The convent was founded in 1207 by Ioann, the bishop of Suzdal. In ancient time its land was in the territory of the posad, i.e. outside a walled-in fortress with its fortifications comprising raised banks, walls, and towers.

The first convent buildings were made of wood, and none of them have survived to this day. The oldest structure that has survived is the Convent of the Deposition of the Robe dating back to the early 16th century.

In the late 17th century, at the time of metropolitan Ilarion, the convent buildings were changed considerably. Under the guidance of three prominent Suzdal architects, Andrey Shmakov, Ivan Mamin and Ivan Gryaznov, the famous double tent shaped gates of the Convent of the Deposition of the Robe were constructed (1688) and a rich in ornament church portico was attached to the convent's western part.

In the early 19th century, the 72-meter high Prepodobenskaya Bell Tower was erected under the guidance of mason Kuzmin at the premises of the convent. The Candlemas Refectory Church made of red brick after the Russian manner was the last structure built here (1882).