For many centuries the Sophia Cathedral has been a symbol of independence and greatness as well as political, economic and cultural importance of Polotsk among «the cities equal to it». Though the initial form of the temple wasn't preserved because of numerous wars, devastations and structural rearrangements, the Sophia Cathedral will stay put in the history of Belarus as a national monument that gave rise to the art of building

Erected by the legendary prince of Polotsk Vseslav Charodey (Wizard) in the middle of 11th century, the Sophia Cathedral integrated a pulpit for the archbishop, a venue for concluding political and commercial agreements, a prince's treasury, an office for chronicle keeping and book-copying, a library, and a shelter for townspeople during wars

Today one can still see ves ages of the princedom of Polotsk of those times: foundations, an altar apse, fragments of an ancient laying and fresco murals, a sinthrone (a stone bench for priests), and crossed columns that had divided the space of the temple into five naves. All this, together with the articles found in the cathedral during archeological excavations and architectural research of 1969-1983, makes part of the exposition of the museum describing the history of architecture of the ancient monument

One of the most interesting finds is a limestone bearing the following names that were scratched on it in the middle of the 11th century: Davyd, Tuma, Mikuіa, Kopes, Peter, and Vorishko. This monument of epigraphies was found in the foundation of the southern wall. The above names may be the autographs left by the builders of the temple or supervisors

Displayed in the showcases are also the following articles: a plynth of 11th century with notches, characters, various signs and symbols, including Rurikovichs's trident; arrowheads from a man's burial place of 13th century; a fragment of a silk coverlet with an embroidery with golden threads from a female burial place of 16th century. The exhibits include articles found during the excavations in the Upper Castle: a twisted golden ring of 11th century brought to Polotsk from a remote Scandinavian island of Gotland, and a hanging seal of the prince of Kiev Vsevolod Yaroslavich (1078—1093)

Together with Polotsk the Sophia Cathedral endured many dramatic events, devastations and fires. At the end of 15th — beginning of 16th centuries it was rearranged into a defensive-type temple. In 1596 Orthodox Sophia was passed to Uniates a'M remained Uniate up to 1839

It was during that period that the cathedral underwent its last reconstruction under the supervision of Jan Christopher Glaubitz, an architect from Wilno, in 1728—1750. The new architectural design of the cathedral incorporated all the best traditions of Belarus baroque. Emerged from the ruins, the temple marked the beginning of a new stage in the history of Belarus architecture that continued the history of ancient Polotsk

The author of the project of restoration of the Sophia Cathedral that began in 1969 was Belarusian architect Valery Grigoryevich Slyunchenko (1945—1992). Belarusian and Lithuanian restorers, Russian archeologists (P.A.Rappoport, VA.Bulkin) and Czech masters of organ construction were involved in the activities to make the monument operational. The exposition opened in 1985

To make use of its unique acoustics, a hall of chamber music was opened in the Sophia Cathedral in 1983. The first musical event in the restored temple was the performance of musical compositions from the so-called «Polotsk Note-Воок» (16th century) by the choir «Cantabile». In 1985 the hall of the cathedral became alive with sounds of majestic organ music. The organ was custom-designed and installed by the well-known Czech company «Riger Kloss». It has 3905 tubes of different sizes, 48 registers, a system of foot pedals and three manual keyboards. The first performer was the renowned organist and composer Oleg Yanchenko (1939—2002).

For 19 years in succession the ancient cathedral has hosted international festivals of ancient and modern chamber music held in April, and international festivals of organ music «Sophia's Bells» held in November. Symbolically, it was in Polotsk that OYanchenko's Symphony No. 4 «The Song of Igor's Campaign* was performed for the first time in November 1998 at the opening of the third organ festival. It was performed by the State Symphonic Orchestra, the Belarusian State Choral Chapel named after G.Shirma and the Vocal Company «Camerata».

The hall of the ancient temple cherishes the memory of the voices of world-famous singers Irina Arkhipova, Vladislav Pjavko, Alexander Vedernikov, Maria Bieshu, Boris Shtokolov, Virgilius Norejka, sisters Lisitsyan, Svetlana Daniljuk, and Natalia Gajda; of musical compositions performed by orchestras and choruses under direction of Gennady Rozhdestvensky, Valery Poljansky, Svetlana Bezrodnaya, Vladimir Spivakov, Vladimir Minin, and Saulus Sondetskis; of solo performances by renowned musicians Margarita Fedorova, Igor Olovnikov, Natalia Seryogina, and Vladimir Tretjakov; of concerts by organists from Vatican, Germany, France, Austria, Switzerland, Latvia, Ukraine, Russia and other countries.

Like nine hundred years ago, light, colour, music, sculpture and architecture have organically merged and evolved into a masterpiece of a dramatic emotional impact.

The concert hall with its unique acoustics harmonizes most naturally with the museum exposition, the main articles of which are museeficated remains of the cathedral of 11th century.

The new function of the cathedral did not distort in the slightest degree the initial form of the temple. Moreover, it has revealed and emphasized the main and everlasting thing about it — the high art inherent to its creators.