Church of St. Nikita the Martyr

Veliky Novgorod is one of Russia’s oldest cities, with a rich cultural heritage. Its old streets are lined with churches whose histories stretch back centuries, drawing visitors from around the world. One of them is the Church of St. Nikita the Martyr. According to the chronicle, Novgorod builders erected the first church here in 1378. Construction of the present Church of St. Nikita began on the same site in 1555 under Ivan the Terrible, and it was consecrated a year later. In the 17th century, a solemn religious procession was held on the feast day of the Holy Great Martyr Nikita. A century later the church fell into disrepair. During restoration, its vaults were replaced with wooden ceilings, and the renewed church was consecrated again in 1813. In Soviet times, until the 80s, one part housed a chess club and another a library. Exterior restoration began in 1999, and in 2010 the building was designated a federal cultural heritage site. The restoration lasted for years; once completed, the building was to be transferred to the Novgorod church district. The church’s architecture evolved over several centuries. Originally it had five domes, six pillars and three naves; the present structure is smaller and reflects Moscow architectural traditions. Notable features include its asymmetry: a bell tower in the southeast and a Chapel of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker in the northwest, with another chapel, “Feodosy under the Bells,” beneath the bell tower. There are two entrances: the northern one leads to the ground-level undercroft, while the southern entrance reaches the second level by a broad decorative staircase. The basement level is emphasized by keel-shaped arches on the apses and a cornice. The wooden vaults with small domes have not survived. Its unusual, complex composition sets it apart from other Novgorod churches. Despite its age, the building preserves layers of history dating back to the 16th century and is a cultural heritage monument of the peoples of Russia.