Cross of Saint Euphrosyne

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1889 reproduction of the cross

The Cross of Saint Euphrosyne or Cross of Euphrosyne of Polotsk (Belarusian: Крыж Ефрасінні Полацкай) was a revered relic of the Orthodox Church in Belarus, which was made in 1161 by Lazar Bohsha on the order of Euphrosyne of Polotsk and is regarded as a national treasure of Belarus.

Euphrosyne,

Mother of God), the Four Evangelists, the archangels Gabriel and Michael, and three patron saints of Euphrosyne and her parents. The work cost 120 grivnas. Inside, the cross contained pieces of the Holy Cross
and other relics.

In the 13th century, the cross was relocated to

Communist Party
headquarters.

Disappearance

The cross disappeared during the swift invasion of Belarus (June-August 1941) by German forces during World War II.

It is not known exactly 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 the Germans.
  • German paperwork of the Alfred Rosenberg organization recorded a Mogilev treasure captured by the Germans in Smolensk. However, there is no evidence it was the Polotsk Cross.[1]
  • In 1991, the minister of culture of Belarus asserted that the cross, together with other Belarusian treasures, had been evacuated to Moscow.

In 1997, Nikolay Kuzmich, a craftsman from Brest, 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 Pahonia and the coat of arms of Vitebsk Region features a cross resembling the Cross of St. Euphrosyne on the knight's shield. The Cross was also used as a common flag pole ornament with the white-red-white flag of Belarus in 1991–1995.

The Cross is the subject of several postage stamps of Belarus, issued in 1992, 2001 and 2011, and a commemorative coin of Belarus issued in 2007.[2]

The national-democratic opposition movement Young Front has the cross as a main element of its symbol.

  • 1863 drawing of the cross showing both sides
    1863 drawing of the cross showing both sides
  • Pahonia, the coat of arms of Belarus (1991 version)
    Pahonia, the coat of arms of Belarus (1991 version)
  • Stamp with the Cross of St. Euphrasyne from 1992
    Stamp with the Cross of St. Euphrasyne from 1992
  • Stamp with the Cross of St. Euphrasyne from 2011
    Stamp with the Cross of St. Euphrasyne from 2011
  • Copy of Cross of Saint Euphrosyne 1997
    Copy of Cross of Saint Euphrosyne 1997
  • A Belarusian commemorative coin from 2007
    A Belarusian commemorative coin from 2007
  • Coat of arms of Vitebsk Region
    Coat of arms of Vitebsk Region
  • Emblem of the Young Front, a national democratic opposition movement
    Emblem of the Young Front, a national democratic opposition movement

See also

References

  1. ^ (in Russian) Nikolay Petrovsky. Who stole the cross of St. Euphrosyne // Echo Planety, No. 11, 2000 [1] Archived February 28, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
  2. ^ Новожилова, Елена (2007-10-17). "Крест Евфросинии Полоцкой появился на белорусской монете". naviny.by. Retrieved 2024-01-03.