The displayed lithograph was transferred to the Museum of Sarov in 1967 from the Museum of Religion History at the USSR Academy of Sciences.

The lithograph depicts the first known image of the Sarov Monastery. This is what the monastery used to look like from the west. The drawing is attributed to Hieromonk Joachim.

The Monastery of the Dormition of the Mother of God — also known as the Sarov Monastery — was founded in the early 18th century. Although the mentions of monks who came to test themselves on Sarov Mountain are found from as early as 1664, the official date of the monastery’s foundation is considered to be June 16 (Old Style), 1706. This date was chosen because on that day, the first monastery church — the Church of the Virgin Life-Giving Spring — was consecrated. It was later rebuilt several times and served as the monastery’s main church until the completion of the Dormition Cathedral in 1744.

Initially, all monastery buildings were made of wood. Gradually, they were replaced with stone ones. The lithograph features a list of buildings. The first one on the list is the Dormition Cathedral, as it was the monastery’s main temple and first stone church.

Later, two famous monks of the Sarov Monastery, Schemamonk Mark the Silent and Saint Seraphim of Sarov, were buried near the altar on the southeast side of the Dormition Cathedral.

Under the second number, there is the Church of the Virgin Life-Giving Spring. In 1752, this church began to be rebuilt in stone. The process was completed in 1846.

In 1750, another church was consecrated — the Church of Saints Zosimas and Savvatiy of Solovki. It is listed under number four. The church was located near the hospital cells and was known as the Hospital Church.

In the picture, the monastery bell tower stands in the center of the monastery square, near the Church of the Virgin Life-Giving Spring. This is the second version of the Sarov bell tower, which has not been preserved. Nowadays, the third bell tower stands in its place. The construction of the tower began in 1789 and was completed in 1799. Nowadays the Sarov bell tower is featured on the modern coat of arms which symbolizes the historical significance of this holy place.

In 1827, the new church in the name of St. John the Baptist (10) was constructed. In this lithograph, the earlier wooden church can be seen. The list under the image features 11 buildings, including not only churches but also outbuildings such as the stable yard (6), refectory (7), guest house (8), and granary (11).