Restoration of altar of Holy Transfiguration Church in Polotsk complete

VITEBSK, 22 August (BelTA) - Restoration of the altar of the 12th-century Holy Transfiguration Church in Polotsk is complete, BelTA learnt from the Directorate of Capital Construction of the Polotsk City Hall, which has ordered the restoration project. The frescoes in the altar were revived back to the original form. Now restorers are working on the paintings in the northern and southern parts of the temple. The picturesque layers of the 19th century which were made during renovations in the first half and in the late 19th century will be preserved. The frescos made in later periods but which are no less valuable from a historical and artistic point of view are placed and fixed on a solid foundation to be displayed in museums. At present, restoration woks have been completed on more than 270 square meters of frescoes. Another 490 square meters of frescoes need to be restored. Best specialists in the wall paintings from the pre-Mongol period from Russia and Belarus are engaged in the project. A total of Br1.5 billion was assigned from the national and regional budgets for the restoration works at the Holy Transfiguration Church this year. The project is part of the Culture of Belarus program for 2011-2015. Based on the decision the Council of Ministers, staring from 2011, Br1 billion will be allocated from the national and regional budgets for restoration of frescoes of the Holy Transfiguration Church each year until 2015. The Holy Transfiguration Church is considered the pearl the East Slavic architecture. According to legend, the church was built with the blessing of Saint Euphrosyne of Polotsk - Superior of the Polotsk monastery. Experts believe, the idea of painting belonged to Saint Euphrosyne as well. Such a large amount of ancient Eastern Slavic frescoes survive only in two places - the church of the Mirozhsky monastery in Pskov and the Holy Transfiguration Church of St. Euphrosyne monastery in Polotsk. The restoration project of the Holy Transfiguration Church provides for the restoration and conservation of the already discovered frescoes of the 12th century, and restoration of the oil paintings of the 19th century.

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