The ascension Church on Bolshaya Nikitskaya street was built in the late 16th century. In this Church was crowned Tsar Tsar Fyodor Ivanovich, the son of Ivan the terrible.

In 1629, the Church burned down, but was rebuilt in 1634 again. In 1680 the Church was rebuilt: there was a South aisle Ustyug Miracle workers and the North aisle of St. Nicholas.

The lower part of the temple, quadrangular, elongated from North to South. It adjoins the refectory and bunk belfry, at the base of the tent which is arranged in kokoshniks gable Windows – resonators.

In 1739, the Church was restored after a fire in 1737. When the reconstruction was added to the North aisle in the name of the beheading of John the Baptist.

In the 60 years of the 18th century, the temple was erected octagonal Baroque drum with the head.

In the 19th century Nikitsky gate was built the Church of the ascension. The temple was a large volume, so the Muscovites began to call it the word "Great", and the Church of the ascension on Nikitskaya street – "little resurrection".

In the early 19th century the South aisle of the Church was enlarged, built arched gallery in the North aisle and the porch warm. In 1831 established a new iconostasis. Remains of wall paintings of the 18th-19th centuries.

In the Church there is the icon with the relics of Holy Nobleborn spouses of Prince Peter and Princess Fevronia of Murom. In old age they took the vows and prayed to God to die one day and be buried together. And so it happened. Saints Peter and Fevronia are venerated as patron saints of marriage and family.