Astolphe de Custine in his work "Russia in 1839," banned in Russia but popular among French speakers, marveled: "Above the two-arch gates through which I entered the Kremlin, there is an icon of the Mother of God, painted in the Greek style and revered by all the residents of Moscow. I noticed that everyone passing by this icon, gentlemen and peasants, fashionable ladies, merchants, and military, bows to it and repeatedly makes the sign of the cross."

It is hard to believe, but Tverskaya Street indeed began at the Iver Chapel, not at the National Hotel and Manezhnaya Square. A hundred years ago, there was neither a square nor the long facade of the Moscow Hotel, but ordinary houses that were counted along Tverskaya Street. Thus, the main road of Moscow departed from this landmark noted by the marquis.

The Resurrection (Iver) Gates of Kitai-Gorod were built as two-arch gates in 1535, and in 1680 they acquired the appearance that was preserved until 1931 when the gates were demolished. In 1781, a chapel for the Iver Icon of the Mother of God was erected in front of the gates, initially wooden, and from 1791, stone. Later, the chapel and the gates were restored.

The miraculous icon was sent to Moscow in 1669 by Athos monks. In the absence of a chapel, the image was kept in the Church of the Resurrection in Sokolniki. The history of the icon is as follows: more than a thousand years ago, a woman dropped the icon of the Mother of God with the infant into a river, but it did not drown; instead, it floated and swam, appearing to the monks of the Athos monastery in the form of a fiery column. The icon was placed in the temple, but it moved to the gates to protect the monks. Since then, it has been called the "intercessor" or "gatekeeper."

In the 17th century, a copy of the icon was made and brought to Moscow, where it was venerated by the townspeople. Before exams, the Iver Chapel was crowded, with gymnasts and students gathering here. It was believed that the Iver intercessor sees and evaluates diligence. Even thieves and bandits turned to her before risky enterprises.

The seriously ill, unable to reach the chapel, needed the help of the icon. Therefore, several copies of the Iver icon were made. They were not ranked by authenticity, as they worshipped the Mother of God, not the wood. The icon was regularly taken around Moscow, and a "substitute" was placed in its place. The icon traveled in a closed carriage with golden cherubs and a torchbearer. Passersby crossed themselves and whispered: "They are bringing the Iver icon."

"The raising of the icon" became part of Moscow folklore. It was said: "The Iver icon will not be missed" when things were going badly. The icon was invited not only for sad occasions but also for housewarmings, baptisms, and weddings. Muscovites tried to receive the icon once a year.

After the revolution in the 1920s, the gates and chapel were restored, but soon demolished as they obstructed military vehicles. In 1929, the chapel was dismantled, and in 1931, the gates were demolished. In 1994 and 1995, the Resurrection Gates and Iver Chapel were restored. In 1993, Historical Passage was renamed Resurrection Gates Passage. After the restoration, the passage became pedestrian, and parades with military vehicles now take place in two rows.