The chambers, the ceremonial residence of the metropolitan, were built at the end of the 17th century on the site of the Voivode's House. The bishop himself lived on the second floor, while the servants' rooms were located downstairs.
According to archival documents, in the 1760s Empress Catherine II stayed in this house twice, and later Governor-General Alexey Melgunov, whom she appointed governor of Yaroslavl, lived here.
In the 18th-19th centuries, the Metropolitan Chambers were rebuilt more than once: the fence and the facade decor were removed, the stone porch was dismantled, and a third floor was added.
During the revolutionary events, the building suffered greatly, but already in the 1920s it began to be restored according to the original design. Thus, the Metropolitan Chambers regained their former appearance.
In 1977, an exhibition of icon painting opened here, organized by the Yaroslavl Art Museum. The building now houses an entire department of this collection devoted to Old Russian art. The exhibition is definitely worth visiting, as it is a unique opportunity to see the 600-year history of icon painting created by entire generations of Yaroslavl masters.
