When an anthrax epidemic broke out in the city in 1654-1655 killing thousands of people, it was decided to bring a wonder-working copy of the Our Lady of Smolensk Icon from the Semiozernaya Bogorodichnaya Hermitage to Kazan so that the populace could pray for a miracle. The epidemic started to subside when the icon was in the city and it was decided to build a monastery on the site where the icon was met in Kazan to show gratitude for the miracle. This was fulfilled in 1701. In 1920 the monastery was closed and many of its buildings were destroyed. It was reopened in 2002 but restoration work continues. Its main attraction now is the pink St Vladimir's Church.