On the 20 of December every Belarusian school will host a unified lesson dedicated to life and deeds of enlightener and patron of the Belarusian land Euphrosyne of Polotsk.

Teachers will tell about the importance of Euphrosyne of Polotsk persona who is honored by both catholic and orthodox people. Teachers will note spiritual inheritance left by Euphrosyne of Polotsk and her career as an enlightener.

Her name is associated with the opening of the first educational institutions and libraries, the creation of a school of architecture and painting, and the development of crafts. Throughout her entire life after entering the monastery, Saint Euphrosyne was a wise abbess, a teacher of women in the sacraments of spiritual life. Her career as an enlightener had a significant importance for social and state lives of the Duchy of Polotsk.

The life of Euphrosyne, her boundless renunciation contributed to the flourishing of Christian virtues among the Belarusian people. The saint personifies extremely important values especially relevant today: peace, spirituality, enlightenment and love for one’s roots. This is the priceless spiritual heritage of the Venerable Euphrosyne of Polotsk.

Translated from Greek, the monastic name of St. Euphrosyne means “Joy.” Having become a nun, she settled in the cell of the Polotsk St. Sophia Cathedral. In the monastery, Euphrosyne copied books: some of them formed the basis of the monastery libraries of the Principality of Polotsk, others were sold, and the nun generously distributed the proceeds to the poor. She also kept the Polotsk Chronicle and collected the library of St. Sophia Cathedral, which over time became a real spiritual treasure, causing genuine admiration among both her contemporaries and subsequent generations.

The name of the Venerable Euphrosyne is associated with the construction of the Transfiguration Church and the creation of its famous cross by the Polotsk master Lazar Bogsha - a masterpiece of ancient Belarusian jewelry art.

The Holy Abbess of Polotsk is often mentioned as an educator of the Belarusian lands, who laid the foundations of book writing and women's education. Euphrosyne of Polotsk opened schools at monasteries, libraries, icon-painting and jewelry workshops. She shared her knowledge with her students and helped resolve conflicts between principalities.

Almost nine centuries have passed since the death of Euphrosyne of Polotsk, but even today the image of the enlightener is a symbol of the spiritual strength of the nation. Her image attracts the attention of icon painters, artists, composers and writers. The Polotsk abbess can be seen on the paintings of the Church of the Annunciation in the Kiev Pechersk Lavra, on the frescoes of Viktor Vasnetsov in the Vladimir Cathedral in Kyiv. There are icons of the Belarusian saint in the Riga Convent, the Cathedral in Vilnius, and a large external icon is kept in the Spaso-Euphrosinievsky Monastery in Polotsk.

Many artists dedicated their works to Euphrosyne of Polotsk. Among them are paintings by Nineli Schastnaya and graphic sheets by Arlen Kashkurevich. In 1988, Olga Morokova shot the film “Euphrosyne of Polotsk”. In June 2021, presentations of the book by the famous archaeologist and historian Sergei Tarasov «Еўфрасіння-Офрасіння-Афрасіння Полацкая. Яе час, яе крыж» (Eufrasinnya-Ofrasinnya-Afrasinnya Polatskaya. Her life, her cross.) took place in Polotsk and Novopolotsk.

On June 5, 2023, the Belarusian Orthodox Church celebrated the 850th anniversary of the repose of St. Euphrosyne of Polotsk. Euphrosyne became a moral guide, combining pure reason and good will, patriotism and peacefulness.