The Epiphany Cathedral, located in the historic center of Polotsk, is one of the Orthodox shrines of Belarus. This temple, built in the 18th century, is an example of Baroque architecture. The cathedral is part of the ensemble of the former Epiphany Monastery, which for centuries was a center of religious enlightenment and culture.
The Epiphany Cathedral was erected between 1761 and 1779 on the site of an older wooden church that had existed here since the 16th century. The construction was funded by the townspeople and merchants of Polotsk, as well as with the support of the city`s Orthodox community. The architectural design of the cathedral was developed in the style of Vilna Baroque, which was popular at the time in the territory of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania.
Originally, the cathedral was built as the main church of the male Epiphany Monastery, which played an important role in strengthening Orthodoxy in the region. The monastery was founded in the 16th century and throughout its history, it was repeatedly destroyed and rebuilt. The temple has a cruciform shape, crowned with a massive dome.
The facade of the cathedral is adorned with decorative elements: pilasters, cornices, and stucco. Inside the temple, 18th-century frescoes have been preserved, depicting scenes from the Holy Scriptures and the lives of saints. The Baroque-style iconostasis is particularly noteworthy. The icons for the iconostasis were painted by local masters.
During the Soviet period, the Epiphany Cathedral was closed. Initially, it housed a gymnasium, and from 1981, an art gallery was opened here. In 1991, the cathedral was returned to the faithful and reconsecrated. Next to the cathedral stands a monument to St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, one of the most revered saints in the Orthodox tradition. Today, the Epiphany Cathedral houses a copy of the miraculous icon of the Holy Virgin Mary "Polotskaya," which is venerated as the patroness of the city.
