The Vvedensky Cathedral of Tolga Monastery is one of the most beautiful churches in Yaroslavl. There are 5 churches on the monastery grounds, but the exquisite frescoes of the XVII century have been preserved only here.
Tolga Monastery is located on the left bank of the Volga, and its origin is shrouded in a beautiful legend. In 1314 Bishop Trifon was traveling through these places, and he stopped for the night not far from Yaroslavl. At midnight Trifon suddenly saw a bright light, stepped out of the tent, and discovered before him a bridge across the river that had miraculously appeared. The bishop walked across it to the other bank of the Volga, and there the image of the Virgin appeared to him in radiance and light. After praying, Trifon returned to the tents by the same crossing. He did not want to tell his companions about the apparition of the Virgin, but when it was discovered that his episcopal staff was missing, everyone began to look for it. They found it only after crossing the Volga by boat, since the bridge was already gone. It was stuck into the ground at the very place where the Virgin Mary had appeared to Trifon, and next to it was an icon of the Mother of God.
The first Church of the Entry into the Temple of the Most Holy Theotokos was built in just one day! A monastery later grew up around it. In the XV century the monastery's wooden buildings caught fire, the monks could not put out the blaze, and had already said goodbye to the Tolga Icon. But a few days later its image was found unharmed in the monastery grove.
The new Vvedensky church began to be built in 1681 with donations from those healed thanks to the miracle-working icon. The white-stone five-domed church with emerald domes and the tall bell tower blended perfectly into the picturesque landscape.
