A commemorative sign "Polotsk – the Cradle of Belarusian Statehood" will be unveiled in the capital of the Day of Belarusian Written Language on September 2, the Polotsk District Executive Committee informed BELTA.
A commemorative sign "Polotsk – the Cradle of Belarusian Statehood" will be unveiled in the capital of the Day of Belarusian Written Language on September 2, the Polotsk District Executive Committee informed BELTA.
The grand opening of the sculptural composition will be one of the key moments of the holiday's Saturday programme. The commemorative sign in Polotsk has already been installed on the bank of the Western Dvina near the St. Sophia Cathedral.
As sculptor Vladimir Pipin told a BELTA correspondent, the composition consists of two parts – bronze and granite. The total weight is quite substantial. "The bronze part weighs almost 2 tonnes, and the huge boulder at the base weighs almost 5 and a half tonnes," the sculptor clarified.
The bronze part features shields with portraits of prominent historical figures who were at the origins of Belarusian statehood. Among them are Prince Rogvolod and his daughter Rogneda, Vseslav the Sorcerer, and Euphrosyne of Polotsk. "There are images of six people here in total, of course, this is far from a complete list. The list could be continued, but the other figures are as if covered by shields. It is clear that there are many of them and they are implied in this layering," explained Vladimir Pipin.
On the reverse side are important historical dates and cultural values, such as the St. Sophia Cathedral, the Holy Transfiguration Monastery, the Cross of Euphrosyne of Polotsk, etc. "According to the design of architect Armen Sardarov, the composition is installed on the very edge of the bank, at the place where the Polota River flows into the Dvina," the sculptor noted.
According to him, each image depicted on the commemorative sign required detailed study. "The work lasted for six months. I think it turned out well. I am mostly satisfied with the result," admitted Vladimir Pipin.
Events of the Day of Belarusian Written Language will be held in Polotsk from September 1 to 3.