Annunciation Church, Gorodishche

Annunciation Church in Gorodishche is a stone church ruin on the right bank of the Volkhov River featuring six pillars, three apses, and a staircase tower. The structure shows the typical design of medieval Novgorod architecture with thick stone walls and multiple ceremonial spaces.

Prince Mstislav Vladimirovich founded the first stone structure at this site in 1103, making it the second stone building in Novgorod after Saint Sophia Cathedral. The building served as an important religious center for the city over many centuries before gradually becoming a ruin.

The church walls display 49 ancient graffiti inscriptions, including rare examples of Glagolitic script from the early 12th century. These markings reveal how visitors and pilgrims left their thoughts and names on the walls across the centuries.

The site became accessible to visitors in 2019 following extensive restoration work that preserved the architectural elements in stable condition. The best time to visit is during warmer months when weather is reliable and the ruins are easy to navigate.

Archaeological excavations beneath the structure revealed settlement layers from the 8th and 9th centuries, predating the arrival of the Varangians to the region. These discoveries show the area was inhabited long before Novgorod developed as a major city.