The Staroladoga Assumption Women's Monastery, the oldest northern monastery in the Leningrad region, has kept its secrets for many centuries. It was the place of imprisonment for the last Russian empress, Yevdokiya Lopukhina, and a refuge for the holy princess Anna. Prayers were offered here by the relatives of the Decembrists, and once Yevdokiya Dioper, the wife of Abram Gannibal, Pushkin's great-grandfather, was sent here.

The monastery survived revolutionary times and preserved the spirit of Orthodoxy. The miracles occurring here astonish even scientists, and the holy springs bring healing to all who come with hope and repentance.

The exact date of the monastery's founding is unknown. Scholars suggest the early 12th or late 11th century, but more often consider the years 1157 or 1158 as the founding date. It is possible that Rostislav Rurikovich from Novgorod built the monastery, and a stone Assumption church could have been erected by his order. The first mention of the monastery dates back to the 16th century.

The foundation of the monastery is also associated with Saint Anna of Novgorod, Princess Ingigerd, the daughter of the Swedish King Olaf. She became the first woman of the Russian throne to take monastic vows, which initiated the tradition of monasticism among Russian rulers.

Life near the monastery was not easy. Wooden buildings and gardens were constructed by the sisters. During the Time of Troubles, in the course of the Russo-Swedish War of 1610-1617, the monastery was devastated. After the Treaty of Stolbovo in 1617, Russia regained the captured territories, including the Ladoga area and the monastery. Life quickly restored, and the church was consecrated anew.

In 1718, the wooden buildings burned down in a fire, but the stone cathedral survived. In the 19th century, active construction began, with wooden houses being replaced by stone ones. The monastery was visited by John of Kronstadt, later canonized as a saint. Among the benefactors were Count Dmitry Sheremetev and Maria Alexandrovna Romanova.

Until 1919, the monastery thrived, but after the revolution, it was closed, and the lands and buildings were confiscated. In the 20th century, the buildings required repairs, and from 1958 to 1960, the church underwent restoration. Spiritual life came to a standstill, but in the 21st century, the monastery was returned to the church. In 2005, its revival began, with the restoration of buildings and the church, and services resumed.

The architecture of the monastery includes the Assumption Cathedral made of white stone. In 1820, stone construction began. In 1873, the Holy Gates were erected, and the fence was replaced with stone by the early 20th century. In 1843, a two-story residential building was constructed, replacing wooden houses for the nuns.

The Assumption Cathedral underwent restoration, and the bell tower received a third tier, reaching a height of 32 meters. In 1833, the Annunciation chapel was built. A church of Saint Alexius was erected in the cemetery. On the monastery grounds, a refectory, a hospital building, and the Church of the Exaltation of the Cross were built. In the early 20th century, the monastery acquired a dependency and a church in St. Petersburg.

The monastery is known as the place of imprisonment for Yevdokiya Lopukhina, the first wife of Peter I. She could not adapt to her husband's character, which led to her taking the veil and exile. She died in 1731. Yevdokiya Dioper, the first wife of Ibrahim Gannibal, was also exiled here in 1754.

Many women came here voluntarily, like Saint Anna Kashinskaya, who took the schema under the name Anna. Among the residents was a nun named Maria, known as Elizabeth Nikitichna Shakhova, a talented poetess. She dedicated her life to serving God and continued to write poetry in the monastery.

The monastery has a well of Saint Barbara, restored in 2010. Today, the monastery is actively reviving, attracting pilgrims and tourists.