ekskursii.by

Excursions across Belarus - Belarusian excursion portal

Check request

Borisov stone

To book a tour
Type: Archaeological monuments Date of Foundation: 1 century Status: Republican value Republic of Belarus, Vitebsk region, Polotsk, near the St. Sophia Cathedral

Borisov stone - a monument of epigraphy of XII century, a huge boulder to 8 m in circumference with embossed cross and the inscription «Lord, help your servant Boris». It was found near the village, 5 km from Polotsk in 1981.

Earlier in the basin of the Western Dvina River was more than 10 boulders from the same crosses and inscriptions. The locals call them Boris-baker, but to this day came only this boulder. According to scientists, the stone was brought here Dnepr glacier about 300 thousand years ago, together with the thickness of ice in what is now Finland, worked his way to 600 km and was located in the Western Dvina River, 10 km from Polotsk, closer to the present Novopolotsk. Time and waterways of the river damaged the stone and the inscription, yet one can hardly make out the words: «Lord, help your servant Boris». The inscription refers to the name Prince Boris - the eldest son Vseslav Charodej, who ruled in Polotsk in the XII century. It was he who founded the town of Borisov at the beginning of the XII century.

Among scientists there is no consensus about the inscription on the stone. According to some, Polotsk, even accepting Christianity, worshiped stone, and the prince ordered to dislodge the boulder cross - a symbol of new faith. Others attribute this inscription to the hungry years of 1127 - 1128. Others believe the stones are monuments of military action by Boris. reveal all text

Photo - Borisov stone

Individual and corporate excursions - Borisov stone

Location map - Borisov stone

Address Republic of Belarus, Vitebsk region, Polotsk, near the St. Sophia Cathedral GPS Google: 55.485748′ N, 28.758062′ E