The wonderful Spaso-Preobrazhensky Varlaamo-Khutynsky Monastery is located on the right bank of the Volkhov River. Founded in 1192 by Reverend Varlaam Khutynsky. According to folk legend, this place was dominated by evil spirits and was called "Khutyn", that is, a bad place. Here the monk Varlaam retired for prayer. Having cut down the cell and defeated the evil spirits, he first erected a wooden and then a stone church in the name of the Transfiguration of the Lord. The temple has not survived. The Cathedral of the Transfiguration of the Savior was built in 1515. In 1471, John Vasilyevich the Third came to the Khutyn Monastery to venerate the holy relics, and, according to legend, he began to ask the abbot why the shrines were not opened so that everyone could venerate the holy relics. When, at his command, they began to dig up the grave of the Monk Varlaam, a pillar of fire broke out of the ground, scorching the wall and the south door of the iconostasis.This staff and the scorched door of the altar were kept in the monastery sacristy. The ashes of the poet Gabriel Derzhavin and his wife Daria are buried in the Cathedral of the Transfiguration of the Savior. During the Great Patriotic War the monastery was destroyed and remained in ruins for more than 40 years. Since April 20, 1994, it has been a functioning convent.