One of the most ancient monasteries in Ukraine, the oldest and largest monastery of Chernigov - Yeletsky - is located on the southwestern slope of the Boldin Mountains, at a distance of about a kilometer from the center of the ancient city - Detynets.
It is difficult to determine the year of foundation of the monastery, but back in the 17th century. it was believed that the prince built the church in 1060 on the spot where, according to church tradition, the icon of the Mother of God appeared on one of the fir trees growing here. The prince saw a great sign in this and ordered to lay the Assumption Church on this place. In the history of the Russian Church, the appearance of this icon was the first such miracle, and therefore it was called - "Fadeless Flower" of the Yelets Mother of God of the Assumption Monastery in the city of Chernigov and which is a great asset and shrine not only to the Chernigov diocese and the entire Chernigov region, but also to the entire Orthodox Christian Church in in general.

The main complex of buildings of the monastery was formed in the 18th century. and now it is a surprisingly complete baroque ensemble, despite the fact that it includes buildings built at different times: the Assumption Cathedral of the 12th century, the bell tower of the 17th century, the cells of the 16th–17th centuries, the Peter and Paul Church of the 17th century.
In addition, the only wooden building of the Cossack time has been preserved on the territory of the monastery to our time - the house of Theodosius of Uglitsky (St. Chernigov) - the end of the 17th century. In the middle of the XII century. on the spot where the holy icon appeared, a stone church was erected in honor of the Dormition of the Mother of God. It was a grand architectural structure for its time.

In 1239, the Mongol-Tatars stormed Chernihiv. The city was burned and plundered. This fate did not pass and the Yelets Monastery. He goes into decline for a long time. This is evidenced by the fact that until the end of the XV century. and Chernigov itself was in decline.

At the beginning of the 16th century, it came under the rule of Moscow. There is information that at this time the ancient monastery is renewed. It is surrounded by fortifications, and Muscovite monks live in it. In 1611, Chernihiv was burnt down by the voivode Ermine. After that, the monks retire to Moscow. After 7 years, the city is given to Poland. The damaged and abandoned Assumption Cathedral cannot withstand the onslaught of time. First, its side domes fell, and then the central dome.
After 1623, the Yelets Monastery was repaired and handed over to the Uniates. In 1649, Chernigov was liberated from the Poles, and the Yelets Monastery soon became Orthodox again. Among its abbots now you can meet many glorious names. This is the future Archbishop Lazar Baranovich, and St. Theodosius of Uglitsky, and his successor, Archbishop John Maksimovich, and Daniel Tuptalo (a religious writer and church figure who became St. Demetrius of Rostov), ​​and many others.

At the end of 1921, the Yelets Monastery was closed, and only in the early 90s of the XX century. religious life in it resumed again, a convent was built here.