Novodevichy Convent is marked as one of the most important sites on all Moscow tourist maps. It’s difficult to imagine that only a few centuries ago when the convent was being built, it was located not on the outskirts of the city, but in the suburbs. Nevertheless, the Novodevichy Convent was destined to play an important role in the history of the Russian State on various occasions. Since the 16th century it has served as both a witness and a participant in the events of an amazing country whose actions have extended to reach the furthest borders. For many years the convent was the most privileged and richest in the country, and in the olden days, well-known and respected women such as the wives, daughters, widows and sisters of tsars and boyars lived there. Nowadays Novodevichy Convent is one of the capital’s most beautiful religious architectural ensembles and includes a museum with a unique collection of ancient icons and objects from everyday convent life. Here monastic life lives on in the modern capital.