Transfiguration Church in Kovalyovo

The Transfiguration Church in Kovalyovo is a stone church with traditional brick construction topped by a single dome. The building features four square columns and two auxiliary chapels that define its layout.

The church was built in 1345 by boyar Ontsifor Zhabin and served as the main church of Kovalyovo Monastery. After severe wartime damage, it underwent comprehensive restoration in 1970.

The wall paintings depict warrior saints and an early Russian representation of Christ in the tomb, which visitors encounter upon entering. These images tell stories of faith and shape the interior's character for those who come to see them.

The building sits about 4 kilometers east of Veliky Novgorod on the right bank of the Maly Volkhovets River, roughly 900 meters north of the village. Visitors should note that accessibility may vary depending on the season.

Of the original 450 square meters of wall paintings, only 16 survived the war, yet restoration efforts later expanded the recovered area to 160 square meters. This unexpected rescue shows how carefully restorers pieced together the surviving fragments.

Location: Sholohovo

Inception: 1345

Website: https://novgorodmuseum.ru/muzei/cerkov-spasa-preobrazheniya-v-kovaleve

GPS coordinates: 58.52542,31.35931

Latest update: December 8, 2025 19:47