Restoration of the Church of the Assumption continues in Novgorod the Great

On 28 February 2006, a meeting of the Russian-German Expert Council for realizing an agreement on free assistance to the restoration of the Church of the Assumption on Volotovo Pole near Novgorod the Great was held in the regional Committee for Culture and Tourism, ‘Velikiy Novgorod’ news agency reported citing press centre of the regional administration.

The Church of the Assumption of the Mother of God on Volotovo Pole is a unique architectural monument of the 14th century. It was completely ruined during the Great Patriotic War. Restoration work began in June 2001.

In compliance with the intergovernmental agreement signed by the Ministers of Culture of Russia and Germany Mikhail Shvydkoy and Julian Nida-Rumelin, ‘Wintershall AG’ German company pledged to transfer 1 million 520 thousand dollars to Russian restorers. The Church of the Assumption is listed among major parts of the project of reimbursing the losses inflicted on Russian cultural heritage by fascist Germany. Money was also allocated from the federal and regional budgets.

The restoration works were completed on 18 August 2003, when experts of the Russian Ministry of Culture signed the restorers’ act of receipt. However, restoration of the unique frescoes continues. Frescoes and mosaics are restored in a special workshop. The work is planned to be completed by 2010. A decision was taken to house a museum in the restored church and celebrate Divine services there on major church feasts.

The Church of the Assumption on Volotovo Pole was built by a Novgorodian Bishop Moses in 4 km to the northeast from Novgorod the Great in 1352. Its architecture resembles that of the monuments of the 13th c. The church is a prototype of the Novgorodian architectural monuments of the 14-15th cc. And is world famous because of its architecture and frescoes by an anonymous artist.