At the top of the cross over the golden dome, one can see a bird, as if alive, but not fly away. Guides say that the 1570-year-Novgorod was crushed oprichniki Ivan the Terrible led by the king, ostensibly for treason. Victims of unprecedented brutality was so great that the water in the Volkhov was red with blood. And seeing this, the bird froze on top of the cross of St. Sophia church.