The radzivills

 

3. Read these international words and try to guess their meaning:

Monument, centimeter, ornament, center, patron, expedition, exclusive, reconstruction.

 

4. Read the following words and try to memorize them:

reliefs   (n)	[4relik]	реликвия
abbess (n)	["asbesj	настоятельница монастыря
crossing (n)	[4krDsirj]	перекрестье
cypressfw (n)	[vsarpras]	кипарис
martyr (n)	[vma:t3(r)]	мученик
reverend (adj)	[Prevarsnd]	преподобный
diligence (n)	["dihdsans]	усердие
convey (v)	[kan'vei]	передавать
diocese (n)	[v daiasis]	епархия
crucial (adj)	[vkru:JTJ	решающий
sanctuary (n)	[4sa2rjktJ4)9ri]	святыня
consecrate (v)	[4kDnsikreit]	освящать

 

5. Read these expressions several times till you remember them:

to deliver to                                  —     доставлять в

to take a lot work and efforts       —     занимать много работы и усилий

to leave for                                   —     отправляться в

 

6. Match the English words with their Russian equivalents:

 

1. a masterpiece 2. spiritual 3. an ark 4. a jewel      5. a thread of pearls 6. a crossing 7. an inscription  8. a trace  9. a grave   10. millennium

а. могила b. надпись с. нитка жемчуга d. след е. шедевр   f. ковчег g. перекрестье h. тысячелетие i. драгоценный камень                      j. духовный

 

7. Combine the words with the help of the preposition of:

 

1. a spiritual relic 2. the front side 3. the image 4. the fathers 5. the Cross 6. the director  7. the celebration 8. a member 9. drops  10. the capital

a) Belarus b) the Belarusian Union of artists c) the Belarusians d) the millennium of Polotsk diocese e) St. Evfrosinya Polotskaya           f) the church g) the museum h) Jesus Christ i) the Cross j) blood

                   

8. Give the comparative and superlative degree of the following adjectives:

Ancient, small, significant, expensive, exclusive, long.

 

9. Give the three forms of the following verbs:

To say, to make, to keep, to cover, to be, to attach, to write, to sign, to demand, to sacrifice, to move, to find, to pass, to begin, to place.

 

10. Give the plural of:

Relic, masterpiece, patron, evangelist, apostle, effort.

 

11. Write the derivatives of the following words:

A jewel, enamel, spirit, a cross, heaven, a house, a part, to appear.

 

12. These words can be used both as verbs and nouns. Make up your own sentences to show the difference in their usage:

Cross, cover, part, sign, place.

 

13. Read these expressions and find their English equivalents in the text:

Верхнее перекрестье; основание  сделано из кипариса; небесные покровителизаказчицы и её родителей; давать благословление; выгравировать надпись; боковые пластины; финотдел; празднование тысячелетия Полоцкой епархии.

 

14. Read the text and get ready to speak about the Cross of St. Evfrosiniya Polotskaya:

 

 

THE SPIRITUAL RELIC OF THE BELARUSIANS

...A unique masterpiece of the ancient Belarusian art of enameling, a monument of the 12,h century's written language; a religious and spiritual relic of the Belarusians. All this can be said about the Cross of St. Evfrosiniya Polotskaya.

The Cross was made in 1161 by a jeweler from Polotsk, Lazarus Bdgsha, by request of Evfrosiniya, the abbess of Polotsk, and was used as an ark for keeping Christian relics. The Cross has 6 ends, its height is about 52 centimeters, the length of the upper crossing is 14 centimeters, and the length of the lower crossing is 21 centimeter. The basis is made of cypress tree, from above and below it is covered with 21 golden plates with jewels, ornament and 20 silver plates, covered with gold; a thread of pearls decorates the edge of the front side, of the Crqss. On the top ends of the Cross there are images of Jesus Christ, St. Virgin Mary, John the Baptist. In the center of the lower crossing there are four evangelists, on the ends there are archangels Michael and Gabriel. In the heel of the Cross, right after the crossing there are heavenly patrons of the customer and her parents: St. Evfrosiniya of Alexandria, St. Martyr George and St. Sophia. Two smaller crosses are attached to the upper crossing (a small 4-ended cross) and to the lower crossing (a 6-ended cross). On the backside of the Cross there are images of the fathers of the church: St. John Chrysostom, St. Basil the Great, St. Gregory Nazianzin (Theologian), apostles Peter and Paul, St. Stephen, St. Dimitry, St. Pantheleimone.Above each icon there are inscriptions written both in Greek and Slavic letters.

In the middle of the Cross, in five square housings there were religious relics: pieces of the Lord's Cross with drops of His blood, a part of a stone from St. Virgin Mary's grave, particles of the relics of St. Stephen and St. Pantheleimone, blood of St. Dimitriy. These sacred relics were delivered to Polotsk by a special expedition, which was sent to Byzantium by St. Evfrosiniya.

The creation of all these elements took a lot of work and efforts and demanded such significant material means, that the reverend customer-gave her blessing to engrave an inscription on the lateral plates of the Cross; this inscription told, by whose diligence, for what church the Cross was made and how much it cost. Sometimes well-known princes sacrificed very expensive things for temples, but there was nothing equal to the Cross of St. Evfrosiniya Polotskaya.

The destiny of this exclusive Christian relic is also unique. At first the Cross u-was kept in the church of abbess Evfrosiniya. In the 13th century the princes of Smolensk, who captured Polotsk, conveyed the Cross to Smolensk. But later the Cross was moved to other places. In 1841, after a long stay in Moscow and St. Petersburg the Cross was delivered to Polotsk. Here the Orthodox relic was kept for almost 90 years.

In 1928 the director of the Belarusian state museum left for Polotsk with the expedition, the purpose of which was to find the relic. The Cross was found in a local finance department and then it was conveyed to Minsk. In those years it was planned to transfer the capital of Belarus to Mogilev. So, the Cross of St. Evfrosiniya Polotskaya appeared there in 1929. During the Great Patriotic War the Cross disappeared without leaving a trace. AH further efforts to find it didn't give any result.                                                                        

Years have passed. During the celebration of the millennium of Polotsk diocese and the Orthodox Church in Belarus (1992) it was decided to reconstruct the great Orthodox relic. A Belarusian jeweler, and enameller, a member of the Belarusian Union of artists, Nikolay Petrovich Kuzmich was given a commission to reconstruct the sanctuary.

Five years have passed since the beginning of the reconstruction work upon the relic. In 1997 the reconstructed Cross of St. Evfrosiniya Polotskaya was consecrated in St. Simon's cathedral of Brest, and then placed in the Church of the Lord's Transfiguration in the Saviour and Evfrosiniya's monastery of Polotsk.

 

15. Answer the following questions:

1. Why is the Cross of St. Evfrosiniya Polotskaya so important for the Belarusians and their history? 2. When was the Cross created? 3. Who was the author of the Cross? 4. What was its size and shape? 5. How was it decorated? 6. What icons did it have on the front side? 7. What icons did it have on the back side? 8.  What sacred things did it contain in the square housings in the middle? 9. Why was an inscription engraved on the lateral plates of the Cross? 10. Who captured the Cross in the 13^th century? 11. When was it moved back to Polotsk? 12. How did the Cross appear in Mogilev? 13. Where is the Cross at the moment? 14. When was the Cross reconstructed? 15. What is the name of the modern artist who reconstructed the Cross?

 

16. Agree or disagree with the following statements:

1. The Cross of St. Evfrosiniya Polotskaya is a religious symbol and a great historical value for the Belarusians. 2. It was created in the 13 ^th century. 3. The Cross had 4 ends originally. 4. Its height was about 52 centimetres. 5. TheCross was richly decorated witfrjewels, pearls and golden plates. 6. It was a yery expensive thing for those times even for princes. 7. On the back side of the Cross there were square housings, but it is unknown what they were used for. 8. We don't know how much it cost to make such a cross. 9. Some time later after Evfrosiniya's death the Cross was transported to Smolensk. 10. It changed several places but in 1841 it appeared in Polotsk again. 11. In Soviet times the Cross was kept in Mogilev. 12. When the Cross disappeared, it was decided to reconstruct the sanctuary. 13.Theworktook20years. 14. The Cross was reconstructed by Nikolay Petrovich Kuzmich. 15. Now the Cross is kept in Polotsk.

 

17. Put the right prepositions where necessary:

1 .A lot can be said... the Cross..: St. Evfrosiniya Polotskaya. 2. The Cross was made ... llel ... a jeweler from Polotsk, Lazarus Bggsha, ... request of Evfrosiniya. 3. ... the center. ... the lower crossing there are four evangelists. 4. A number ... sacred relics were delivered to Polotsk ... a special expedition, which was sent... Byzantium by St. Evfrosiniya. 5. The reverend customer gave her blessing to engrave an inscription ... the lateral plates ... the Cross. 6. There was nothing equal ... the Cross of St. Evfrosiniya Polotskaya. 7. ... the 13* century the princes of Smolensk, who captured Polotsk, conveyed the Cross ... Smolensk. 8. ... 1841, after a long stay ... Moscow and St. Petersburg the Cross was delivered ... Polotsk. 9. ... 1997 the reconstructed Cross of St. Evfrosiniya Polotskaya was consecrated ... St. Simon's cathedral of Brest.

 

18. Choose a word from the box to put into each gap:

1. The Cross of St. Evfrosiniya Polotskaya can be called a unique ... of the ancient Belarusian art. 2. It was covered with 21 golden plates. 3. In the heel of  the Cross there are heavenly ... of the customer and her parents. 4. The ... ofthis exclusive Christian relic is also unique. 5. An ... on the lateral side of the Cross told by whose diligence, for what church the Cross was made and how much it cost. 6. A Belarusian jeweler and enameller, a member of the Belarusian Union of artists, Nikolay Petrovich Kuzmich was given ... to reconstruct the sanctuary, 7. In 1997 me reconstructed Cross of St. Evfrosiniya Polotskaya was ... in St. Simon's cathedral of Brest.

 

a commission, consecrated, patrons, masterpiece, destiny, inscription

 

19. Fill in the table:

1161
13th century
1841
1928
1929
1997

                

20. Work in groups. Find out from your partner:

— what they know about the description of the Cross of St. Evfrosiniya Polotskaya;

— what they know about the history of its creation;

— what they know about its destiny

 

21. Prove that:

— the importance of the Cross of St. Evfrosijtiiya Polotskaya cannot be overestimated for me Belarusian culture;

— all hardships on its way were successfully overcome

 

22. Comment on:

— the decoration of the Cross;

— the personality of St. Evfrosiniya Polotskaya

 

23. Imagine that:

—You are to tell your foreign friend about history of your country. He wants to get to know about the Cross of St. Evfrosiniya Polotskaya. Role-play a dialogue with your partner.

—You are to prepare p. report on Christian sanctuaries, especially those from Eastern Europe. You go to the library to get some information. The librarian recommends you to write about the Cross of St. Evfrosiniya Polotskaya. Role-play a dialogue with your partner.

— You have a younger brother who already goes to school. But he doesn't know anything about the Cross of St. Evfrosiniya Polotskaya yet. He reads a book on Belarusian history and encounters this name there. He asks you about the Cross of St. Evfrosiniya Polotskaya. Role-play a dialogue with your partner.

 

24. Comprehension check. Choose the best alternative according to the text:

1. The Cross of St. Evfrosiniya Polotskaya was made

a) in 1165 by Lazarus Bogsha;

b) in 1161 by an unknown master;

c) in 1161 by Lazarus Bogsha.

 

2. The Cross was

a) rather small and had 4 ends;

b) was more man half a meter long and had 6 ends;

c) was really huge.                                                                  

 

3. The basis of the Cross was

a) cypress tree;

b) alder tree;

c) oak tree.

 

4.  The wood itself was covered with

a) a special mixture of paint to protect the Cross from moisture;

b) 21 golden plates and 20 silver plates covered with gold;

c) pearls and jewels.

 

5.  On thejop ends of the Cross there were images of

a) St. Evfrosiniya of Alexandria and St. Sophia;

b) St. Basil the Great, St. Stephen and St. Dimitry;

c) Jesus Christ, St. Virgin Mary, and John the Baptist.

 

6.  The Heavenly patrons of St. Evfrosiniya Polotskaya were

a) St. Basil the Great and St. John Chrysostom;

b) St. Pantheleimone, St. Stephen and St. Dimitry;

c) St. Evfrosiniya of Alexandria, St. Martyr George and St. Sophia.

 

7.  The total number of the images on the Cross is

a)21;

b)13;

c)20.

8.  The Cross was sometimes called an ark because

a) it was a kind of container for religious relics;

b) it was taken from Byzantium;

c) it was a unique masterpiece of art.

 

9. Historians got to know the exact date of the creation of the Cross, its cost and the name of the master due to

a) the description of the Cross in Smolensk chronicles;

b) the inscription on the lateral plates of the Cross;

c) many legends.

 

10.  The Cross had a special inscription on its lateral plates because

a) it was usual to do such things in the past;

b) it was unique and very expensive;

c) religious things always had a prayer or some holy words on them.

 

11.  The Cross was kept

a) in Polotsk till the World War II;

b) in Moscow and St. Petersburg museums;

c) in different places beginning from the 13* century, but in the 19* century it came back to Polotsk.                    

 

12. For the first time the Cross was captured by

a) Ivan the Great;

b) Smolensk princes;

c) the Red Army.

 

13.  The Soviet authorities

a) destroyed the Cross;

b) sold it to a European collector;

c) moved it from Polotsk to Mogilev.

 

14.  The Cross disappeared                 

a) during the Great Patriotic War;

b) in some years after the war;

c) only at the end of the 20^th century,

 

15.  The Cross was restored

a) by a Belarusian monk in 1992;

b) by an international group of artists;

c) by HP. Kuzmich in 1997.

 

 

 

 

UNIT XVII

THE SOPHIA CATHEDRAL: OUR NATIONAL HERITAGE

 

1. Pay attention to the following words. Pick out sentences with these words from the text and read them:

angular towers — угловые башни;                        

the gothic style — готический стиль;

circle — ярус;

the baroque style — стиль барокко;

the catholic typ e— католический                                                            

 

2. Practise saying the following proper names:

The Sophia Cathedral	[бэ saiffia кэчвк!гэ1]	Софийский собор
Livonia	[lfvonia]	Ливония
Greek	[gri: k]	греческий
Latin	[ 4laetm]	латинский
Church Slavonic	[ф: tjsla'vonik]	церковнославянский
Peter the First	[" pi: ta Sa Гз: st]	Пётр Первый
The "Northern war	[5э ч no: бэп ч wo:]	Северная война
Bottom castle	[p botsm v ка- sal]	Нижний замок
The Jesuit complex	[5э ч djezjuit " kompleks]	иезуитский комплекс
The Jesuit church	[дз х djezjuit tj"3: tf]	иезуитская церковь
Top castle	[top v kct: sal]	Верхний замок
Nizhniy-Novgorod	[1113" niv nDvgarsd]	Нижний Новгород
Kiev	[kiev]	Киев