The illustrious monastery of the Life-Giving Trinity was founded by St. Sergius of Radonezh in 1337. For many years and to this day, the monastery of St. Sergius ranks first in its influence among all Russian monasteries, being the most important spiritual and cultural center of the country. Within its walls a host of ascetics of the Russian Orthodox Church labored, including St. Nikon of Radonezh, St. Maxim the Greek, spiritual writers - Epiphanius the Wise and Pachomius Logothetes. The Holy Archimandrites of the Lavra were the Moscow Saints Philaret (Drozdov) and Innocent (Veniaminov), as well as Sschmch. Vladimir (Bogoyavlensky). In the 18th–19th centuries, in the vicinity of the Lavra, the Bethany Monastery, Bogolyubsky, Chernigov-Gethsemane monasteries and the Paraclete monastery arose. These small monasteries, spiritually and administratively connected with the Lavra, showed the world remarkable elders and ascetics - St. Barnabas of Gethsemane, Hieroschemamonk Alexander of Gethsemane and others. At all times, pious laity and monastics sought the spiritual advice and instructions of the monks of the Trinity Monastery, and listened with constant care and diligence teachings, sermons and stories of holy ascetics. Source: