Saints Boris and Gleb Church in Plotniki, Veliky Novgorod

Saints Boris and Gleb Church is an Orthodox church featuring five domes and three vertical divisions on its exterior walls, each crowned with ogee-shaped arches and pointed roofs. The structure displays the characteristic design approach of 16th-century ecclesiastical architecture.

The church was built in 1536 by Moscow and Novgorod merchants on the site of an earlier 1377 structure. The previous building was a simple single-apse church that was eventually replaced by this more complex design.

The church honors Boris and Gleb, the first Russian martyrs canonized by the Orthodox Church. These saints represent early Christian traditions from the Kievan Rus period.

The site is easily accessible on foot via Plotniki Street in the northern old town and offers enough space to view the exterior structure from various angles. Visitors should bring waterproof clothing for rainy conditions, as the location is open and exposed to the elements.

The church blends features from two distinct building eras: traditional Novgorod design and influences brought by Moscow builders. This fusion reveals how Russian ecclesiastical architecture was evolving and shifting during this transformative period.

Location: Veliky Novgorod

Inception: 1536

Website: http://vn-borisogleb.ru

GPS coordinates: 58.53100,31.29078

Latest update: December 8, 2025 21:02