About Cathedral of St. Sophia

This Novgorod landmark is one of the oldest churches in Russia as it was built by Vladimir of Novgorod between 1045 and 1050 on the site of a 10th century cathedral. Vladimir, who was the son of Yaroslav the Wise, commissioned the five-domed stone Cathedral of St. Sophia as his father requested it as a gift to the people of Novgorod for supporting him during his quest to rule Kiev. The cathedral contains many artworks, frescoes and relics with the most notable being the Our Lady of the Sign icon.