Cross of Saint Euphrosyne: Difference between revisions
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{{Short description|Belarusian cross, symbol of Belarus and Orthodox Christianity}} |
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⚫ | The '''Cross of Saint Euphrosyne''' or '''Cross of Euphrosyne of Polotsk''' ({{lang-be|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. |
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Euphrosyne, [[Abbess|mother superior]] of |
Euphrosyne, [[Abbess|mother superior]] of Polotsk Convent, ordered the cross to decorate the new Transfiguration church. The simple [[cypress]] cross was decorated with gold, gemstones and [[Vitreous enamel|enamel]], depicting [[Jesus Christ]], [[John the Baptist]], the [[Theotokos]] ([[Mother of God]]), the [[Four Evangelists]], the archangels Gabriel and Michael, and three patron saints of Euphrosyne and her parents. The work cost 120 [[grivna]]s. Inside, the cross contained pieces of the [[True Cross|Holy Cross]] and other relics. |
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In the 13th century, the cross was relocated to [[Smolensk]] |
In the 13th century, the cross was relocated to [[Smolensk]] and in 1514 to [[Moscow]]. It was returned to [[Polotsk]] by [[Ivan the Terrible]] in 1563. The cross was thoroughly photographed for the record in 1896. In 1928 the nationalized relic was taken to [[Minsk]], then, in 1929, to [[Mogilev]], and was locked in a safe box of the regional [[Communist Party]] headquarters. |
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==Disappearance== |
==Disappearance== |
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The cross disappeared during the swift [[Operation Barbarossa| |
The cross disappeared during the swift [[Operation Barbarossa|invasion of Belarus]] (June-August 1941) by German forces during [[World War II]]. |
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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): |
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* The official Soviet version abruptly stated that the cross was looted by Germans. |
* The official [[Soviet Union|Soviet]] version abruptly stated that the cross was looted by the Germans. |
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⚫ | * 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.<ref>{{in lang|ru}} Nikolay Petrovsky. Who stole the cross of St. Euphrosyne // Echo Planety, No. 11, 2000 [http://www.explan.ru/archive/2000/11/s1.htm] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090228204653/http://www.explan.ru/archive/2000/11/s1.htm|date=February 28, 2009}}</ref> |
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* In 1991, the minister of culture of [[Belarus]] asserted that the cross, together with other Belarusian treasures, had been evacuated to [[Moscow]]. |
* In 1991, the minister of culture of [[Belarus]] asserted that the cross, together with other Belarusian treasures, had been evacuated to [[Moscow]]. |
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⚫ | * German paperwork of the [[Alfred Rosenberg]] organization recorded a '' |
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In 1997, Nikolay Kuzmich, a craftsman from [[Brest, Belarus|Brest]], completed an officially endorsed replica of the cross, now on display in the |
In 1997, Nikolay Kuzmich, a craftsman from [[Brest, Belarus|Brest]], completed an officially endorsed replica of the cross, now on display in the Polotsk cathedral. |
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==Modern symbolic usage== |
==Modern symbolic usage== |
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The Cross of St. Euphrosyne is often used as a national symbol of Belarus. The 1991 version of the Belarusian coat of arms [[ |
The Cross of St. Euphrosyne is often used as a national symbol of Belarus. The [[National emblem of Belarus#Pahonia|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|white-red-white flag of Belarus]] in 1991–1995. |
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The Cross is the subject of |
The Cross is the subject of several [[Postage stamps and postal history of Belarus|postage stamps of Belarus]], issued in 1992, 2001 and 2011, and a [[commemorative coin]] of Belarus issued in 2007.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Новожилова |first=Елена |date=2007-10-17 |title=Крест Евфросинии Полоцкой появился на белорусской монете |url=https://naviny.by/rubrics/finance/2007/10/17/ic_articles_114_153420 |access-date=2024-01-03 |website=naviny.by}}</ref> |
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The national-democratic opposition movement [[ |
The national-democratic opposition movement [[Young Front]] has the cross as a main element of its symbol. |
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<gallery> |
<gallery> |
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File:Evfrosiniya cross.jpg|1863 drawing of the cross showing both sides |
File:Evfrosiniya cross.jpg|1863 drawing of the cross showing both sides |
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File:Coat of Arms of Belarus (1991).svg|[[Pahonia]], the coat of arms of Belarus ( |
File:Coat of Arms of Belarus (1991).svg|[[National emblem of Belarus#Pahonia|Pahonia]], the coat of arms of Belarus (1991 version) |
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File:Stemp Efrasinia Polackaja.jpg|Stamp with the Cross of St. Euphrasyne from |
File:Stemp Efrasinia Polackaja.jpg|Stamp with the Cross of St. Euphrasyne from 1992 |
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File:2011. Stamp of Belarus 05-2011-03-14-blok1.jpg|Stamp with the Cross of St. Euphrasyne from 2011 |
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File:Cross of Saint Euphrosyne.jpg|Copy of Cross of Saint Euphrosyne 1997 |
File:Cross of Saint Euphrosyne.jpg|Copy of Cross of Saint Euphrosyne 1997 |
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File:Хрест ЄП.gif|A Belarusian commemorative coin from 2007 |
File:Хрест ЄП.gif|A Belarusian commemorative coin from 2007 |
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File:Coat of Arms of Vitsebsk Voblasts.svg|Coat of arms of [[Vitebsk Region]] |
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File:Herb mf.jpg|Emblem of the [[Young Front]], a national democratic opposition movement |
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</gallery> |
</gallery> |
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==See also== |
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* [[Cross of Lorraine]], another variant with two horizontal bars |
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==References== |
==References== |
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{{Reflist}} |
{{Reflist}} |
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[[Category:1161 works]] |
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[[Category:12th-century artifacts]] |
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[[Category:Eastern Orthodoxy in Belarus]] |
[[Category:Eastern Orthodoxy in Belarus]] |
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[[Category:Lost works of art]] |
[[Category:Lost works of art]] |
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[[Category: |
[[Category:Culture of Kievan Rus']] |
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[[Category:National symbols of Belarus]] |
[[Category:National symbols of Belarus]] |
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[[Category: |
[[Category:Eastern Orthodoxy in medieval Russia]] |
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[[Category: |
[[Category:True Cross]] |
Latest revision as of 10:46, 12 September 2024
This article needs additional citations for verification. (April 2023) |
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 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, the Theotokos (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 Smolensk and in 1514 to Moscow. It was returned to Polotsk by Ivan the Terrible in 1563. The cross was thoroughly photographed for the record in 1896. In 1928 the nationalized relic was taken to Minsk, then, in 1929, to Mogilev, and was locked in a safe box of the regional Communist Party headquarters.
Disappearance
[edit]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
[edit]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
-
Pahonia, the coat of arms of Belarus (1991 version)
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Stamp with the Cross of St. Euphrasyne from 1992
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Stamp with the Cross of St. Euphrasyne from 2011
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Copy of Cross of Saint Euphrosyne 1997
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A Belarusian commemorative coin from 2007
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Coat of arms of Vitebsk Region
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Emblem of the Young Front, a national democratic opposition movement
See also
[edit]- Cross of Lorraine, another variant with two horizontal bars
References
[edit]- ^ (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
- ^ Новожилова, Елена (2007-10-17). "Крест Евфросинии Полоцкой появился на белорусской монете". naviny.by. Retrieved 2024-01-03.