For 300 years it existed only in the form of fragments: the restored fresco of the 15th century was transferred to the St. Sophia Cathedral of Novgorodtranslated

A unique event took place on September 21, 2026 in Veliky Novgorod - restorers of the Novgorod Museum-Reserve handed over the restored 15th-century fresco “The Virgin and Child on the Throne” to the city’s St. Sophia Cathedral. For the last 300 years, this fresco has existed only in the form of scattered fragments.

Thanks to the efforts of restorers, a unique fresco created for the St. Sophia Cathedral in 1466 and for more than three centuries existed only in the form of almost 500 individual fragments has returned to its historical place in the church, the press service of the Novgorod Museum-Reserve told Thomas magazine.

Photo courtesy of the press service of the Novgorod Museum-Reserve

The return of the shrine with the image of the Mother of God and the Infant Jesus Christ took place on a symbolic day - the great twelfth feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

– Today, on the day of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, a historical event is taking place – not only for Veliky Novgorod, but for all of Russia, for all Orthodox people. The revered image of the Mother of God with the Child on the throne, created by order of Archbishop Jonah of Oten in the 15th century, has returned to the St. Sophia Cathedral, noted the general director of the Novgorod...