The oldest of the three churches of the Spaso-Yakovlevsky Monastery, the Cathedral of the Conception of St. Anne, was built in 1686. Originally, this church was consecrated in honor of the Holy Trinity, and its northern chapel was dedicated to the conception of Anne, but in 1754 the cathedral became the Conception Cathedral.
The church was built in the old ornamental style, which is known for the rich decoration of buildings: ornate carving, shaped masonry, and elaborate window and door frames. The Conception Cathedral is crowned by five domes on tall drums. The large central dome is finished in gold, while the four surrounding domes are blue with golden stars - in the Orthodox tradition, this design is dedicated to the Mother of God.
In 1690, the cathedral was painted by Yaroslavl masters, covering its vaults and walls with bright frescoes on Old Testament and Gospel subjects. These magnificent paintings have been beautifully preserved to this day, together with the exquisite wooden iconostasis in the Baroque style from 1762.
At the beginning of the 18th century, St. Dimitry of Rostov visited Rostov, and he was so deeply impressed by the beauty and atmosphere of the Spaso-Yakovlevsky Monastery and the cathedral that he wished to find eternal rest именно here. His testament was fulfilled in 1709, and Dimitry was buried in the Trinity Cathedral, which was soon renamed the Conception Cathedral. His holy relics are kept here to this day.
