Saviour-Euphrosyne Convent
Спаса-Еўфрасіннеўскі манастыр
A convent founded in 1125 by St Euphrosyne of Polotsk, the first woman among the East Slavs to be canonised. Its 12th-century Church of the Transfiguration of the Saviour preserves precious frescoes, making it Belarus's most important pilgrimage site.
The convent lies about 2 km north of the city centre. It was founded by Euphrosyne of Polotsk, the first woman among the East Slavs to be canonised. The Church of the Transfiguration of the Saviour was built in 1152–1161 by the architect Ioann. It is the best-preserved pre-Mongol-era building in Belarus, and its 12th-century frescoes have been restored and are on display inside. The Church of the Holy Cross holds St Euphrosyne's relics, along with a replica of her cross (the original went missing in 1941). You can reach the convent by bus or taxi. Women must wear a headscarf and a skirt to enter, and photography is forbidden inside the church.
Opening hours
About 07:00–19:00 (church hours set by the monastery)
Nearby sights
- Red Bridge, Polotsk
- Geographical Centre of Europe Monument
- Monument to the Letter Ў
- Museum of Medieval Knighthood
- Nizhne-Pokrovskaya Street
- Epiphany Cathedral, Polotsk
- Polotsk Jesuit Collegium
- Museum of Belarusian Book Printing