Church of the Annunciation in Arcades

In the vicinity of Veliky Novgorod, in Arkazy, in the south of the shore of Lake Myachino, near the road to the Yuriev Monastery, the Church of the Annunciation is located. It was built by order of Archbishop Ilia of Novgorod in 1179. Its construction lasted 70 days and ended on the day of the 10th anniversary of the victory of Novgorod over the Suzdal army.

The church looks like a four-pillar structure with one dome. It consists of limestone slabs and bricks. It lost its original appearance, only the lower part remained from its former appearance. Once a long time ago, the dome, the upper extremities of the walls and vaults collapsed, but in the XVII century they were restored. Initially, the roof was partitioned, and the facades were completed by semicircular zakomars. In the XVII century, during the restoration, the roof became eightfold. The temple has three asps, but they do not have all their original height, window openings were also restored and decorated with casings.

Inside the church is a fresco painting belonging to 1189. It is made in the style of the Novgorod school using a sharp contour pattern and a bright palette.

In 1941-1944 the building was occupied by the Germans, they destroyed most of the frescoes. Near the southern aspid is the common grave of Countess Orlova-Chesmenskaya and Archimandrite Photius.

The restoration of the church took place in 1959-1961 by the project of architect Krasnorechev L.E. In 2009, paintwork took place, the dome and roof covering was replaced. Today, the temple is one of the objects of the Novgorod United Museum-Reserve.