In 1658 Patriarch Nikon's enemies managed to convince the Tsar that Nikon had too much influence on the ruling of the state and was even eclipsing the power of the tsar. This led to a rift between the tsar and the partriarch and Nikon left his office and retired to the New Jerusalem Monastery. Upon arrival, he had built for himself a skete (a kind of hermitage) on the bank of the River Istra outside the monastery in the gardens known as the Gardens of Gethsemane. The elegant skete comprised four floors and included a church and the patriarch's cells. Restoration work has been completed on its exterior but it remains empty inside.