This place plays a significant role in the history of higher education in Russia and is often called the cradle of scholarship. The Monastery of the Savior Not Made by Hands was founded by Boris Godunov in 1600, and its first mention in documents dates back to 1635. The name "Zaikonospassky" is related to its location behind the icon row on Nikolskaya Street, where icons were exchanged at an established "divine" price. There is an opinion that previously Zaikonospassky was part of the Nikolsky Monastery. The main cathedral, dedicated to the icon of the Savior Not Made by Hands, was laid in 1660 during the reign of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich with funds from Prince Fyodor Fyodorovich Volkonsky. In 1701, the cathedral was rebuilt by Ivan Zarudny in the style of Peter's Baroque. From 1842 to 1848, under Archimandrite Porphyrius, a bell tower was built above the holy gates.

Since the mid-17th century, the monastery began to be called "educational." In 1665, during the reign of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich, Simeon Polotsky opened the first Spasskaya school here. He and his student Silvester Medvedev developed a project to create an academy, the first higher educational institution for all estates. The Slavic-Greek-Latin Academy officially opened in 1687 when the school of the Likhud brothers was transferred here. The teachers were monks of the Zaikonospassky Monastery, and the abbot was the rector of the academy. The academy studied theology, liberal arts, Western languages, medicine, and physics. In the 18th century, there were 9 classes, and education was conducted using liturgical books. Students came from various estates, including princes and children of common people. Among the graduates were A.D. Kantemir, V.K. Trediakovsky, L.F. Magnitsky, D.N. Bantysh-Kamensky, M.V. Lomonosov, and others.

After the opening of Moscow University in 1755, the academy became the highest theological school. In 1839, the Moscow Spiritual Seminary moved to a new building on Bozhedomka, and in 1918, to Sergiev Posad.

Opposite the gates is the oldest brotherly building, the two lower floors of which were built in 1686, and the third floor was added in 1886 by architect V.D. Sher. To the left is a two-story building from 1720 by architect Zarudny. To the left, a three-story building from the early 18th century, where public disputes were held. It was damaged in the fire of 1812 and was restored in 1821.

On the site of the current transition to the metro was the monastery garden with a theater, where students staged plays. The monastery was separated from the street by buildings with shops, which were replaced in the late 19th century by buildings in "Russian style." The left house was built from 1895 to 1897 according to the project of M. Preobrazhensky, and the right with a bell tower was built from 1899 to 1900 by architect Z.I. Ivanov. Until 1917, there was a bookstore of I.D. Sytyn.

In July 1929, the monastery was closed, the cross was removed, and a window was made in the kiot instead of the icon of the Savior Not Made by Hands. House No. 7 housed the first Soviet television studio "Radioperenadcha." In 1991, the radio station Echo of Moscow opened here.

The Cathedral of the Savior Not Made by Hands was returned to the Church in 1992 and became a Patriarchal courtyard. In 2011, the bell tower was restored.