In Belarus there are many monuments dedicated to significant historical figures. Among them are Francisk Skaryna, Euphrosinia Polotskaya, writers and poets of Belarus, even a monument marking the center of Europe, and a memorial commemorating the most Belarusian in the world letter “Ў”. Typical monuments V.I. Lenin, who are remnants of the Soviet past, does exist in virtually every city in our country. And there are monuments that are dedicated to historically significant personalities and installed in their homeland. One of such monuments is the monument of Sofia Slutsk in Slutsk.

Sophia Slutskaya: Holy and Righteous

So, who is Sofia Slutskaya? Surely, you will immediately remember Anastasia Slutskaya - one of the most famous representatives of the family, who soon lost her husband and was forced to stand at the head of her army. Her exploits inspired Belarusfilm to create the movie of the same name in 2003. And in 2016, a brave ruler was erected a monument in her homeland.

Her cousin, Sophia Slutskaya, had a different fate. She was the last representative of the princely family Olelkovichi-Slutskys. The girl was orphaned early, becoming the owner of a third of the clan status. Soon her childless uncles died, their possessions also passed to the young princess. And according to the will of her grandfather, Sophia was also declared a princess Kopylskaya, which made her the richest bride of the Commonwealth.

However, it was not worldly goods that interested the princess. She, of course, married (to a representative of one of the most influential dynasties of Belarus, Janusz Radziwill), but she devoted her life to church affairs and the good of the Orthodox Church Slutsk. Sophia convinced her husband to turn to the Polish crown and receive a special certificate. The document at the state level prohibits forcing her subjects to change religion.

An interesting fact from VETLIVA: if you remember from the school course of history, in 1596 that same Union of Brest was signed, and a Uniate church was formed. Representatives of both confessions have long feuded; for a part of the century, the Orthodox did not have their own metropolitan. That is why the princess tried with all her might to protect the freedom of religion of her subjects. And her husband helped her in this even after Sophia’s death: when she died, he confirmed these rights to Slutsk.

Sofia Slutskaya did not live very long and died at the age of 26 years. However, its influence on the worldview of people was so strong that all the Radziwills, entering the reign in Slutsk, injured Orthodoxy in this region, even if they were of a different religion.

Sofia Slutskaya was canonized. The married couple lost three children (Sophia died during the birth of her third child, who did not survive), so the princess is revered by women who are going to become mothers.

An interesting fact from VETLIVA: the relics of the saint turned out to be incorruptible and miraculous. And in 1848 they even saved the city from cholera! It is believed that the epidemic retreated after the procession with the holy relics.

Monument to Sofia Slutskaya

Among the attractions of the Minsk region, it occupies a special place. Despite the fact that miracles began to occur immediately after the death of the princess, she was canonized only in 1984. It was then that the question of perpetuating her memory arose. A holy temple of righteous Sophia Slutskaya was erected, and then a memorial appeared. 

The authors of the monument are sculptor Mikhail Inkov and architect Nikolai Lukyanchik. They managed to embody in bronze not only Sofia Slutskaya. An important detail is her posture. With her left hand, the saint urges everyone to stop for a moment. Stop to think about the transience and frailty of life, the purpose and life of a person ...

The monument is complemented by an arch of three petals. They symbolize the Christian church, for the sake of which the righteous Sofia Slutskaya worked. The monument was installed in the city of Slutsk, in a cozy park on Bogdanovich Street. Traveling in Belarus, take a look at this wonderful city - the birthplace of the famous Slutsk belts, to which the whole museum is dedicated - and stop near the Sofia Slutskaya monument. Perhaps it is here that you will find the inspiration you need so much, and you will find the meaning of life if you have been looking for it for a long time.