Krutitskoe Podvorye, now a podvorye (embassy church) of the patriarch, started its life as the podvorye of the Metropolitan of Sarai - the capital of the Golden Horde. The name Krutitskoe comes from the word Krutitsy which was given to this area of Moscow due to its steep descent to the River Moscow; 'krutoy' is the Russian for steep. In the 13th century, after the Mongol-Tatar Conquest of Russia, the Eparchy of Sarai was established to serve the Orthodox population in the Golden Horde and to even attempt to convert the Mongol-Tatars. According to legend, in 1272 Prince Daniil of Moscow donated lands in Krutitsy to support this cause and the Krutitskoe Podvorye of the Metropolitan of Sarai and the Don was created.

In the 15th century and the collapse of the Golden Horde, the metropolitan left Sarai and moved to Krutitsy and became the Metropolitan of Krutitsy instead. Under Metropolitan Paul (Pavel) III in the mid-17th century the podvorye was at its height and a new construction programme was started. Most of the surviving buildings date from this time. Also during this period the podvorye served as a prison for prominent Old-Believers, including Avvakum.

In 1711 the podvorye started to decline in status due to the secularisation reforms of Peter the Great and in 1785 the Krutitsy Eparchy was abolished. The territory of the podvorye was subsequently transferred for use by the military. After the Revolution the podvorye's churches were also turned over to the military. In 1947 the podvorye's historical value was finally realised and so restoration was carried out and it subsequently became a museum. In 1991 it was returned to the Orthodox Church and became the podvorye of the patriarch.

Dormition Cathedral

The podvorye's main cathedral is the beautiful redbrick Dormition Cathedral which was built between 1672 and 1699 and is adjoined by a red-brick tent-dome bell tower. Between 1693 and 1694 a closed gallery and the beautifully tiled Parade Gates were added to connect the Dormition Cathedral to the Metropolitan's Chambers. The chambers date from 1655 and are also built from red bricks, their most striking feature is the wonderful staircase on the southern side. Included in the chambers is the Resurrection Church which was built on top of the foundations of an older church.