Archaeologists from St Petersburg University find the remains of 12th-century churches in Novgorod

The Church of St John the Baptist on Opoki and the Church of the Assumption in the Market Place are historical monuments located on the territory of the architectural complex "Yaroslav’s Court and Ancient Market Place". Both buildings were erected in the 15th century. The first one was built in 1453, the second one in 1457. Russian archaeologists investigated these buildings as far back as the end of the last century, but all the examinations were carried out exclusively from the outside. The expedition of St Petersburg University in 2021-2022 carried out excavations inside the churches for the first time. The archaeological excavations took place in preparation for the restoration of the buildings.

According to Ilia Antipov, Head of the Summer School and Associate Professor in the Department of the History of Russian Art at St Petersburg University, it was known from chronicles that the Church of St John the Baptist on Opoki stands on the foundations of two churches from the pre-Mongolian period. The first church on this site was built in 1127-1130 by order of Prince Vsevolod Mstislavich. The building stood for several decades and in 1184 a new church was erected on its foundations. The new church existed until 1453.

During the expedition, we were able to discover the remains of both predecessor churches. For example, we found part of a spiral staircase that was built into the northwest corner of the building that existed in 1127 to 1130. The excavations revealed the remains of the supporting pillar located in the centre of this staircase, as well as the steps.

Ilia Antipov, Head of the Summer School and Associate Professor in the Department of the History of Russian Art at St Petersburg University

According to Ilia Antipov, this finding is particularly significant for Novgorod. This is because until 2022 archaeologists had never encountered stairwells in early Novgorod churches that had been fitted inside the main space of the church and had been erected at the same time as the building was built.

In addition to the ancient staircase, the researchers found fragments of frescoes that decorated the original church. The excavations also uncovered parts of the walls, pillars and altar, built in 1184.

The St Petersburg University Summer School of Architectural Archaeology operates on the basis of the St Petersburg University’s Architectural and Archaeological Expedition. With the support of the National History Foundation, school participants go on excavations of ancient architectural monuments every summer. The project involves scholars from St Petersburg University, graduates and art students from the University, as well as St Petersburg schoolchildren interested in architectural archaeology.

While investigating the Church of the Assumption in the Market Place, the archaeologists from St Petersburg University also found the remains of its predecessor church built in 1135-1144. ‘We excavated the altar part of the building, the clergy pew (synthronon) and several hundred frescoes. We discovered a spiral staircase like the one in the Church of St John the Baptist on Opoki. However, at this site, the stairwell is much better preserved. We therefore managed to uncover the supporting pillar and the remains of five steps,’ said Ilia Antipov.

The archaeologists also revealed the remains of later additions to the church. In particular, the researchers studied the south antechurch (the narthex in front of the entrance) from the first half of the 14th century and the south aisle (an extension to house a side altar), created at the turn of the 14th and 15th centuries.

The data from the expedition will enable scholars to make graphic reconstructions of the 12th-century churches that the Church of St John the Baptist on Opoki and the Church of the Assumption in the Market Place are based on.