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Over the years, Sretensky monastery became associated with many historical personalities. In 1552, the monastery was visited by Ivan IV after his conquest of Kazan who awarded generous donations to monastery. In later years, the tsars came to the monastery as [[pilgrim]]s and financed the monastery’s building program. The monastery took an active part in bringing Mikhail Fyodorovich to the throne of Russia, in 1613. The Moscow elite as well common people came to the monastery for prayers as they started on [[pilgrimage]]s. Among the people who visited the monastery were Patriarch [[Nikon of Moscow|Nikon]] and the Metropolitans of Moscow Platon (Levshin) and [[Philaret (Drozdov) of Moscow|Philaret (Drozdov)]]. In Soviet times, Patriarch [[Tikhon of Moscow|Tikhon]] served often at the monastery. Sergei Izvekov, the future Patriarch [[Pimen I (Izvekov) of Moscow|Pimen]], took his [[monasticism|monastic]] vows at the monastery on [[December 4]], 1925.
After the Bolshevik seizure of power in 1917, the monastery became a "battleground" between the Church and the Soviet supported ''Renovationists'' movement, also known as the ''Living Church''. In 1922, the monastery was seized by the Renovationists. In 1923, through the efforts of Archbishop Hilarion (Troitsky), the [[abbot]] of the monastery, it was returned to the Orthodox Church and was re[[consecration of a church|consecrated]]. However, because of his activities, Abp. Hilarion was soon exiled and then imprisoned for six years in consecration concentration camp at Solovki before he died.
At the end of 1925, Sretensky monastery was closed by the Bolsheviks and most of the churches and other buildings in the compound were destroyed. These included the Churches of Mary of Egypt and St Nicholas, the gate and bell tower, and the abbot's residence. In the buildings remaining, the People's Commissariat of Internal Affairs (NKVD) commanders established themselves. The grounds of the monastery became the execution area for the central "Cheka," the predecessor of the KGB, and the cemetery was turned into a school for studying advance advanced French.
Of all the major buildings of the old monastery only the Cathedral of the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God (собор Сретения Владимирской иконы Богоматери) remained. The monastery was returned by the new government to the [[Church of Russia]] in 1991. However, for years the cathedral had been used by a group of Renovationists. A confrontation began when Patriarch [[Alexei II (Ridiger) of Moscow|Alexei II]] decreed that a representation (metochion) of the Pskov-Caves monastery would be established at the site of the old Sretensky monastery. After a battle of words and propaganda, the Bolshevik Renovationists were banished and the cathedral was reconsecrated. In 1993, [[Archimandrite]] Tikhon (Shevkunov) was designated as Father Superior with a population of some 40 monastics. In 1995, the patriarch issued a decree transforming the metochion into the Sretensky [[Stavropeghial]] Monastery. ("Stavropeghial" means being under the direct administrative authority of the patriarch.)