Cathedral of St. George is located in the village of Staraya Ladoga Volkhov district. It was built during the reign of Mstislav in Novgorod the Great. At the same time it was decorated extant (using the skills of restorers) frescoes. South nave of the church is decorated with images of warriors-martyrs: St. Placidus Efstafiya, Sabbas Stratelates and unknown saint whose name appears on the mural (presumably Demetrios).

St. George temple, according to legend, was built in honor of an unknown Russian victory over the enemy. It's no wonder the tract, near which the church was built, and until now called "Pobedische." That is why the paintings of the church are celebrated military exploits. Most researchers believe that the Cathedral of St. George was built in 1165-1166 gg. He is the oldest of the existing churches now Staraya Ladoga. Often in memory of military victories in ancient temples erected. In this connection, it is possible that this temple in the Ladoga fortress built to commemorate the victory over the Swedes.

Military exploits are sealed on the fresco "St. George and the Dragon." Her story came to us almost in its entirety. The fresco is an ancient picture on the theme of victory in Russian monumental painting. The hero is depicted riding a white horse tied up with a red tail and red mane, military armor, shield and spear. The right side shows the tower of the palace, from which peep the royal couple and their approximate. From under the hooves of his horse triumphantly speaker George creeps reptile, like a dragon with glowing eyes, open mouth and horn.

The author of the story, according to critics, is a great master of composition. He skillfully combined in a single unit hidden in the details of action and powerful speaker monumental statics. All these nuances are well looked states in the majestic figure of St. George and subtle, easy movement of the princess; by fading dying wave tail of the serpent and the stately pace of a horse - a sharp wave of star-cloak, which resonates with the rhythmic steep hills of Cappadocia - the place where the event occurred, at first glance perceived as a monochrome color of the plot actually reflects the entire palette of skill of the author paintings.

In addition, the St. George Church still preserved dome painting, which depicts a scene of the Ascension to the Mother of God, the apostles and angels. The drum is also preserved images of prophets. On the west wall, traditionally accompanies the picture emerging from the temple of the Last Judgment. On the north wall on the residents of the fishing and maritime edge looks of their patron saint - Nicholas.

The abundance of ornaments is typical of the decoration of the Russian church. It was very to taste the Russian people, and even today, over the past century appearance, striking boundless imagination painters.

The murals were restored only in the early 20th century. During the renovation and creation of multi-tiered iconostasis in the 16th century. the frescoes were plastered barbaric. Only in 1780 during a routine repair were found fragments of ancient paintings. By order of the Metropolitan of St. Petersburg and Ladoga Gabriel whole plaster layer was recaptured. But the ancient frescoes restored while it was not possible. Restore the original appearance of frescoes were only able to in 1927

Wall paintings Church of St. George critics believed Korsun and Byzantine. But at the moment to prove that the manner of painting, character patterns and inscriptions belong to the master novgrodtsam. Rather, it is the artists of the same school, who worked in the famous Church of the Savior on Nereditsa in Novgorod.

According to legend, in the St. George Church in Staraya Ladoga, Grand Duke Alexander Nevsky consecrated his sword and prayed before leaving for the battle with the Swedes.