Ilya was a 12th-century Eastern Orthodox prelate who served as the Archbishop of Novgorod from 1165 until his death in 1186. Born into a priestly family in Veliky Novgorod, he initially served as a priest at the Church of St. Blaise. After being appointed by the Metropolitan of Kiev, he became the first to hold the newly elevated title of archbishop in his region. In 1185, he adopted the monastic name Ioann (John) upon entering the Great Schema.