The property at the site of the modern house No. 5 on Chisty Lane was founded in the 18th century by Captain Artemy Alexeyevich Obukhov, after whom the lane was named Obukhovsky or Obukhov.

Owners and Notable Personalities

Since 1796, the estate was owned by the Ofrosimov family. From 1805, its owner, including the territory of house No. 7, was Major General Pavel Ofrosimov. After his death, the estate passed to his wife Nastasia Ofrosimova, who became the prototype for several literary characters, such as Maremyana Babrovna Nabatova in the work of Fyodor Rostopchin, Anfisa Nilovna Khlyostova in "Woe from Wit" by Alexander Griboedov, and Maria Dmitrievna Akhrosimova in "War and Peace" by Leo Tolstoy.

In 1856, the estate passed from the Ofrosimovs to Major General V. S. Ershova, and then it was purchased by merchant Nikolai Baklanov, who, along with his brother Ivan Kozymich, owned the Babkinskaya manufactory. Due to financial difficulties, the ownership passed to manufacturer Nikolai Konshin Sr.

In 1899, the property was acquired by industrialist and philanthropist Stepan Protopopov for 239 thousand rubles, recorded in the name of his wife Maria, née Chetverikova. A stone building for rental was constructed on the site of the left wing of the estate. The owners lived in the main house and the right wing.

At that time, the main wooden building on a stone foundation had 13 bright rooms, four dark storerooms, and a corridor on the first floor, as well as one dark and three bright rooms in the mezzanine. In the attic above the first floor, there were four bright rooms with windows overlooking the courtyard. The basement housed a servants' quarters, kitchen, dining room, and pantry. The facade was adorned with the monogram "MP", the initials of Maria Protopopova. The house had stove heating, plumbing, and sewage. Behind it was a small garden, and in the yard, there were two stone barns and service buildings.

The daughter of the owners lived in the right wooden wing, while the left wing was rebuilt into a two-story stone mansion and rented out.

In 1918, the estate was requisitioned, and various institutions were housed there.

In 1922, Obukhov Lane was renamed Chisty, and house No. 5 was transferred to the People's Commissariat for Foreign Affairs. At that time, the German ambassador Count Ulrich von Brockdorff-Rantzau, former Minister of Foreign Affairs and head of the German delegation at the Paris Peace Conference of 1919-1920, settled in the house. His work contributed to the establishment of diplomatic relations between Germany and the USSR.

On September 11, 1928, Count Brockdorff-Rantzau passed away, and Herbert von Dirksen was appointed ambassador to Moscow.

In 1933, Rudolf Nadolny succeeded Herbert von Dirksen but was soon recalled from Moscow due to disagreements with Hitler regarding policy towards the USSR. In 1934, he was replaced by Count Werner Schulenburg.

Reconstruction and Restoration

The estate, like the entire Obukhov Lane, burned down in the fire of 1812 and was restored according to the project of architect Fyodor Sokolov. All buildings were wooden. The main house was built in 1833, and in 1847 it was expanded with brick extensions on the sides. This was the largest building on Obukhov Lane.

In 1878, the facade was updated, acquiring a modern appearance, and a re-planning of the interior was conducted. In 1897, a new fence with entrance gates was built.

Wartime

On September 5, 1943, the buildings of the former estate were transferred to the Moscow Patriarchate along with furniture and household utensils.

In the right risalit of the main house, a Cross Church was arranged in honor of the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God. According to the memories of Metropolitan Pitirim (Nechaev), "the church was initially very simple: an analogion and only two icons. The iconostasis appeared only in 1957." The main house was equipped with a meeting hall of the Synod, named the "Red Hall", working rooms for the staff of the institutions of the Moscow Patriarchate, as well as private quarters for Patriarch Sergius. In the one-story courtyard building were located the Moscow diocesan administration, synodal departments, and economic divisions of the Moscow Patriarchate.

Modern Use

Under Patriarch Kirill, the Patriarchal Residence on Chisty Lane became a traditional place for the ordination of clergy elected by the Holy Synod.