Polatsk Travel Recommendations for 2024 (Updated in May)

The architectural style of the temple can be described as late Baroque. The architecture of St. Sophia Cathedral is a model of urban planning in Ancient Rus. In total, there are 12 temples of St. Sophia in the modern world. The buildings of the same name in Kiev and Novogrudok are closest in external resemblance to the temple in Polotsk; we can observe their similarity in such architectural elements as the cross-domed vault, characteristic of Christian churches of Byzantium, as well as a gallery and 5 naves. Also, St. Sophia Cathedral has a lot of unique construction features that you will not find in any other similar temple in the world. The so-called «vima» - an altar elevation appeared in its interior. The temple itself is seven-domed, which in Christianity symbolizes the seven Sacraments of the Church, seven Ecumenical Councils, and seven virtues. Particularly notable is the stone altar partition, which resembles the altars of Catholic churches. The Polotsk temple has a basilica, as well as two symmetrical towers that rise 50 meters above the Zapadnaya Dvina river. The rich white interior of the sanctuary is decorated with gold, stucco and ornamental cornices, arches and majestic columns, and the walls are painted with holy images of the New Testament Trinity and the Savior Not Made by Hands, as well as a copy of the famous fresco by Leonardo da Vinci «The Last Supper». The southern facade of the building amazes with its unusual structure - its towers are located so that they create a strong optical perspective. And at the beginning of the 20th century, the holy images depicted on the walls of the shrine were restored. Unfortunately, the name of the architect who restored the temple has not survived to this day.#passionpassport