The Church of Elijah the Prophet in Slavna is one of the most unusual architectural monuments of Veliky Novgorod. It is located at the Slavna end of the Trading Side, one of the five districts of the ancient city, named after the village of Slavna, which later became part of Novgorod. Today, the church is known not only as an example of Novgorod architecture from the late 12th century, renovated in the 15th century, but also as the oldest inhabited building in Russia.

The exact date of the founding of the first Church of Elijah in Slavna is unknown. However, RAS academician V.L. Yanin suggested that the temple could have been founded during the early Christianity period in Novgorod at the site where in 980, Dobrynya erected a statue of Perun, the supreme god of pagan mythology. The church had a bell tower, as evidenced by a chronicle mention of a fire in 1105. It is likely that at that time both the temple and the bell tower were wooden. The Church of Elijah in Slavna was also known as Elijah the Dry.

The image of Elijah the Prophet, the patron of thunder and rain, among the Eastern Slavs was formed from ancient beliefs and church traditions. In Rus, July 20 (August 2 in the new style) was celebrated as the day of Perun, which became the day of honoring Elijah the Prophet. These dates coincided not by chance, as the church used old cults to strengthen faith in the saints.

According to biblical legends, Elijah the Prophet performed miracles, causing drought or rain, and was taken up to heaven in a fiery chariot. Folk tradition included processions to the church on July 20 and a week later to pray for rain or clear weather. In Veliky Novgorod, as well as in Moscow and Pskov, there were churches of Elijah the Dry and Elijah the Wet, which people visited depending on the weather conditions.

The chronicle of 1198 mentions the laying of a stone church of Elijah on the Hill, in Slavna, commissioned by a certain Erevshi, completed in 1202. The temple was built in the traditions of Novgorod architecture of the 12th century: cubical shape, simplicity, and massiveness of forms, one dome, and three apses. These features are also visible in the churches of Peter and Paul on Siinaya Hill (1185) and Thomas the Apostle on Myachin (1195).

In 1455, the Church of Elijah in Slavna was restored, essentially rebuilt "on the old foundation." In the 15th century, it was customary to preserve the dimensions and silhouettes of restored buildings. At the request of the Novgorod archbishop, old structures were dismantled, and new churches were built on their foundations, leading to the appearance of basements or ground floors for economic needs. It is believed that during the restoration of the Church of Elijah in Slavna, two chapels were added, of which the chapel of the holy martyrs Cyril and John has survived.

During the Great Patriotic War, the church suffered greatly. In 1952, restorers restored its original appearance based on the remnants of ancient structures. Due to a housing shortage in the post-war years in Novgorod, surviving buildings were used as apartments, and the Church of Elijah in Slavna was no exception.

Despite the passing years, the temple still remains a residential building, housing apartments, artists' workshops, and storage. Nowadays, most ancient churches of Veliky Novgorod belong to the Novgorod State United Museum-Reserve or the Russian Orthodox Church, but the Church of Elijah in Slavna has almost been forgotten.

Historians, art historians, and archaeologists regularly discuss the fate of this church, proposing projects for its restoration, the creation of a museum, or transferring it to the diocese. However, they all agree that if restoration does not begin in the coming years, Veliky Novgorod may lose one of its architectural monuments. This is only reminded by a darkened plaque.