The modern coat of arms of Vitebsk is famous for its interesting history, which began from the time of the reign of the ruler of the Polish and Lithuanian lands Sigismund III Vasa. Thanks to the decree of his lordship in 1597, the city received the right to self-government. Vitebsk was also endowed with all the symbols of state power. His emblem was the image of Jesus Christ in profile, depicted on the bright blue shield of Spain. For the city on the Dvina, he became the first officially recorded in the annals. Scientists still cannot give an exact answer why exactly such an image formed the basis of the symbol of Vitebsk. Most agree that this was a request of the inhabitants of the city themselves, since it was such an image that was native to them. Previously, a similar symbol became the basis for the print of Vitebsk.
Features of the national symbol of the city
The coat of arms of Vitebsk is one of the most striking exhibits in the historical and heraldic treasury of the country. It differs from others in that it contains both defensive and Orthodox symbols. The sword indicates the willingness of residents to fight for their native land. Savior means a reverent attitude towards the church. The reason for their unification was the fact that Vitebsk was located on the eastern outskirts of the kingdom, while maintaining the inviolability of borders, and was one of the first to adopt Christianity.
The formation of history
In less than a century, Vitebsk was deprived of Magdeburg law. At the same time, the coat of arms was also declared invalid. The reasons for such severe measures were the revolt of the inhabitants of the city and the death of the Uniate bishop at the hands of the rebels. Only a decade later, the king changed his anger to mercy and in 1633 returned the right to self-government to Vitebsk residents. The coat of arms was rehabilitated only in 1641 thanks to the decree of Vladislav IV.
In 1781, Empress Catherine II approved the new symbol of the city on the Dvina. It had nothing to do with the previous version. The difference with the coat of arms of Polotsk lands consisted only in the fact that in its lower half stripes of scarlet and silver colors alternated. It did not contain symbolism expressing the position and traditions of Vitebsk. He once again reminded the inhabitants that they had once been subjects of the Principality of Lithuania, and was soon replaced by the symbol of the Savior and the sword, more familiar to Vitebsk residents.
Modern interpretation
The current symbol of Vitebsk received its official status in 2004. The emblem of the sample of 1597 was taken as the basis. Five years later, the image of the symbol of the city has undergone changes. The red part of the sword, located in the lower half of the coat of arms, became silver. An angel crowns it from above, as if blessing the city and protecting its spread wings from all troubles. On each side are two cherubs that, with the help of blue ribbons, hold the coat of arms of Vitebsk.
In 1997, on the 400th anniversary of Magdebourg law, a coat of arms about two meters in size in bronze was installed at the city hall of Vitebsk. The author of this magnificent copy was Valery Moguchy. During the planned reconstruction of the building, the symbol was moved to the museum, where it is now located.
Interesting Facts
Today philatelists can also find the coat of arms of Vitebsk, the photo of which is shown on the stamp. In 2008, the Belarusian post issued a whole series with the arms of the country's cities. The stone coat of arms of Vitebsk can be seen in Minsk, on Independence Square, where it is located in company with the arms of other major cities of the country.
In the most original way to “perpetuate” the symbol of the city on the Dvina, participants in the large-scale flash mob CreativePelmeniParty, which covered more than 10 countries, distinguished themselves. The coat of arms of the city of Vitebsk (whose photo served as the basis) was made in the form of a huge half-meter dumpling! There was no suitable cookware for cooking such a giant delicacy, so it was cooked in the oven.