The exhibition ‘Rarities of the Saratov Regional Museum’ includes a painting of Anna Ryleyeva, who makes up an interesting part of Saratov’s history. It was completed in 1840 by an unknown artist. All of Ryleyeva’s clothing, including the headdress, robe and hood, are black. She holds pale stone prayer beads in her left hand. She has a stern yet peaceful expression. The lay sister of the Saratov Holy Cross Convent was 35 when her portrait was painted. This is indicated in the inscription on the painting’s reverse. It is probably that the portrait was painted by one of the artists at the Saratov Women’s Holy Cross Convent. It was used as a study for the painting ‘The Nun Susanna with Pupils’, which is part of the A.N. Radishchev Saratov Art Museum’s collection.

Anna Ryleyeva came from nobility. One of her closest relatives was the poet Kondraty Ryleyev, who was executed for his involvement in the 1825 Decembrist Revolt. Her uncle and father took part in the Patriotic War of 1812. In 1837, Anna Ryleyeva moved to Saratov from Saint Petersburg with her father. After quickly becoming accustomed to the luxury of city life, the daughter of a Major General decided to become a lay sister at the Saratov Holy Cross Convent. This decision came as a huge surprise for everyone. Her decision was influenced by Saratov’s Bishop Jacob, who was well-known to the Ryleyeva family.

In 1840, Anna Ryleyeva founded the region’s first school for children from all backgrounds at the convent, where literacy, arithmetic, calligraphy and, for those who were interested, French. She later paid for a new building for the school and monastic cells. According to the recollections of her contemporaries, Anna Ryleyeva’s everyday life was distinguished by restraint. She didn’t allow herself any type of indulgence nor opulence. Her dying request demonstrated her humility - she asked to be buried as ‘an ordinary sister’. Nun Susanna died in 1847 from cholera and was buried at the Resurrection Cemetery in Saratov according to her death wish.