Saint Sophia Cathedral in Polotsk, Orthodox cathedral in Polotsk, Belarus
Saint Sophia Cathedral in Polotsk is a white church with two tall square towers at the front, each topped by a small green dome and cross. A lower section on the left has a curved green roof and a small green dome. The walls are pierced by tall arched windows with dark glass and small round windows, and flat vertical pilasters divide the facade.
Prince Vseslav Briacheslavich ordered the cathedral built between 1044 and 1066, making it one of the first masonry churches on the territory of present-day Belarus. In the 18th century the building was reconstructed in Vilna Baroque style after war damage, giving it the appearance seen today.
The name Sophia comes from the Byzantine tradition and links this building with famous cathedrals in Kyiv and Novgorod. Inside, visitors now attend concerts regularly because the vaulted ceilings create acoustics well suited to sacred choral music.
The cathedral opens daily for visitors who can explore the museum area on their own and view the preserved wall fragments. During concerts it helps to arrive early because seating inside is limited and fills quickly.
The builders' names — David, Toma, Mikula, Kopes, Petr and Vorish — are inscribed on a stone at the cathedral's base. The organ, built in 1985 by the Czechoslovak firm Rieger Kloss, was first played on 2 May 1985 by organist Oleg Yanchenko. A Boris stone stands beside the building.
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