The Church of the Transfiguration of the Savior on Ilyina Street in Veliky Novgorod, built in 1374, is known for its preserved frescoes created by Theophanes the Greek in 1378. Chronicles about the construction and decoration of this temple are few, but they have preserved the name of the patron and, more importantly, the author of the painting, the great Theophanes the Greek, teacher of Andrei Rublev. During the flourishing of Novgorod culture, covering the 14th and the first half of the 15th century, the city was divided into parts called 'ends.' Ilyina Street was located in the Slaven end, where wealthy people lived, which is why significant monuments of Novgorod architecture have been preserved here, including the stone Church of the Transfiguration of the Savior.

The stone church on Ilyina Street was built on the site of a wooden predecessor, first mentioned in 1169. In 1169-1170, Novgorod was besieged by the troops of Prince Andrei Bogolyubsky. At the most difficult moment, Archbishop Ilya Ioann had a vision and brought out the icon of the Holy Mother of God, after which the enemies began to retreat in fear. This icon, named 'Znamenie,' became a great shrine of Novgorod and was kept in the Savior Church for almost two hundred years until the Znamenskaya Church was built for it in 1354, where the Znamensky Cathedral now stands.

The Church of the Transfiguration of the Savior has survived several fires, one of which in 1340 destroyed many churches, including the Savior on Ilyina. According to the chronicle, in 1374 a stone church was built and consecrated by Archbishop Alexius. The builders were guided by the Church of Theodore Stratilates, built earlier, and the Savior Church repeats its plan and composition with slight modifications. Inside, there were two chapels consecrated in the name of the Trinity and the saints Cosmas and Damian.

The original appearance of the church can be imagined from the icons dedicated to the miracle from the icon 'Znamenie.' They depict not the wooden church of the 12th century but its stone version from 1374. The builders did not use plaster for the outer walls, which made the structure of the masonry visible. In 1374, the walls were covered with light plaster from the inside, but just four years later, the church was painted, and these frescoes made it a great monument of world culture.

During the Soviet years, services ceased, and the church became a museum. In 1936, later extensions were demolished. During the Great Patriotic War, the temple was shelled but withstood. After the liberation of Novgorod in 1944, the church was heavily damaged, but in 1946-1948 and 1950-1951, it was restored under the guidance of architect Lyubov Shulyak. After restoration, the church began to serve museum functions. In 1992, it was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List, and research continues to this day. The church also functions as a museum, attracting tourists.