Sophia Cathedral in Polotsk is the oldest church on the territory of Belarus. Its history spans nearly a thousand years. Over this time, the cathedral has undergone numerous transformations, becoming a cultural symbol of the country. This cathedral is one of the first stone churches of Kievan Rus`, alongside the Sophia Cathedral in Kyiv and the Sophia Cathedral in Novgorod.
Sophia Cathedral was founded in the mid-11th century (between 1044 and 1066) by order of Prince Vseslav Bryacheslaich. Initially built as an Orthodox church in the Byzantine style, it featured seven domes, massive walls, and rich fresco paintings. The cathedral served not only as a place of worship but also as the political and cultural center of the Principality of Polotsk. It housed the princely treasury, hosted important state decisions, and was home to the first library of handwritten books on Belarusian lands.
However, over its long history, the cathedral was repeatedly destroyed and rebuilt. In 1710, during the Great Northern War, the church was almost completely destroyed after a gunpowder storage explosion. Its restoration took 12 years, and by 1750, the cathedral had acquired a new appearance in the Vilnius Baroque style. The renowned architect Johann Christoph Glaubitz led the reconstruction, giving the temple the elegant features that have been preserved to this day.
The modern Sophia Cathedral is a majestic structure combining elements of ancient Russian and Baroque architecture. Its snow-white walls, tall towers (reaching 51 meters in height), and intricate decorative elements create a unique appearance. The central nave stands 22 meters high, while the side naves reach 13.5 meters. The exterior towers rise to a height of 51 meters.
The cathedral`s interior has preserved fragments of ancient frescoes, which can be seen on the eastern wall. A particular highlight is the organ, installed in 1985. Its powerful sound and the hall`s unique acoustics make Sophia Cathedral one of the best concert halls in Europe. Organ music concerts are held here every Sunday, attracting art enthusiasts from across Belarus and beyond.
Fragments of the 11th-century walls, built from plinthos—thin bricks bonded with cement mortar mixed with ceramic chips—have been partially preserved in Sophia Cathedral. The walls were 1.5 meters thick, emphasizing the cathedral`s defensive significance. During the restoration in the 1980s, a stone with names carved in the 11th century was discovered. Among them were the male names David and Peter, as well as the mysterious inscription "a thief wrote this." This stone can be seen in the cathedral and is considered a monument to 11th-century writing.
Today, Sophia Cathedral is not only a museum but also an important cultural center. It regularly hosts exhibitions, concerts, and festivals dedicated to history and art. The cathedral is part of the National Polotsk Historical and Cultural Museum-Reserve. Once a year, on June 5th, the day of commemoration of Saint Euphrosyne of Polotsk, an Orthodox service is held here, after which believers proceed in a procession to the St.Evfrosinievsky Monastery.
