The article presents a description and history of the city of Polotsk, including both the origins of the place and the successive takeovers of Polotsk until Stefan Batory, which was then to return to Polish rule until 1772, when it came under Russian rule. (Source: Tygodnik Illustrowany, Warsaw 1862, T:6, p. 135., after: Digital Library of the University of Lodz).

A modernised reading of the text

Polotsk

In beautiful surroundings, on the lofty bank of the Dvina, at the mouth of the Polota, lies the ancient city of Polotsk. To a traveller coming from the Dvina, Polotsk presents itself magnificent and grave, girt with mitres and crowned with numerous gables of churches and Orthodox churches. The history of this city dates back centuries. At the beginning of the 9th century, the Vladimir dynasty began to reign here, in the line of Prince Vseslav Brezhchislavich. According to chroniclers, around 1190, Mingailo, King of Lithuania, conquered the town and made it a dominion and settled his son Ginvillia, who was baptised.

After Ginwiłł's family soon died out, Polotsk, torn by domestic discord, succumbed to the power of Ryngold, and then around 1243 to Mirdowg. His son Lowcivilian gave the Polotsk principality to the archbishops of Riga, from whom it passed into the hands of the Teutonic Knights, who sold it in 1307 to the Grand Duke of Lithuania of Vilnius, and under Gediminas it grew to considerable power. Around 1357, Andrew, son of Algirdas, brother of Jogaila, ruled in Polotsk. After the latter's accession to the Lithuanian throne, he tried to break away from Lithuania, but was defeated and fled to Pskov.

In 1380, Skirgillo, who had taken over the duchy, was expelled by the citizens of Polotsk. In vain Jogaila, intending to reinstate Skirgillo, besieged the town for 16 weeks: the garrison valiantly resisted the Lithuanians' violence. - After Vytautas took over the rule of Lithuania, Polotsk, annexed to the Lithuanian state, ceased to be a grant duchy and was given ordinary starosts. In 1518, during the reign of Sigismund I, Polotsk was unsuccessfully besieged by the Shuiskis, who were repulsed by Piotr Gasztold, Voivode of Polotsk.

In 1563, Tsar Ivan Basilievich the Terrible, having entered Lithuania with huge forces, captured Polotsk, which was only recaptured by Stefan Batory after a long siege on 30 August 1579. From then on, the city remained under Polish rule until 1772, when it passed to Russian rule. Polotsk in ancient times conducted extensive trade and was richer than even Vilnius. Stefan Batory in 1580 founded a generous town. 1580 founded a generously endowed Jesuit college, whose first rector was Skarga. The Bernardines were founded by Alexander Jagiellon in 1498, and there are also Franciscan and Basilian monasteries.

Today, the black and cracked walls of these once magnificent buildings are but a sad reminder of a more glorious past. Polotsk still has the church of St. Sophia, a poor and modest monastery, which still belongs to the Dominicans, a newly built Orthodox church and a small church of the Evangelical rite. The city's most impressive building is the former Jesuit college, now occupied as a cadet corps. The walls of this edifice, decorated with immeasurable splendour, were once covered with frescoes and marble.

Here rested the relics of St Bobola, drawing crowds of pious pilgrims every year, and filling the congregation's treasury with donations. Legend has it that these riches still lie somewhere within the walls of the monastery; however, the search proved futile. In the high altar is a beautiful painting by Rościla, depicting the Martyrdom of St Stephen. The figure of the martyr is indeed a masterpiece, especially his head, full of the expression of suffering combined with resignation and love, is one of the best works of art not only in our country but also in the West.

Also beautiful are paintings by unknown authors: Assumption of N. The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin and the Martyrdom of St Barbara are also beautiful, but it is a pity that they have been badly damaged by incompetent restorers. The college once numbered 150 monks, and the general of the congregation had authority over all Jesuit monasteries in Poland. His assets were enormous, and his excellent cloth factories, breweries and distilleries greatly increased his income. In the cellars there used to be 1,000 barrels of old wine and honey: in the stables there were 40 horses to ride in the business of the monastery.

The school had up to 800 pupils, of whom the monastery always kept 60 to 70; besides, 200 out-patients received free education, and in case of illness, if they had no parents or relatives in Polotsk, they found care in the local hospital. Among the churches of Polotsk the most ancient is the church of St. Sophia, founded about 1160 by Euphrosinia, daughter of Svyatoslav the Polotsk prince, known in the world under the name of Predislava, who lived here a saintly life, walled up in the cell next to the church.

However, the building must have undergone some transformations, as the features of antiquity are completely lost in it, so that today it is difficult to realise its previous state. Polotsk, once full of bustle, cheerful feasts and the clash of arms of princes fighting for shares, - today forgot about all this and became similar to other secondary cities. Its considerable trade in flax, hemp, grain and iron is, thanks to the superstition of the nobility, like everywhere else, in the hands of the Israeli population only.