Efrosinya Polotskaya: photo, description, biography, activities, interesting facts from life. Cross of Euphrosyne of Polotsk

Efrosinya Polotskaya is the first woman to be canonized by the Russian Orthodox Church. In its place of birth, it refers to the White Russia, that is, Belarus, so now they call the lands of Ancient Rus between the Dnieper and the Druze. On the life path of this Saint, her deeds and good deeds, you will learn by reading this article.

Peculiarities of life in Polotsk before the appearance of the Mongols

This narrative should begin with a brief description of the life of the inhabitants of Ancient Rus to understand at what time Efrosinya Polotskaya was born - one of the most educated women of her time.

XII century was a period when the inhabitants of ancient Russia began to actively take up the Orthodox faith. The new faith began to find its reflection in architecture, literature and art.

Orthodox churches were decorated with scenes from the Bible; At many monasteries scripts were opened, where translators from Greek and copyists of books worked; The jewelery workshops became actual.

Polotsk itself at that time was one of the largest centers for the production of books, as well as an excellent place for those wishing to get an education. There was a chronicle, from which we can now learn about the outstanding personalities of that time.

Childhood and adolescence of St. Euphrosyne

The exact date of birth of the great ascetic is unknown. Historians have established that Efrosinya Polotskaya was born, in the world of Predslav, around 1101. The pedigree of the girl resembled the noble family of Rurik. She was the granddaughter of Vladimir Monomakh himself, and also the daughter of Polotsk prince George.

Father Predslava from an early age took care of the formation of his daughter, she was taught by the monks. In the house of the prince was a very large library, where there were many books of both religious and secular nature. It was to reading that the girl had a huge interest. The description of Efrosinya Polotsk and her life is taken from the annals, which were written by witnesses of that time.

Among her favorite books were: Holy Scripture and the Psalter. Besides reading, the girl often prayed fervently. Rumors about the wise girl quickly spread far beyond the borders of the Polotsk land, so many of the noble princes dreamed of such a wife.

The decision to become a nun

When Predslav was 12 years old, one of the princes killed her. Parents gave their consent, and the girl took a completely different decision. Efrosinya Polotskaya, whose biography has since received a new round, secretly went to the monastery.

The abbot of this monastery was the widow of her uncle Roman. When the abbess heard a request for permission to take tonsure, her first decision was a refusal. The girl was still too young and very beautiful too. Yet in time, seeing the passionate prayer, faith and mind of Predslava, the abbess gave her consent, not afraid of the anger of the girl's father.

So Efrosinya became a nun.

The tonsure

When she was tonsured, Predslava was called by another name, now she became Euphrosyne. The choice of this name was not accidental. Efrosinya Alexandria, who lived in the V century, was an excellent example for a girl. In addition, this name means "joy", so there were several prerequisites for choosing this name.

Efrosinya's parents were saddened by her decision and attempted to return her daughter home. According to the chronicle, Prince George wept over his daughter as a deceased, but these tears did not change anything. Efrosinya Polotskaya remained in the monastery, where she excelled all in her zeal for prayer, fasting and night vigils.

Becoming a nun, the girl devoted herself to different sciences. She studied books that she found in church vaults, and these were works of Slavic theologians, ancient chronicles, as well as the works of Byzantine and Roman enlighteners.

Blessings of the Holy

Saint Efrosinya learned of her destiny from a dream. The Angel himself, who appeared in a dream, ordered her to found a new abode near Polotsk, in the area called Seltso. Seeing this omen several times, Efrosinya learned that Bishop Elijah of Polotsk had the same dream. These signs of God served to the fact that Bishop Elijah gave her the Transfiguration Church for the establishment of a convent there.

Describe Yefrosinya Polotskaya as a woman who became famous for the foundation and patronage of monasteries. After all, in addition to the women's monastery, she was a trustee and founder of the Bogorodsky Monastery.

At the monasteries, the saint opened schools, where the novices taught various crafts, reading and writing, and the art of rewriting books.

Efrosinya became famous as an adviser, she never refused advice to those who needed guidance on the path to faith. The strength of her prayer was so great that she was often approached for help by those who wanted to change and live a godly life. Many who came to her received spiritual support and help. She was able to calm down quarrels and disassembly, which at that time often occurred between the princes.

Dream of Euphrosyne

The Monk Euphrosyne had her own cherished dream - she really wanted to visit the holy places of Palestine. This desire, she decided to implement, being far in old age.

Earlier, the life of Efrosinya Polotsk was devoted to rewriting and writing her own books and teachings to laity, as well as establishing the life of monks in monasteries. Having reached the planned, she, leaving the abode on her sister Evdokia, went on a journey.

On the way to Jerusalem she met with the Patriarch of Constantinople Luka. And arriving at his destination and visiting the Life-giving Coffin of the Lord, he stopped at the Russian monastery.

It was here that she was overtaken by illness. May 23, 1173, and not recovering, Efrosinya went into another world. According to the testament, the saint, her body was buried in the monastery of St. Theodosius, near Jerusalem.

Since 1187, her relics were kept in the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra, and in 1910 they were returned to the homeland of Euphrosyne in Polotsk, where they are now.

Efrosinya Polotskaya: interesting facts

Saint was a well-known patron of art. She made her efforts to ensure that the Polotsk chronicle was not discontinued; Took care of the constant replenishment of new books of the library of St. Sophia Cathedral.

One of the main attractions associated with her name is the cross of Euphrosyne of Polotsk. This masterpiece Old Russian Culture was created by her order and named her name.

The cross possessed miracle power, it was used only in especially solemn divine services. There is a legend that the cross of Euphrosyne of Polotsk Took with him to A trip to Polotsk Ivan the Terrible. He promised that in case of victory he would return the relic to its place, and, despite the great value of the cross, kept his word.

Unfortunately, the relic was lost during the Great Patriotic War, but in 1997, according to the surviving descriptions, a copy of the cross was made by Brest jewelers.

Efrosinya was canonized in 1547, in 1984 she was ranked among the Saints of Belarus. Since 1994, the day of the death of the saint has become the Saint Euphrosyne's Day and is widely celebrated in Byelorussia.