Novodevichy Monastery

The ensemble of the Novodevichy Convent is situated in the most picturesque place in the southwest of Moscow, in a bend of the Mosckva River. Founded in 1524 to mark the reunion of Smolensk and Moscow, the Novodevichy Convent is one of the finest examples of the 16th-17th –century architecture. The convent is connected with the Church major events in the Russian history, such as the coronation of Boris Godunov, the fight over the Russian throne between Peter the Great and his troublesome sister Princess Sophia, and the events of the war of 1812. By 1926 the Convent had been transformed into a history, life-style and art museum. Its collection include Old Russian painting, works of decorative and applied art. The old cemetery within the convent walls is a burial place of eminent Russian artists, actors, scientists and politicians. Today the convent is the residence of Moscow Metropolit.