In the center of Rostov Veliky, on the shores of Lake Nero, stands a unique monument of Russian medieval architecture, the Rostov Kremlin. It was built in the second half of the 17th century at the request of Metropolitan Ion Sysoevich and served as the archbishop's residence. On its territory, the ancient Church of the Savior on the Seneh has been preserved, which was once the central building of the complex and became the household temple for the successors of the metropolitan after his death.

The exact date of the founding of the Church of the Savior on the Seneh in Rostov Veliky is known thanks to an inscription on its dome cross, which has survived to this day. It states that construction was completed in 1675 during the reign of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich, and the main altar was consecrated in honor of the Not Made by Hands image of the Savior Jesus Christ. Archival materials testify that this church was the center of spiritual life not only for the archbishop's house but also for the adjacent part of the city. Chronicles report that in 1730 and 1758, the Rostov Kremlin suffered from fires that caused significant damage to the Church of the Savior on the Seneh. To restore the shrine, architect S. V. Ukhtomsky arrived from Moscow, who proposed to replace the wooden roofing with iron to reduce the risk of fire. This work lasted almost 25 years and was completed in 1783 after all the parts were manufactured at Siberian factories and installed.

The Church of the Savior on the Seneh was significantly protected from fires, but in 1788, the archbishop's see was moved to Yaroslavl, leading to a decline in clergy and the desolation of churches. Many of them were transferred to civil institutions and used for economic purposes; for example, the Church of the Savior on the Seneh became a wine and salt warehouse.

Such an attitude towards churches continued until the mid-19th century, until 1851 when members of the royal family visited the city and ordered the church buildings to be transferred to the diocesan authorities and their restoration to begin. Merchant V. I. Korolev provided funds for the repair of the Church of the Savior on the Seneh, which allowed for the roof to be replaced and the walls to be plastered.

By the mid-1890s, the authorities not only carried out construction work but also restored the interior decoration. Artist V. V. Lopakov and a group of painters restored the icons and renewed the wall paintings.

With the arrival of the Bolsheviks, a new phase of alienation of the Church of the Savior on the Seneh began, but this time it was transferred to the local history museum. In July 1953, a hurricane damaged the dome and roof of the church, but the walls withstood. Restoration work began the following year, and three years later, the church regained its original appearance.

The layout of the church is close to a square, with an eight-pitched roof and a small dome. The eastern part of the building is significantly protruded, while the White Chamber, which housed the ceremonial refectory, was added to the west. The bell tower that existed there during the time of Metropolitan Ion was dismantled in the late 18th century. The Church of the Savior on the Seneh is distinguished by specific architectural solutions, such as the dome drum on a quadrangular pedestal and the two-tiered arrangement of windows. A feature of the church is the design of the altar, which is raised above the floor level almost to human height.