Sophian Cathedral

The Sophy Cathedral in Veliky Novgorod was founded in 1045 by Prince Vladimir Yaroslavich. It is Russia's oldest stone church and is on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Inside the cathedral there are ancient icons including the miraculous "Our Lady of Sign" from the 12th century, an old iconostasis and unique bronze Korsunian doors from the 11th century. The cathedral also housed the city's library, archive and bank making it an important cultural and administrative center of medieval Novgorod. The cathedral is open daily from 9:00 to 20:00.