In Veliky Novgorod in 1374, the Church of the Transfiguration of Our Savior was erected on Ilyin Street. This is the period of the development of Novgorod culture, which lasted no more than 150 years. Church of the Savior on Ilyin is a historical monument of architecture of the 14th century.
Temple history
During the heyday of Novgorod culture, only prosperous people lived on Ilyin Street. They built a church. The construction is made of rough stone. During the construction, the architects focused on the architecture of the church of Theodore Stratelates on the Stream. The internal plan of the temple is similar.
Previously, a wooden church stood at the construction site. She bore the same name. According to legend, the miraculous icon "The Sign of the Mother of God" was stored in it. As you know, in 1170, Andrei Bogolyubsky ruled in Novgorod. Other princes came to the walls of the city with troops. Novgorodians began to ask for the help of the Lord God. Then the clergy Elijah in a dream happened a sign. He brought the icon of the Mother of God from the Church of the Savior on Ilyin and left it at the city gate. During the battle, one of the arrows hit the icon. Tears flowed from the eyes of the Virgin. This sign instilled faith in warriors. The townspeople defended Novgorod. Subsequently, the icon more than once showed people its miraculous power. She was transferred to different temples. But in 1560 they returned to the Church of the Savior on Ilyin.
The fate of the church
After its heyday, the great Novgorod era did not last long. The fate of the Church of the Transfiguration of the Savior on Ilyin Street was not easy. By the beginning of the 18th century, Novgorod had become an ordinary provincial town. The transformation for the worse did not pass by the Novgorod Church of the Savior on Ilyin. On June 14, 1385, a fire broke out in the city, which swept the entire Trade side, including the church. Later, the temple was brought into proper condition. For a long time in Novgorod there was a tradition to meet Moscow clergy in the Church of the Savior on Ilyin. Since it was one of the largest religious buildings in the city.
Towards the end of the 19th century, the Novgorod Church of the Transfiguration of Our Savior on Ilyin Street came into disrepair. Internal repairs were unsuitable for worship: the plaster began to crumble, bricks fell from the walls, arches and ceiling. The temple was closed, they planned to demolish it. But still, money was found in the city for the reconstruction of the building. And in September 1889, the Church of the Savior on Ilyin again began to receive parishioners and conduct services.
The history of the temple during the Soviet Union
Soviet times played a fatal role in the history of the Spassky Church in Novgorod. Due to the closure of churches throughout the state, the church ceased to function as intended. Unlike other temples, it was not destroyed. A museum was opened in the building. We attached several warm rooms. But already in 1936, the annexes were demolished, and the church acquired its original form.
The Great Patriotic War did not pass by Novgorod. The temple was preserved from complete destruction miraculously. German troops repeatedly bombarded the church. As a result, the southwestern side of the building was separated from the main part. The roof was completely destroyed, and the walls were covered with cracks.
Church architecture features
The walls of the temple are made of rough brick. Their thickness is approximately one and a half to two meters. Naturally, after the construction they were not covered with a layer of plaster. The shell rock could be clearly seen. Later, the walls were finished and whitewashed. The Church of the Transfiguration is made in an exquisite architectural style, which is typical for the Novgorod architecture of that time. The temple is distinguished by subtle decorative elements. The building belongs to the four-pillar type of buildings, has the shape of a square. The church has only one dome. The roof consists of eight triangular slopes.
Inside the church are hidden rooms. To get into them, you must climb the stairs, which are hidden in the walls. These rooms have their own names. One of them is Cosmas and Demian, the other is named after the Holy Trinity.
The outside of the church is decorated with a large number of crosses. Half of which are laid out with decorative stone. The other part is carved on stone walls.
The windows of the temple are oblong, elongated upwards. The building has three entrances. They are located from the south, north and west.
In general, the temple looks very elegant, while not losing its aesthetics. A huge number of decorative elements does not interfere with the perception of the building as a place of religious destination.
Byzantine artist Theophanes the Greek
The famous Church of the Savior in Novgorod is a unique historical site. The painting of the Church of the Savior on Ilyin Street was carried out by the famous artist of the time Theophanes the Greek. He arrived in the city at the invitation of the boyar Vasily Mashkov. In 1378, the Byzantine painted all the walls of the temple. We have reached a unique chronicle, which describes the events of that time: the name of the author and the date of painting. The same inscriptions were located on the walls of the temple, but they did not survive. Unfortunately, the frescoes of the great artist suffered from time and were mercilessly painted over. But still in the 20th century they were gradually discovered. The remains that have been restored have been preserved and have survived to this day. It is known that the frescoes in the Novgorod Church of the Savior on Ilyin Street are the only works of Theophanes the Greek, which are confirmed on paper. The remaining images are only attributed to the Byzantine artist. There is no reliable confirmation that they belong to him. They are compared according to the style of work and the application of colors.
The murals of Theophanes the Greek
The best frescoes of the Church of the Savior on Ilyin Street are preserved under the dome of the church. Here is depicted Jesus Christ (Pantocrator). The Almighty is depicted in a mantle. His eyes fascinate. He is serious and as if warns of punishment for committed human sins. It seems that he encourages a person to embark on the path of correction, prayer and virtue. A person who has visited the temple once will forever remember this image. It is central to the overall composition.
In the central part of the temple, only fragments of images were preserved. In the altar you can see the apostles. Below are the saints, and on their sides are the remains of fragments from the cycle of the Passion of the Lord. Below you can see the image of the Savior on the throne.
The domed part is practically not preserved. Here were images of twelve holy days. To the right of the altar you can see a fresco with the face of Our Lady. On the other hand is a fragment of the Nativity of Christ. The arches of the church also depict the events of the Christian holidays of the Presentation of the Lord and Baptism.
The pillars inside the temple depicted trumpeting angels. Presumably they informed about the final judgment, or simply indicated the four cardinal points. Not all images of angels are preserved. You can only consider the fresco located under the Mother of God.
In a secret room (Trinity), all the images are preserved. At one time it was a room for clergy. On the frescoes here you can see several images: the appearance of the Trinity to Abraham, the faces of the saints, the Sign of the Virgin, the Archangel Michael.
Church of the Savior on Ilyin in Veliky Novgorod today
As you know, today the Church of the Transfiguration of Our Savior is a museum. It does not function for its intended purpose. Services are not provided here. The temple was subject to museumification in the Soviet post-war period.
Moreover, the church can be accessed only at certain times. The fact is that the unique frescoes that have survived to this day are carefully preserved. Science has not yet come up with certain technologies. Therefore, it is impossible to enter the museum under conditions of high humidity. Doors of the temple are not allowed to open during rain or snow. This adversely affects the state of wall pictures.
Museum working hours in Novgorod
The museum is located at: city of Novgorod, st. Ilyina, house 26.
Work days:
- Wednesday, from 10 to 17 hours;
- Thursday, from 10 to 17 hours;
- Friday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Saturday, from 10 to 17 hours;
- Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Weekends: Monday and Tuesday.
A visit to the museum is paid. The cost of a ticket for an adult is 120 rubles, for children and students - 60 rubles (prices are as of June 2018).
The Church of the Savior in Novgorod is a unique historical site. It is valuable not only as a monument of architecture, but also as a monument of art. Icon lovers should definitely visit this amazing place.