Krestovozdvishenckaya church
(of the Holy Cross)

(1747-1760)

  At the foot of the Krestovaya (Cross) Mountain, a cross was placed soon after the founding of the city. It marked the place of the future women's cloister. The monastery was established in 1690, but in fact it was never built because the city was rapidly expanding, and the area was taken by the inhabitants. From 1717 to1719 a wooden church was built there. In 1747 the building of a new church began. The money was given by the manager of the trading quarter, Amosoff. The merchants Dudorovskiy and Shegorin also donated money. At first the church was called Troitse-Sergievskaya (Trinity Church), but because there already was a Troitskaya Church in the city, it was renamed Krestovozdvizhenskaya. The Soviet regime acknowledged the unique cultural value of the church, and it was registered as a valuable architectural monument. However, in 1933 it was decided to establish the antireligious museum there. In 1943 the building was given back to the faithful. Since 1960 it has been on the list of All-Russian monuments. The structure is favorably situated and is one of the city's dominating monuments. Ornamental designs adorn all the walls. The style of ornament and some features of the wall's design are associated with oriental countries.