The St. Nikita Male Monastery, located on the northwestern outskirts of Pereslavl-Zalessky, near the national park "Pleshcheyevo Lake," is one of the oldest monasteries in Russia. According to legend, Prince Vladimir Svyatoslavovich granted the Rostov-Suzdal region to his son Boris in 1010. At that time, Boris, along with Bishop Hilarion, founded the first churches by Pleshcheyevo Lake, promoting the spread of Christianity in pagan lands. Perhaps one of these churches became the foundation of the future monastery.

The monastery is not mentioned in literary monuments of the pre-Mongol era. In the 15th century, one of the monks of the Nikita Monastery wrote the life of St. Nikita, who asceticized here in the late 12th century. This life was later supplemented with descriptions of the miracles performed by the saint after his death. The ancient Holy Gates leading to the monastery are adorned with frescoes depicting archangels. On the left wall of the new fresco, scenes from the life of the great martyr Nikita, a Byzantine saint after whom the monastery is named, can be seen. On the right wall, the story of Nikita of Pereslavl the Pillar is depicted, a local saint. Legend has it that Nikita, being a tax collector, collected dues from the people of Pereslavl and was known for his cruelty. One day, seeing parts of the bodies of people he had tortured in a cauldron, Nikita, horrified, went to the monastery, where he repented at the gates for three days. After that, he was found in a swamp, covered in mosquitoes and bloodied. Accepted into the monastery, he wore heavy chains and a stone cap, living in an earthen cell-pillar. Nikita dug two wells, the water from which was considered healing. He spent more than thirty years in the monastery, healing people. Among those healed were Mikhail Vsevolodovich, the son of the Chernigov prince, and Ioann, the son of Ivan the Terrible. In memory of Mikhail's healing, the Chernigov chapel was built.

From 1515 to 1521, the Pereslavl deacon Eustathius, having been healed at the relics of the saint, built a wooden Nikita church, which has not survived. In 1186, Nikita the Pillar died due to his chains, which greedy murderers mistook for silver. According to legend, the chains thrown into the Volga did not sink and were returned to the monastery. Nikita was buried according to ancient Russian custom, covering the coffin with birch bark. In 1420-1425, Metropolitan Photiy initiated excavations, during which the body of the saint was found. However, the saint did not wish to be above ground, and the excavation site was filled in. Nevertheless, relics were found that healed Tsarevich Ivan, the son of Ivan the Terrible. The Tsar and his wife associated the birth and recovery of their son with the miraculous power of the water from the well and the relics of the saint. In gratitude, Ivan the Terrible ordered the construction of a new church over the saint's grave. The cathedral was built from 1561 to 1564. Ivan the Terrible also aimed to create a backup residence in case of betrayal in Alexandrov Sloboda. He provided the monastery with estates and established common residence.

Simultaneously with the new cathedral, the Annunciation Church with a refectory and bell tower was built on the monastery grounds. Legend has it that in the late 17th century, the young Peter I stayed in the abbot's chambers. Deep within the monastery is a chapel over the pillar of Nikita of Pereslavl, built in the 18th century. Inside, part of the old fresco has been preserved. The place of the saint's asceticism is a dark, small room. Believers, exiting to the monastery courtyard, hurry to the Annunciation Church, where the relics and chains of Nikita the Pillar rest. The Nikita Cathedral from the time of Ivan the Terrible is under restoration and has not been active since 1923.

The entrance to the Nikita Cathedral was through a porch with a cross. The church housed icons, including the Crucifixion and an icon of the Jerusalem Mother of God from the 18th century. The main iconostasis dated back to the 19th century. In the early 20th century, the monastery delighted parishioners with greenery and care. The territory of the monastery is surrounded by walls and towers from the 16th century, which served as a refuge for townspeople and peasants during the Time of Troubles. In 1611, the monastery defended itself against Polish troops. The monastery was restored with the participation of the Romanov family. In 1643-1645, the walls and towers were rebuilt. In 1668, Alexei Mikhailovich allowed fishing in the lake for the monastery. In 1698, Peter I confirmed this permission. In the early 19th century, a new bell tower was built.

During the Soviet era, various institutions were located in the monastery. In 1919-1920, church utensils and icons were removed from the churches. The gardens perished without care, and the cemetery disappeared. In 1933, the iconostasis of the Nikita Cathedral was burned. Restoration of the monastery began in the 1960s under the guidance of architect Ivan Purishev. In the 1970s, the Nikita Cathedral was restored, but in 1984, its central dome collapsed. In 1977, a fire destroyed the Annunciation Church. In December 1993, the monastery was transferred to the Pereslavl Diocese, and restoration began. In 2000, the relics of St. Nikita were discovered. Research confirmed the violent death of the saint.