Pokrovskiy Convent was founded by Princess Alexandra Petrovna, the wife of tsar's Alexandr II brother - grand duke Nikolay Nikolaevich. She created the convent for poor woman who needed the asylum and wanted to devote oneself to God. The consecration of the future convent took place on the 11 of January 1889: on this day the foundation of church and princess house took place.This date is considered to be the day of the convent foundation. Alexandra Petrovna settled in the convent already at the time of construction and took here the veil with the name of Anastasia. Main temple - St. Nikolas cathedral was founded in 1896 in the presence of Tsar Nikolay II and his wife Alexandra Fedorovna. The Tsar himself endowed 80 thousand rubles for the construction.