This church stands out among the numerous other churches in Novgorod. Its complex design – the work of 17th-century Moscow architects – as well as its unusual frescoes, are captivating in their elegance and lavishness. The secular motives in the frescoes can be considered a kind of artistic commentary on the Peter the Great period and ambiguous attitudes towards his policies. The cathedral is reminiscent of the earlier Church of the Sign built to store the main Novgorod relic, the Our Lady of the Sign icon, which protected the city from plunder by Suzdal. Today it can be found in St Sophia’s Cathedral. Due to its excellent acoustics, it is a popular venue for religious music concerts.
