Attention! On June, 14, 15 the object is closed.

St. Nicholas Cathedral is the oldest cathedral on the Yaroslav’s Courtyard, on Trade side and among all cathedrals in Russia consecrated to St. Nicholas. It was built in 1113 - 1136 and consecrated in honour of St.Nicholas the Miracle-Worker, who was highly revered in Rus. In 1992 the cathedral was listed as UNESCO World Heritage.

St. Nicholas Cathedral is located in the territory of the former prince yard. According to the first Novgorod chronicle, the temple was founded by Prince Mstislav Vladimirovich in 1113. This is the first stone building on the Trade side, devoted to St. Nicholas the Miracle-Worker.

Being of about the same age as Veliky Novgorod, the cathedral has been located in its heart, on the Yaroslav’s Courtyard, for nine centuries. By the end of the XX century St. Nicholas Cathedral needed the urgent and expensive restoration which was impossible under the conditions of economic crisis in Russia. Hanseatic cities-partners helped the city out as they had done several times in the period of Russian-Hanseatic relations. In 1990th restoration works, financed by the cities of the Hanseatic League of New Time, were carried out in the cathedral. Inhabitants of hundred Hanseatic cities took part in the rescue of St. Nicholas Cathedral. Novgorod gratefully remembers the name of these cities. You can read them at the main entrance to the cathedral. Numerous fragments of original painting of the XII century are preserved in the interior. Fragments of frescos of the XII century, including “Job on the Dung Hill” and “Last Judgement”, fresco ornaments and etc. are exhibited in the cathedral. Most of the painting refers to the XIX century.

In 1999 when Novgorod celebrated the 1140 anniversary the cathedral appeared in its full splendor. The masterpiece of architecture of the XII century was saved from the total decay during the restoration. Besides the imprints of time were removed from the cathedral: the amazing cathedral was restored in its original forms.

In 2013 exhibitions timed to the 900 anniversary of the cathedral were open:

• Exhibition Drawings-graffiti in the Novgorod monuments of the XI – XIV centuries. Visitors can see small but the brighest part of rich graphic material, preserved on the walls of the Novgorod cathedrals.
• Exhibition St. Nicholas Cathedral. Research and Restoration. Materials of research and restoration of Nikolo-Dvorishchensky Cathedral, constructive and decorative materials, photographs, documents and personal items of architects and archaeologists, who were engaged in study of the monument, are included in the collection of the exhibition.