The Novospassky Monastery was founded in 1490 on the orders of Grand Prince Ivan III. Upon its foundation the monks of the monastery surrounding the Transfiguration of the Saviour Cathedral inside the Kremlin were transferred here, hence the monastery's name Novospassky meaning the 'New Saviour'. The monastery was heavily damaged during the Time of Troubles and had to be rebuilt afterwards.

Between 1640 and 1642 new stone walls and towers were built around the monastery. In 1812 the monastery was occupied by French troops who used its churches as stables. After the liberation of Moscow, the monastery was restored. But a worse fate came in 1918 when the monastery was closed and used as a prison camp by the NKVD. Later it was used as a drunk-tank up until 1967 when a restoration museum was opened here. The monastery subsequently underwent restoration work. Finally in 1991 the monastery was reopened.

Transfiguration of the Saviour Cathedral

The monastery's main cathedral, the traditional Russian style Transfiguration of the Saviour Cathedral, was built between 1645 and 1647. Located in the cellar of the cathedral is a burial vault for members of the Romanov dynasty, including Roman Yurievich Zakharin (after whom the Romanovs got their surname), the nun Marfa (the mother of Tsar Michael) and most recently Grand Duke Sergei Aleksandrovich who was murdered in a terrorist attack in 1905 and reinterred here in 1995.

Churches

Built onto the back of the cathedral are two more churches: the classical-style Our Lady of the Sign Church which was built between 1791 and 1795 and the Intercession Church which was built between 1673 and 1675.

Bell Tower

The monastery's impressive bell tower was built between 1759 and 1785 to replace the earlier version which was erected in 1622 upon the orders of Patriarch Filaret, also a member of the Romanov dynasty. Located inside the bell tower is St Sergius of Radonezh's Church.

Chapels and Monuments

Another possible Romanov-connection is the chapel over the grave of the nun Dosifey. Dosifey died in Moscow's Ioanno-Predtechensky Convent in 1810 and is rumoured to have been Princess Tarakanova, the secret daughter of Empress Elizabeth. Another chapel definitely connected with the Romanovs is the small chapel dedicated to the 300th anniversary of the rule of the Romanovs, which was built in 1913. There is also a monument of the first and last Romanov tsars. One final Romanov link is the Memorial-Cross to Grand Duke Sergey Aleksandrovich which was installed in 1998. It is an exact copy of the cross which previously stood in the Kremlin marking the spot where the grand duke was assassinated. It was designed by the famous artist Viktor Vasnetsov.