The Guslitsky Spaso-Preobrazhensky Monastery on the Nerskaya River was founded on the initiative of Alexander II as a stronghold of Orthodoxy among schismatics. It was founded near the ancient Spas-na-Moshevo churchyard in early 1859 and was almost completely rebuilt in wood by Abbot Parthenius in a few months. When choosing a site for the future monastery, Abbot Parthenius drew attention to the wooden Transfiguration Church, founded by Metropolitan Photius of Moscow in the 15th century. Local residents told the builder and missionary an ancient legend about the monastery, which was located on the opposite bank of the Nerskaya River before the Tatar invasion. It was here that Abbot Parthenius began building the monastery.