Restoration of 12th-Century Cathedral in Novgorod Completed

Veliky Novgorod, Russia, January 31, 2025

Photo: Russian Ministry of Culture     

The extensive and meticulous restoration of the 12th-century Cathedral of the Nativity of the Mother of God at the Antoniev Monastery in Veliky Novgorod has been completed.

Soon the church, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site, will be presented to Novgorod residents and city visitors in its renewed form, reports the Russian Ministry of Culture.

Specialists from the Novgorod Museum-Preserve were in charge of the restoration, who over two years “carried out painstaking work: strengthened the ancient foundations, restored the brickwork, plastered and whitewashed the church walls, replaced the roofing, repaired the porch, and built a ramp for people with limited mobility.

Restored to its to proper condition, the cathedral will soon be reincluded in the museum-preserve’s excursion routes.

The Antoniev Monastery was founded in 1106 by St. Anthony the Roman. Shortly after its founding, from 1117 to 1119, a stone church was built in the monastery. In 1125, it was painted with frescoes.

For many centuries, the Antoniev Monastery was not only a spiritual but also a cultural center. In 1740, a theological seminary was established at the monastery, which operated until 1918.

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