The women's monastery in honor of the Meeting of the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God was founded in 1658 by the order of Patriarch Nikon. Initially, the monastery, located in the center of the town, was wooden. The city inventory from 1678 mentions that there were "twenty cells, and in them 44 sisters" at the Sretenensky Monastery. Stone construction began in 1689, when, with the funds of Semyon Ershov, the cold Sretenensky Cathedral and a three-tiered bell tower were erected.

In 1700, a church in honor of St. Sergius of Radonezh was laid, which was completed three years later. Merchants brothers Sergey and Grigory Shiryayev made a significant contribution to the construction of the Sergiev Church, where an ancient tiled stove has been preserved. At the same time, a two-story stone cell building and a monastery fence were built, a small fragment of which has survived to this day. A shelter for elderly nuns was also constructed. The monastery had no land holdings and was maintained through donations and the sale of the sisters' handicrafts.

In 1764, during the reforms of Catherine II, the Sretenensky Women's Monastery was abolished, and the nuns were transferred to the Arzamas Monastery of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker. Thus, the monastery existed for 106 years before being closed, but its churches continued to function as parish churches.

After the events of October 1917, all city churches were requisitioned, and persecution against the clergy and parishioners began. In May 1922, church valuables were removed from the Sretenensky and Sergiev churches, but services continued until 1928, when the churches were closed.

In the 1930s, the ensemble of the Sretenensky Monastery was recognized as a monument of architecture of the highest category and was protected by the state. Restoration work was carried out in the 1960s and 1970s. The monastery buildings were used for various needs: there was a shop in the Sergiev Church, the Sretenensky Church was planned to be converted into a concert hall, the bell tower and watchman's lodge were likely vacant, and people lived in the cell building and the shelter.

A new chapter in the history of the Sretenensky Monastery opened on February 15, 2001, on the feast of the Meeting of the Lord. In the winter church of St. Sergius of Radonezh, His Eminence Archbishop Evlogy, with the clergy, held the first moleben. Two sisters were transferred from the Suzdal Protection Women's Monastery to the Sretenensky Monastery. Nun Nina (Doroshko) was elevated to the rank of abbess.

Regular molebens and panikhidas began to be held at the monastery. During Great Lent, the first service, the Passion, was conducted, led by Archbishop Evlogy.

Since 2002, with the blessing of Archbishop Evlogy, the monastery began social service: a Sunday school for children was opened, where they study the Slavic language, the Law of God, liturgy, church history, learn to sing, and prepare performances for holidays. The monastery also organizes festive gifts, pilgrimage trips, and nature outings for children.

The monastery collaborates with the city's orphanage, conducting classes on the Law of God and organizing festive events. It also cares for the House of Mercy in the village of Chulkovo, where molebens and sacraments are performed for the elderly, and gifts are distributed. Meetings are held in schools and libraries to discuss issues of Orthodox faith and cultural heritage. The monastery collaborates with the city social service center, organizing charitable lunches for the needy.

Since 2005, with the blessing of Archbishop Evlogy, a choir of parishioners has been organized at the monastery, participating in services and Orthodox holidays. Since 2008, a community of Sisters of Mercy in honor of St. Juliana Lazarevskaya has been operating, serving at the Central District Hospital.