Transfiguration Monastery, Orthodox monastery in Astrakhan, Russia

The Transfiguration Monastery in Astrakhan no longer exists as a building complex: its structures were demolished in 1930. Only the north-eastern corner tower of the monastery wall survives, the single remnant of the monastery founded in the northern part of the White City. The monastery began with a wooden Church of the Transfiguration of the Lord, built from 1597 and consecrated in 1604.

Ivan the Terrible ordered the monastery built after the Turkish and Crimean Tatar siege of Astrakhan was abandoned in 1569. A wooden Church of the Transfiguration rose in 1597 and was consecrated in 1604. After looting and a damaging 1709 fire, Archimandrite Methodius began a stone wall with four corner towers in 1731. The monastery was abolished in 1873, and its buildings were demolished in 1930.

The monastery was abolished in 1873 and its main buildings passed to the Astrakhan Theological Seminary; some were converted into almshouses. After 1918 the seminary premises were nationalised and housed infantry command courses, and from the early 1920s a children's home, No. 1, occupied the former monastery grounds. The buildings were demolished in 1930.

Only the north-eastern corner tower of the monastery wall survives, in Astrakhan's historic centre; the rest of the site was built over after the buildings were demolished in 1930. Look for the tower as a freestanding remnant among later urban construction, and check local heritage signage for orientation.

Only the northeast corner tower of the monastery wall survives today; all other buildings were demolished in 1930. The tower is the sole remnant of the monastery founded after the 1569 victory over the Turkish and Crimean Tatar army.