Built to symbolize and immortalize the miracle of historical significance for the Novgorod Republic, until the present day, the monastery in fact has undertaken certain social functions affecting Novgorodian society.

The first written reference in the Novgorod First Chronicle states that in 1327 Moses the archbishop erected a church in honour of the Nativity of Our Lady on the Tithe.

An extract from the official translation of the chronicle by Mitchell et al. is given below in comparison with the original text in the Old Novgorod dialect of Old East Slavic: "Vladyka Moisei erected the church of the Nativity of the Holy Mother of God in the Desyatina"[4] ____________________ "постави церковь святои Богородици Рождество владыка Моисеи в Десятине"[5] (Old East Slavic language) The reference simply shows that the monastery existed in 1327 but does not state when it was founded.

There are written sources in the Novgorod chronicles, inventory acts and other documents, which give an idea of the early history of the monastery.

It can therefore be asserted that the monastery was not substantially developed from the time when its main church of stone was built in 1397 until the end of Swedish occupation of Novgorod in 1617.

As far as can be ascertained, the Swedes defeated the monastery, burned all buildings of wood, including fence and cells, and destroyed the only building of stone - the church of the Nativity:[18] "The church of stone is defeated and collapsing [now], and there're no cells, no fence" ____________________ "Церков каменная разорена и разваливается, а келий, ограды нет" (Early Modern Russian language) A new period for reconstruction and development came with the new dynasty which favoured the monastery.

[20] That was likely to be a lesson taught by the monastery – Oulita, the next abbess, was a very influential woman from a rich family, who had important contacts at the royal court, resulting in a period of prosperity during the reign of Alexis of Russia.

The revolution in 1917 put an end to the monastery's development as a religious institution as well as an architectural site as a result of the anti-religious campaign undertaken by the new government in 1919.

Not yet realizing the scale of what occurred, the sisters applied to different institutions, proposing the creation of a body called the Union of monasticism's adherents: ____________________ [Присвоение собственности] "по международному праву других государств осуждается надлежащим судом.

<…> Как исторический памятник, красота и величие древнего Новгорода, Десятинный монастырь не должен быть отдан на разрушение» (Russian language) Nevertheless, a prescription to place a telegraph within the monastery's walls was issued on December 27, 1918, but it was not implemented as the sisters refused to leave.

The corners of the monastery's perimeter are finished with small towers with wind vanes which now squeak while turning, providing with a special atmosphere to the site.

According to Novgorod First Chronicle, it was erected in 1397 to replace an existing church (probably - of wood) built in 1327, but Novgorod Fourth Chronicle gives the year of founding as 1329 (not 1327): ____________________ "В лето 6835 постави княгиня Святославля церков святоую Богородицю на Десятине" (Old East Slavic language, adopted writing) The archeological excavations aimed at discovering the original design of the 14th century church took place in 1960 and 1973.

Russian archeologists Ninelle Kuzmina and Dmitry Petrov claim that in the 17th century the church's upper part was replaced.

But there's no any fence near this monastery" ____________________ В Десятинском девиче монастыре храм Рождество пречистыя Богородицы камменой, пенье есть, да у того ж храму келья.

Abbess Lyudmila applied to the city hall regarding any walls of brick to be constructed around the monastery in order to, as she formulated it, literally, “different blasphemies not to occur almost near the holy gates”, but the application was rejected as it was assessed as "contradicting to the highly signed [architectural] plan of Novgorod".

[70] The place called Black Court was located right behind the northern house: it gathered the buildings like a stable, a bathhouse, a laundry, some shades for firewoods and hay, and a garden.

[71] In 1864 it was provided with some device of many pipes with hot water inside to dry vegetables issued in harvests[72] (some analogue of modern underfloor heating).

[75] A bright blur in the monastery's history is about some story caused a broad public outcry in Russian society in the 19th century.

In particular, Praskovia is a live prototype for Maria Mironova, the protagonist in Alexander Pushkin's novel Kapitanskaya Dochka (in the English variant - The Captain's Daughter, 1837).

Nikolai Polevoy distorts Praskovia's name to make it more demotic and emphasize her poorness, and creates his play Parasha Louppolova (1840) to be acted in Alexandrinsky theatre.

The first novel Élisabeth ou les Exilés de Sibérie (in the English variant – The Exiles of Siberia, 1806) about Praskovia's fate was written by Sophie Ristaud Cottin.

Then, basing on the novel by Cottin, the Italian composer Gaetano Donizetti creates the lyrical drama Otto mesi in due ore o Gli esiliati in Siberia (in the English variant - Eight months in two hours, 1827).

[78] Although the particular location of her grave in the monastery is unknown, a headstone was established in the main church's vaults in the beginning of the 20th century, reportedly based on oral stories.

Nevertheless, it was rather a symbolical burial place, as Koupriyanov, the teacher in a local gymnasium, wrote about Praskovia to be buried somewhere inside the monaster's wall "by a special order of the highest executives".

The content of their conversation is reflected in Alexandra's letter to the emperor: "She was lying on a bed in a small dark room, so we grabbed a candle with ourselves to make it possible to see each other.

She is 107 years old, she wears chains [at her body]... She usually works continuously, walks about, tailors for prisoners without glasses, and never washes herself.

But of course, there's no smell or any feeling of uncleanliness - she is grizzle-headed, having cute, thin, oval face with pretty, young, radiant eyes; her smile is extremely nice.

They will build 2 churches in Russia for you have come here now...” She told us not to worry regarding our children – they will be married [by men]; I didn't manage to hear the rest" ____________________ "Она лежала на кровати в маленькой темной комнате, и поэтому мы захватили с собой свечку, чтобы можно было видеть друг друга.

Но, разумеется, никакого дурного запаха или ощущения нечистоплотности - она седая, у нее милое, тонкое, овальное лицо с прелестными молодыми лучистыми глазами.

За то, что ты к нам приехала, будут в России 2 церкви строить...».