 He was the first to hold the title of archbishop in Novgorod after the office was elevated to the archiepiscopal dignity a few months later.Niphont held the title as a personal honor.Ilya carried out a number of construction projects in Novgorod along with his brother, Gavril (also known as Grigorii), who succeeded him as archbishop (1186–1193) and consecrated the Khutyn Monastery, among other things.