Novgorod Kremlin, Church of St. Andrew Stratelates (Veliky Novgorod)

The Church of St. Andrew Stratelates has a complex construction history. Originally, from 1167 to 1173, there was the Church of SS. Boris and Gleb, a grand church with four columns, three apses, a narthex, and a stair tower. The Church, which was built in the big prince's temples of the early 12th century sort, was ordered by a citizen of Novgorod, Sotko Sytinich.

At Archbishop Euthymius's behest, in 1441, the Temple was reconstructed on the old foundation. At the same time, a small side chapel dedicated to St. Andrew Stratelates was built upon a massive base of the 12th-century stair tower.

After SS. Boris and Gleb's Church crashed down and was demolished in 1682, the survived side chapel was enlarged to the east and turned into an independent temple. Walls of the western volume and a northern wall of the eastern annexe of the now existing building have survived since the times of the 15th-century church. Architectural appearance of a western arched entrance with an ornamental edge from the outside and a triangular lintel inside is typical for Novgorod architecture of the time. The walls were made of limestone and shell rock in the 15 century, while brickwork was used in the 17th century.

A new vault of the western volume, a roof, domes, belfries, as well as rebuilt niches, window openings, and foundation reinforcement date back to the 18th and 19th centuries.

Archaeological studies of the main volume of SS. Boris and Gleb's Church were undertaken by A. Strokov in 1940 and 1941.

In 1969 and 1970, M. Karger and G. Shtender studied the remains of the 12th-century stair tower.

The Church was reconstructed by Desna Company from 2000 to 2004. Designs were made by O. Kovalenko and L. Markova.

At the same time, a wall painting that dated back to the 16th or 17th century was discovered and fixed by artists and restorers of Moscow Scientific and Restoration Board under the direction of Y. Seryogina (V. Sarabianov's team). A procession of Saints with Andrew Stratelates among them is depicted in the lower part of the northern wall. The western extrados of the triumphal arch has medallions: the Our Lady of the Sign and King David with unknown saints. Walls of the western volume have the Ascension of Christ composition, which has partially survived in the upper part of the western volume walls. The southern and northern walls have full-length portraits of 12 apostles, while the western one — Our Lady with two angels. Jesus with a halo was imaged on the lost vault.

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Novgorod Kremlin, Church of St. Andrew Stratelates

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