Today we will tell you about the oldest monastery in the Nizhny Novgorod region, the Ambrosiev Nikolayevsky Dudin Monastery, founded in 1408. Since its establishment, the architectural appearance of the monastery has changed multiple times, but its historical, cultural, and spiritual significance remains undeniable. Unfortunately, exact information about the early years of the monastery's existence has not survived. One of the earliest mentions is the visit of Sergius of Radonezh, who sought to visit his disciples.

The history of the monastery has been complicated. The first stone structure, the bell tower, appeared in 1593, while three churches remained wooden. Only under Tsar Feodor Alexeyevich did the construction of the first stone Assumption Church begin. Feodor Alexeyevich, contrary to stereotypes, was a smart and active ruler, and thanks to his decree, the monastery was included in the list of Patriarchal monasteries. In the following decades, the monastery was neither rich nor impoverished. However, under Catherine the Great, it was abolished, and the Assumption Cathedral became the parish church of the village of Pod'yablonny. After the arrival of the Bolsheviks, the church was looted and closed, and the famous icon of Nicholas the Wonderworker was lost.

For more than sixty years, the Assumption Church remained closed, and only in 2000 was it decided not only to revive the parish but also to restore the monastery. Thus, after several centuries, the Ambrosiev Nikolayevsky Dudin Monastery once again opened its doors to the faithful. Today, it is a large beautiful monastery with a spring of Sergius of Radonezh, existing since the 17th century.