Abraham Monastery

Avraamiev Bogoyavlensky Monastery in Rostov Veliky is one of Russia's oldest monasteries founded before 990 by St. Avraam of Rostov. It features a stone Bogoyavlensky Cathedral built upon Ivan the Terrible's order after capturing Kazan in 1553-1554. Before the 16th century, monastery buildings were wooden. In 1994, Nikolsky Church was consecrated at the entrance and female monastic life resumed in 2003. Initially, it served as a center for regional Christianization and had defensive significance.