This church is located on the site where the Borisoglebsky Monastery, founded in the 13th century after the Tatar invasion of Pereslavl, once stood. It is believed that this place is holy because the voivode Zhidislav rests here.
This rather modest monastery existed until 1764, when by decree of Catherine II church property and lands were confiscated in favor of the state. But earlier, in 1694-1705, a church consecrated in honor of the Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God was built on the monastery grounds.
After the secularization, it became a parish church. Unusually, the church remained in operation for a long time during the Soviet era - it welcomed parishioners right up until 1940. Later it was used as a warehouse, and from the 1960s - as living quarters. The result of all these metamorphoses was the collapse of the bell tower in 1988. At present, the church is undergoing restoration.
The building of the Church of the Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God has a complex architectural design. Here, the church, refectory chamber, bell tower, and cells are combined into a single complex. The church itself is relatively simple - an octagon on a quadrangle, with a solitary cupola above. The auxiliary rooms attached to the church made it something like a compact mini-monastery.
The relics of Saint Cornelius the Silent, who died in the Borisoglebsky Monastery in 1693, are kept in the church.
