According to the tradition, the icon of the Theotokos of Tikhvin was discovered in 1383 at the current location of the monastery.

[1] In 1560, the monastery was founded and built as a fortress, since at the time it was located close to the Swedish border, and could be used for defense purposes.

In 1610, during the Time of Troubles, the monastery was looted by Polish troops, and subsequently it was occupied by Swedish forces until 1613.

[1] In 1941, during World War II, for a month Tikhvin was occupied by German troops, who looted the monastery and, in particular, took the icon to Pskov, and in 1944 transferred it to Riga.

The icon eventually was taken out of Russia for safety by a Russian Orthodox bishop from Kolka parish.