).
There are no reliable accounts of what happened to the cross in 1941. There are at least three different versions (other than destruction by fire or plunder):
In 1997, Nikolay Kuzmich, a craftsman from Brest
, completed an officially endorsed replica of the cross, now on display in the Polotsk cathedral.
features a cross resembling the Cross of St. Euphrosyne on the knight's shield.
The Cross is the subject of two postage stamp
s of Belarus, issued in 1992 and 2001, and a commemorative coin of Belarus issued in 2007.
The national-democratic opposition movement Malady Front
has the cross as main element of its symbol.
Relic
In religion, a relic is a part of the body of a saint or a venerated person, or else another type of ancient religious object, carefully preserved for purposes of veneration or as a tangible memorial...
of the Russian Orthodox Church
Russian Orthodox Church
The Russian Orthodox Church or, alternatively, the Moscow Patriarchate The ROC is often said to be the largest of the Eastern Orthodox churches in the world; including all the autocephalous churches under its umbrella, its adherents number over 150 million worldwide—about half of the 300 million...
and Belarus
Belarus
Belarus , officially the Republic of Belarus, is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe, bordered clockwise by Russia to the northeast, Ukraine to the south, Poland to the west, and Lithuania and Latvia to the northwest. Its capital is Minsk; other major cities include Brest, Grodno , Gomel ,...
, which was made in 1161 by Lazar Bogsha for the order of Saint Euphrosyne of Polatsk
Euphrosyne of Polatsk
Euphrosyne of Polotsk was the granddaughter of a prince of Polotsk, Vseslav....
and lost in June 1941 in Mahilyow.
Euphrosyne, mother superior
Abbess
An abbess is the female superior, or mother superior, of a community of nuns, often an abbey....
of Polotsk Convent, ordered the cross to decorate the new Transfiguration church. The simple cypress
Cypress
Cypress is the name applied to many plants in the cypress family Cupressaceae, which is a conifer of northern temperate regions. Most cypress species are trees, while a few are shrubs...
cross was decorated with gold, gemstones and enamel
Vitreous enamel
Vitreous enamel, also porcelain enamel in U.S. English, is a material made by fusing powdered glass to a substrate by firing, usually between 750 and 850 °C...
, depicting Jesus Christ, John the Baptist
John the Baptist
John the Baptist was an itinerant preacher and a major religious figure mentioned in the Canonical gospels. He is described in the Gospel of Luke as a relative of Jesus, who led a movement of baptism at the Jordan River...
, Theotokos
Theotokos
Theotokos is the Greek title of Mary, the mother of Jesus used especially in the Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, and Eastern Catholic Churches. Its literal English translations include God-bearer and the one who gives birth to God. Less literal translations include Mother of God...
, the Four Evangelists
Four Evangelists
In Christian tradition the Four Evangelists are Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, the authors attributed with the creation of the four Gospel accounts in the New Testament that bear the following titles:*Gospel according to Matthew*Gospel according to Mark...
, archangels Gabriel and Michael, and three patron saints of Euphrosyne and her parents. The work cost 120 hryvnas. Inside, the cross contained pieces of the Holy Cross
True Cross
The True Cross is the name for physical remnants which, by a Christian tradition, are believed to be from the cross upon which Jesus was crucified.According to post-Nicene historians, Socrates Scholasticus and others, the Empress Helena The True Cross is the name for physical remnants which, by a...
and other relics.
In the 13th century, the cross was relocated to Smolensk
Smolensk
Smolensk is a city and the administrative center of Smolensk Oblast, Russia, located on the Dnieper River. Situated west-southwest of Moscow, this walled city was destroyed several times throughout its long history since it was on the invasion routes of both Napoleon and Hitler. Today, Smolensk...
; after a long travel across the country, it was returned to Polotsk in 1841. The cross was thoroughly photographed for the record in 1896. In 1928 the nationalized relic was taken to Minsk
Minsk
- Ecological situation :The ecological situation is monitored by Republican Center of Radioactive and Environmental Control .During 2003–2008 the overall weight of contaminants increased from 186,000 to 247,400 tons. The change of gas as industrial fuel to mazut for financial reasons has worsened...
, then, in 1929, to Mahilyow, and was locked in a safe box of regional Communist Party
Communist party
A political party described as a Communist party includes those that advocate the application of the social principles of communism through a communist form of government...
headquarters.
Disappearance
The cross disappeared during the swift occupation of BelarusOperation Barbarossa
Operation Barbarossa was the code name for Germany's invasion of the Soviet Union during World War II that began on 22 June 1941. Over 4.5 million troops of the Axis powers invaded the USSR along a front., the largest invasion in the history of warfare...
by German forces (June-July 1941).
There are no reliable accounts of what happened to the cross in 1941. There are at least three different versions (other than destruction by fire or plunder):
- The official Soviet version abruptly stated that the cross was looted by Germans.
- In 1991, the minister of culture of BelarusBelarusBelarus , officially the Republic of Belarus, is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe, bordered clockwise by Russia to the northeast, Ukraine to the south, Poland to the west, and Lithuania and Latvia to the northwest. Its capital is Minsk; other major cities include Brest, Grodno , Gomel ,...
asserted that the cross, together with other Belarusian treasures, had been evacuated to MoscowMoscowMoscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
. - German paperwork of the Alfred RosenbergAlfred Rosenberg' was an early and intellectually influential member of the Nazi Party. Rosenberg was first introduced to Adolf Hitler by Dietrich Eckart; he later held several important posts in the Nazi government...
organization recorded a Mahilyow treasure captured by Germans in Smolensk. However, there is no evidence of the Polotsk Cross itself.
In 1997, Nikolay Kuzmich, a craftsman from Brest
Brest, Belarus
Brest , formerly also Brest-on-the-Bug and Brest-Litovsk , is a city in Belarus at the border with Poland opposite the city of Terespol, where the Bug River and Mukhavets rivers meet...
, completed an officially endorsed replica of the cross, now on display in the Polotsk cathedral.
Modern symbolic usage
The Cross of St. Euphrosyne is often used as a national symbol of Belarus. The 1991 version of the Belarusian coat of arms PahoniaPahonia
The Pahonia , transliteration: Pahonya, , Lithuanian: Vytis, Pagaunė, is a historical symbol of Grand Duchy of Lithuania, of which the eastern part later became known as Belarus...
features a cross resembling the Cross of St. Euphrosyne on the knight's shield.
The Cross is the subject of two postage stamp
Postage stamp
A postage stamp is a small piece of paper that is purchased and displayed on an item of mail as evidence of payment of postage. Typically, stamps are made from special paper, with a national designation and denomination on the face, and a gum adhesive on the reverse side...
s of Belarus, issued in 1992 and 2001, and a commemorative coin of Belarus issued in 2007.
The national-democratic opposition movement Malady Front
Malady Front
Young Front is a Belarusian youth movement and the largest democratic youth organisation of Belarus.-History:...
has the cross as main element of its symbol.