The second lecture free public courses "Viciebsk: the real and popular history of his native city", as was announced, was dedicated to Princess Olga. Viciebsk historians have expressed comments on the reasonable period of occurrence of the local tradition of Olga, the possible role of this person in the history of Viciebsk, the probable date of foundation of the city and historical sources that can be trusted.
Before the start of lectures in the hall of the Regional Library present a moment of silence in memory of Dean of the Faculty of History of VSU Valery Shorets, who died prematurely on September 26 to 58-year life.
Apparently, to save intrigue, warm-up and input it into a specific historical discourse, the main lecture was preceded by presentation of Nicholas Parkhimovich, associate professor of the history of Belarus VSU. Historian introduced listeners with existing concepts of the emergence of Indo-Europeans, their pathways to Europe and the allocation of their Eastern Slavs environment.
In continuation of the speech of M. Parkhimovich chief specialist of the ideology of management culture, Culture and Youth Executive Committee Denis Yurchak noted that before the alleged appearance of Olga in Viciebsk based on Balts fort on Mount Łamicha already lived Kryvichy.
Next word took the head of the Department of History of Belarus Anatoly VSU Dulov, who finally remembered and recorded Michal Pancyrny in the "annals of Viciebsk" the legend of Princess Olga, and raised the question of its validity.
As a result of discussions by historians were of the view that real facts could be the basis for the legend. A chronicle of Sofia accessories Viciebsk Kiev princes (up to 1021) may indicate that it is Olga could subdue the city of Kiev, which at the time of its appearance already existed.
The fact of existence of the local tradition before the 15th century is confirmed by the fact that the stone church mentioned in the legend of St. Michael was destroyed during the capture Viciebsk Vytautas continue to exist only in the form of wood.
Deputy Director of the Regional Museum Valery Shishin told the audience about his work with the original manuscript of "Viciebsk chronicle", but he was unlucky to determine the exact date of the founding of the city. At the public demonstration of the slide is not possible to say for sure what date written Michal Pancyrny: either 974, or 947, or 977.
But Valery Shishin confidently told the audience about the presence of a second historical document, which allegedly witnessed a fact reason to Princess Olga of the Annunciation Church in Viciebsk. As recently discovered historian Maxim Makarov, in 1891 in the "Historical and legal materials taken from the documentary books provinces of Viciebsk and Mahiloŭ" archivist Michael Verevkin published wagon Viciebsk magistrates Casimir Alexander Potey issued brotherhood Annunciation Church in 1714.
Sergey Babenko, head of the club of historical reconstruction «Vargentorn», said: "If Olga really was in Viciebsk, its appearance could enhance the economic function of the town, which lies on the road from the Vikings to the Greeks. Of course, the city existed long before the fixed date in the chronicles, but human psychology is very important to have a precisely delineated."
Denis Yurchak at the end of the event asked a question: "Is it possible to put legends monuments?" The question has been raised repeatedly in the media and caused a heated debate, but: "Why not put it?" Like, are monuments to its legendary founder are Rome, Kyiv, Vilnius, Kharkiv, Kryvy Rig...
"If the choice is between nothing and beautiful legend, which is fixed and which has historically believed our ancestors for centuries, it is necessary to choose the latter. Princess Olga definitely deserves to decorate the city of Viciebsk. In the bronze", – said Denis Yurchak.
I think, after such statements the historian debate on this subject in the near future, splashed the walls of the regional library.
S. Horki
