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Efrosinya Polotskaya

When discussing outstanding people of Belarus, we can’t but mention the name of Efrosinya Polotskaya, a princess, a philosophical and spiritual leader in Polotsk principality in the 12^th century.

She was born in Polotsk into the family of Izyaslavovichy in 1100. She was the granddaughter of the famous Vseslav Charodey. She was a highly educated person of that period. She had a good knowledge of geography, Greek, Latin, mythology and other sciences. She was well aware of both Christian and pagan beliefs. At the age of 12 she refused to marry and entered the Convent as the rest of the members of the family were sent to the Byzantine Empire. First she was a nun and later Mother Superior of the Convent.

She did a lot of charitable work which included opening schools and hospitals. She taught other people, wrote and rewrote books by hand. She founded the Spass-Efrosinya church in Polotsk. On her request in 1161 a famous jeweller Lasar Bogsha created a Cross to symbolize Christianity in Belarus and the unity of the nation. Efrosinya Polotskaya raised her voice against intestine strife which could destroy the state. The Cross was decorated with gold, silver and precious stones. There were icons of saints, the founders of the Christianity, Efrosinya and her parents on it. It became a national sacred thing. Unfortunately, the Cross was taken out of the country during the Great Patriotic War and disappeared.

In 1173 Efrosinya decided to make a pilgrimage to Jerusalem. Some months later she got seriously ill and died. She was buried in Jerusalem. Twelve years later the body was transported to Kiev and then returned to Polotsk to be reburied in Spass-Efrosinya church which she had founded.

Now Efrosinya Polotskaya is considered to be the protectress of Belarus. Paying tribute to her great service to the Motherland, the Belarusians restored the Cross of Efrosinya Polotskaya and placed it in the Spass-Efrosinya church in 1998. It has become one of the sacred things in Belarus.

Vocabulary

Ex. 1. Find in the text the English equivalents of the following sentences.

1. Ефросиния Полоцкая родилась в Полоцке в 1100 году в семье Изяславовичей. 2. Сначала она была простой монахиней, а затем стала настоятельницей монастыря. 3. Она основала Спасо-Ефросиньевскую церковь в Полоцке. 4. В 1173 году Ефросиния решила совершить паломничество в Иерусалим. 5. Крест Ефросинии Полоцкой стал одной из святынь Беларуси.

Ex. 2. Insert the missing words.

1. When discussing … people of Belarus, we can’t but … the name of Efrosinya Polotskaya, a …, a … and … leader of the 12^th century. 2. She was well … of both … and … beliefs. 3. On her … a famous … Lasar Bogsha created a … to symbolize Christianity in Belarus. 4. She was … in Jerusalem, twelve years later the body was … to Kiev and then … to Polotsk to be … in the Spass-Efrosinya church which she had founded. 5. Now she is … to be the … of Belarus.

Ex. 3. Complete the sentences, choosing the right variats.

1. She had a good knowledge of

1. geography, English and medicine; b) philosophy, Greek and other sciences; c) geography, Greek, Latin, mythology and other sciences.

2. At the age of 12 she refused to marry and entered the Convent as the rest of the family

1. were sent to the Byzantine Empire; b) were killed; c) were not religious.

3. Unfortunately, the Cross was taken out of the country during

1. the Napoleon invasion; b) The Great Patriotic war; c) The Civil war.

4. Paying tribute to her great service to the Motherland, the Belarusians

1. have found the Cross of Efrosinya Polotskaya and placed it in the Spass-Efrosinya church; b) Have restored the Cross and placed it in the Spass-Efrosinya church; c) Have restored the Cross and placed it in the museum.

Ex. 4. Answer the questions.

1. What was Efrosinya Polotskaya? 2. Was she a highly educated person of her time? 3. When did she become a nun? 4. Did she do a lot of charitable work? What did she do? 5. What kind of cross did Lasar Bogsha create? 6. Why did the Belarusians restore the Cross of Efrosinya Polotskaya? 7. Where is she buried?

Ex. 5. Read the text, divide it into parts and give the titles to them.

Ex. 6. Make up the plan of the text, using the following points.

1. Efrosinya’s charitable work. 2. Philosophical and spiritual leader of the time. 3. The symbol of Christianity in Belarus. 4. Pilgrimage to Jerusalem. 5. The Protectress of Belarus.

V I T E B S K

A. D. Artyemova

Part I

Obligatory list of words:

1. according to [k:di] - согласно, в соответствии с

2. ancient [einnt] - древний

3. burn to ashes [b:n t  iz] - сжигать дотла

4. chronicle [krnikl] - летопись

5. completely [kmpli:tli] - совершенно, полностью

6. data [deit] pl от datum [deitm] - данные, сведения

7. disposal [dispouzl] - возможность распорядиться

at your disposal - к вашим услугам

8. to flow into [flou] - впадать (о реке и т.п.)

9. invader [inveid] - захватчик, оккупант

10. a joint venture [d intvent ] - совместное предприятие

11. keep smb waiting - заставить кого-л. ждать

I haven’t kept you waiting - Я не заставил вас жадть

12. liberation [,lib rei n] - освобождение

13. I’d love to (do smth) - Я бы с удовольствием (сделал что-л.)

14. in particular [p tikjul ] - в частности, в особенности

15. to pull houses down [pul] - сносить дома

16. the ravages of the war [r vid iz v w:] - разрушительные действия,

вызванные войной

17. to remain [rimein] - оставаться

18. remind smb of smth [rimaind] - напоминать кому-л. о чем-л.

19. resident [rezid nt] - постоянный житель

20. to be right on time - быть как раз вовремя

21. ruin [ru:in] - разрушать, уничтожать

22. to see the sights [saits] = to go sightseeing [saitsi:i] -

осматривать достопримечательности

23. set up - учреждать, начать или помочь начать предприятие

24. suffer [sf ] - страдать, претерпевать

25. sweep through smth (swept) - пронестись по ...

26. trade route [treid ru:t] - торговый путь

27. the Travel Agency [tr vleid nsi] - бюро путешествий

28. the Varangians [v r nd i nz] - варяги

What would you say ... ? - Что бы вы сказали на ... ?

that’s why - вот почему

Ex. 1. Practise the pronunciation of the following international words and

word combinations. Learn their meaning.

ancient [ei nt] - древний, modern [mdn] - современный, chronicle [krnikl] - летопись, agency [eid nsi] - агенство, guide [gaid] - гид, business trip [biznis] - деловая поездка, prospects [prspekts] - перспективы, princess [prinses] - княгиня, resident [rezid nt] - житель, to ruin [ru:in] - разрушать, the Nazi [na:tsi] - нацисты.

Ex. 2. Match the Russian words and phrases with their English

equivalents:

1. основать совместное 1. the ravages of the war

предприятие

2. осматривать досто- 2. to suffer greatly

примечательности

3. заставить кого-л. 3. at the place where the river

ждать flows into ...

4. быть в чьем-л. 4. to see the sights

распоряжении

5. город получил свое 5. to be at smb’s disposal

имя от

6. в месте впадения 6. to look quite modern

реки в ...

7. понятно 7. on the day of its liberation

from the invaders

8. согласно старым 8. according to old chronicles

летописям

9. располагаться на древнем 9. to keep smb. waiting

торговом пути

10. выглядеть вполне 10. I see

современным

11. так много войн про- 11. so many wars swept over

неслось над этой землей this land

12. сильно пострадать 12. remind smb of its past

13. опустошения, вызванные 13. the town has taken its

войной name from

14. быть разрушенным и 14. to be ruined and burnt

сожженным дотла to ashes

15. в день освобождения от 15. to set up a joint venture

захватчиков

16. напоминать кому-л. 16. to lie on the ancient

о прошлом trade route

Ex. 3. Read and translate the following:

Vitebsk is an Ancient Town

Mr. Adans, an American businessman, has come to Vitebsk on a business trip. He is looking for prospects of setting up a joint venture here. He decides to spend his afternoons seeing the sights of the town. Mr. Adams visits the Travel Agency where he meets Kate who works there as a guide during her summer holidays. They decide to start their sightseeing next afternoon.

Mr. Adams and Ann meet again and go on with their conversation about the history of Vitebsk.

Mr. Adams - So nice to see you again. I hope I haven’t kept you waiting.

Kate - No. We are both right on time.

Mr. Adams - What would you say if I asked you some more questions

about Vitebsk?

Kate - I am at your disposal.

Mr. Adams - Where does the word “Vitebsk” come from?

Mr. Adams - Vitebsk has taken its name from the river Vitba as it was

founded on the high banks of the Vitba where it flows into the

Dvina river.

Mr. Adams - I see. And when was your town founded?

Kate - More than a thousand years ago. According to old chronicles

Kiev princess Olga founded it in 947 or, according to other

data, in 974. The town lay on the ancient trade route from the

Varagians to the Greeks and that’s why it developed quickly.

Mr. Adams - Vitebsk is an ancient town, but it looks quite modern.

Kate - It really does. You see, so many wars swept through this land.

Vitebsk, in particular, was ruined and burnt to ashes 30 times.

It also suffered greatly during the Second World War. On the

day of its liberation from the Nazi invaders in 1944 only 118

residents remained in the town that was ruined almost

completely.

Mr. Adams - And still, are there any monuments of the past in Vitebsk?

Kate - Yes, there are some, but not many. In addition to the ravages

of the war, some parts of the town were reconstructed and

many old houses were pulled down. That’s why very few

places in Vitebsk remind us of its past. And if you like I shall

show them to you.

Mr. Adams - Oh, yes, thank you. I’d love to.

Ex. 4. Put questions to the words in italics minding the place of the

prepositions.

Model: Mr. Adams is looking for prospects of setting a joint venture.

What is Mr. Adams looking for?

1. Vitebsk has taken its name from the river Vitba.

2. Vitebsk has been called after the river Vitba.

3. The town lay on the ancient trade route from the Varangians to the

Greeks.

4. Only a few places in Vitebsk remind us of its past.

Ex. 5. Fill in the blanks with proper prepositions given below.

1. I have come here ... a business trip. 2. Kate works for the Travel Agency ... a guide. 3. Let’s go on ... our conversation. 4. You are right ... time. 4. All the data of the old chronicles are ... your disposal. 5. The word “Vitebsk” comes ... the name of the river it was founded ... . 6. According ... old chronicles Vitebsk was founded ... 947. 7. Vitebsk suffered greatly ... its long history because so many wars swept ... it. 8. Only 118 residents remained in Vitebsk ... the day of its liberation ... the Nazi invaders. 9. In recent times some streets were reconstructed and a lot ... old houses were pulled ... .