Veliky Novgorod – the Birthplace of Orthodox Russia

Orthodox pilgrims from all over Russia passionately seek to visit Veliky Novgorod to touch the sacred Christian places worshiped since olden times. The walls of Novgorod churches, soaked in prayers, breathe the wisdom of the past centuries, and wonder-working icons, still guarding the city, emanate divine grace.

The awe-inspiring St Sophia Cathedral was erected in Novgorod as early as in the 10th century. The most ancient Russian stone church, St Sophia has always been an important element not only of Novgorod’s religious and civil life but also of its spiritual essence. Prince Mstislav Udaloy (the Daring) had all reasons to say in the 13th century that ‘Where Saint Sophia is, Novgorod stands there’. According to the tale, the dove, sitting on top of the golden dome of the cathedral, guards the city from bad luck; and the chronicles relate that Veliky Novgorod is under the protection of Saint Sophia, the Holy Wisdom.

Today the active Cathedral of St Sophia keeps one of Novgorod’s sacred treasures, the icon of The Sign of Our Lady. Legend has it that in the 12th century it delivered the victory to Novgorodians over the people of Suzdal, who shot its image with an arrow. The blasphemy did not go unpunished: ‘darkness fell upon’ Novgorod’s enemies, and they slaughtered each other in fear.

The actual icon of ‘The Battle between the Warriors of Novgorod and Suzdal’ is exhibited at the world’s largest exposition of medieval Russian icon-painting as part of the collection of the Novgorod State United Museum located in the former Administrative Offices building, in the Novgorod Kremlin. You can also find there the first painting of Russian saints, the icon of St Boris and Gleb, and the imposing icon of Our Saviour, the Watchful Eye.

The most important events in Russian history are linked to the ring of Novgorod monasteries and convents surrounding the city, and to famous heroic deeds of their saint founders. Prince Alexander Nevsky prayed on his knees for a victory over the Teutonic nights in St George Cathedral of St George (Yuryev) Monastery. St Varlaam Khutynsky, the founder and the first prior of the Varlaamo-Khutynsky Convent, fortold the victory of Ivan III over Lithuania and the Crimean Ghirey Khan. Still today, people can pay their humble homage to the wonder-working relics of Rev. Varlaam.