Not many secluded corners in Veliky Novgorod. But, in this quiet and peaceful place, where St. Nicholas and Znamenskaya street, rises the Church of St. Philip and St. Nicholas.

The Church of St. Philip and St. Nicholas - two in one. Two United Church, with four domes — two large and two small domes. The temples are the same height, but vary in size, have a common basis. Filippovsky the temple was built in the XII century. Originally, it was made of wood, burned down several times and was erected again, and in 1383 it was rebuilt from stone. The temple was built a bit longer than wood, and after completion of the work, which was finished in fall of next year, the Church was consecrated Archbishop Alexy. At the same time, to the Church of Apostle Philip has added a small side chapel of St. Nicholas, which was in the next street.

Current dual view of the Church acquired in 1527-1528 g. Much later, in the 17th century bell-tower with a hip roof. Church Philip and Nicholas had shared adjacent wall, and the parishioners were at everyone. But everything changed total disaster - plague 1606-1607, which claimed the lives of many of the Novgorodians. The city was dead, the wards were empty. Survivors parishioners of the two churches decided to unite in one parish. In 1607 there is a connection of two parishes, and services are held in churches on the queue. The total elapsed time, the Church was repeatedly reconstructed. In the 19th century Church of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker almost completely isotalo, and it had to be dismantled, preserved only a load-bearing wall, the remains of the Foundation. In Soviet times, the Church of the Apostle Philip was the only functioning Church in Novgorod. That is why it was decided to restore the previous appearance of the double temple: was too little space, not enough space for all urban parishioners. In 1978, then young, but undoubtedly talented architect-restorer Ninel Kuzmina creates a project to restore such a rare, ancient architecture built.

This temple is revered icon of Panteleimon the Healer, which believers consider to be miraculous. It is to this icon, come the inhabitants of Novgorod to pray for the health of their loved ones. About 20 years here the relics of the Holy Archbishop Nicetas, who ruled in Novgorod in the 11th century. According to the legend he prayers saved the city from fires and drought. After the death of the Bishop was buried in St. Sophia Cathedral, however when the power of the Soviets, the relics were removed and the package was delivered in the Museum store, where they were left. After a lengthy red tape authorities have given permission for the possession of this invaluable for believers exhibit in the Church of St. Philip. In 1993, the relics of Saint Nikita were solemnly transferred to the Cathedral of St. Sophia, and to this day the cancer is above the place where he was buried.

Nowadays, the restored monument of architecture, and stands before us, in the form which was in the 16th century, saved the Western porch and the bell tower of the 18th century. This architectural piece that has "double" the Church is a unique building of Great Novgorod.