Spaso-Yakovlevsky (Savior monastery of St. Jacob) monastery is the second most important sight of Rostov after the Rostov Kremlin. When coming to the city you must have a tour of the monastery and ascend on the corner tower of the monastery overlooking Lake Nero. From the tower you can have a very beautiful view on all cathedrals of the monastery, as well as Lake Nero.
Spaso-Yakovlevsky monastery was established by Jacob, the bishop of Rostov, in 1389. The monastery was named after this bishop. It is known that Jacob was born in Rostov province and became a monk in the young age. In the times of Metropolitan Pimen and Grand Duke Dmitry Donskoi he became the bishop of Rostov. However, Jacob was asked to leave this post. He saved the life of a woman accused of adultery. And the citizens of Rostov didn’t like this Christian action. Eventually the people understood that they were wrong. They even asked him to return but Jacob declined their plea.
He built a hut on the bank of the river one and a half versts from Rostov. People soon began to flock round him. The new brethren began to build cells. In the course of time Zachatievsky Cathedral appeared. So Spaso-Yakovlevsky monastery was established, which was at first called Zachatievsky.
The cathedrals of the monastery were rebuilt many times. The today cathedrals were built in 17-18 centuries. The main church of the monastery, Zachatievsky Cathedral (in honor of Conception of St. Anna), was erected in 1686, in the time of Metropolitan Iona Sysoyevich who built the Rostov Kremlin. It is in that church that the relics of St. Jacob, the founder of the monastery, are stored.
In 1795-1801 Count Nikolai Sheremetyev funded the construction of the impressive Trinity Cathedral with a Corinthian colonnade. A small wooden chapel of St. Jacob above the spring of holy water is in the center of the monastery.
