A jewellery replica of the legendary 12th-century Cross of Queen Sophia (Dagmar) has arrived in Copenhagen. The event marks the launch of an ambitious and visually striking cultural project conceived by Belarusian activist Maryia Hryts as an unusual historical expedition full of adventure.
What Is the Cross?
The project began only earlier this year and is directly connected to one of the most remarkable relics of medieval Europe, known as the Dagmar Cross. The original, an exquisite 12th-century Byzantine reliquary cross, is carefully preserved at the National Museum in Copenhagen and is regarded as one of Denmark’s national treasures. For Belarusians, however, the artifact carries particular significance. According to historical records, the valuable cross belonged to Queen Dagmar of Denmark, who was baptised under the name Sophia and was the daughter of the Prince of Minsk, Valadar. A daughter of the Rahvalodavič dynasty, Sophia married Danish King Valdemar I the Great in 1157 and became Queen of Denmark.
“We often think that Belarus has always stood on the margins of history. In reality, as early as the 12th century, a daughter of Minsk was at the very centre of major European politics,” Maryia Hryts said, explaining her idea of restoring this relic to Belarusian historical memory.
Why “Pirates”?
The former director of the Danish museum had previously reflected on this remarkable intersection of Belarusian and European history, connecting the dots across the historical map. Hryts, however, decided not to limit the story to quiet museum reflections. Instead of simply admiring the relic behind thick glass in a foreign capital, she invited people to bring this treasure back into Belarusian cultural life through an open, vibrant and participatory adventure, which the team playfully named a “pirate expedition.”
The idea was to stage a symbolic “raid” on museum collections and cultural barriers: returning a lost heritage to Belarusians not through academic papers but by capturing public attention, organising spontaneous journeys, carrying the artifact across European cities and creating a shared sense of excitement in which everyone becomes an active participant in reclaiming their own cultural treasures.
What Happened Next?
The first task was to create a replica of the cross. The second was to finance the work.
Hryts initially approached Belarusian craftsmen but ultimately found support from Georgian jeweller Ilya Chakvetadze, who was inspired by the idea of “returning” Queen Sophia’s cross to the Belarusian cultural space. Chakvetadze became so enthusiastic about the initiative that he began work using ancient techniques – pure gold, hot enamel and fire – on the very day the fundraising campaign was launched, long before its target had been reached. The campaign lasted three months and relied entirely on public support, with 65 donors contributing. Twelve days before the deadline, the decisive contribution came from the Maldis initiative, headed by Ryhor Astapenia, ensuring that work in the workshop could continue.
The team approached the expedition’s visual identity with equal care. Following an open vote on social media, participants selected the expedition’s main flag—a striking design by renowned artist Uladzimir Tsesler. The flag was then handed over to media manager and public figure Andrei Mialeshka, allowing members of the team and supporters to see and handle it in person.
The project has now reached its first tangible milestone. The arrival of the completed jewellery replica in Copenhagen opens a series of travelling events.
“Nineteen days remain until the first Belarusian ‘pirate fleet’ sets sail,” Maryia Hryts announced.
The culmination of the “pirate expedition” will be the presentation of the cross at the Museum of Free Belarus in Warsaw, where it will become part of the museum’s permanent collection.
