Queen Sophia’s Pirate Fleet Is Docking at the Free Belarus Museum!
📅 24 October, 3:00 PM
📍 Free Belarus Museum, Foksal 11, Warsaw
Join us for a presentation of the replica of the Cross of Sophia (Dagmar), the story behind the project, a documentary film screening, and a presentation of a map of Belarusian treasures across Europe.
The adventure “The Pirates of Queen Sophia” began as a bold fantasy and grew into an international project over the course of just a year and a half! Project initiator Maria Hryc brought together treasure hunting, collaboration between people from different countries, and the restoration of Queen Sophia of Denmark — our princess — to the memory of the Belarusian community.
This summer, the pirate expedition set off for Copenhagen, visited the National Museum of Denmark, sailed through the capital by boat, organised a ceremonial procession and a concert at King’s New Square, and then continued to Ringsted, where Queen Sophia is buried.
The project’s most important physical treasure is a replica of the Cross of Sophia (Dagmar). The original dates back to the 12th century and is held at the National Museum of Denmark in Copenhagen.
The Belarusian replica was crafted by Georgian jeweller Ilia Chakvetadze, with 66 people contributing funds towards its creation. The cross is now kept at the Free Belarus Museum, having been donated by the first Belarusian pirate fleet.
This extraordinary adventure project has already sparked debate among historians. Come along to learn more, see the replica of the cross, and form your own opinion!
