Znamensky Convent in the city of Irkutsk - one of the oldest monasteries in Siberia. Construction of the monastery, consecrated in honor of Holy Virgin, started on literacy, which was given to the Metropolitan Siberian Tobolsk Paul and in 1689 decided to build a church not far from Irkutsk fortress on the right bank of the river Angara in the mouth of the river Ida (now the river Ushakovka). The organizer and manager of the construction works made by local Vlas Sidopov. Thanks to his efforts, in 1693 was built the first wooden church, which is not only the monastery but also the parish.

Wooden churches quickly dilapidated. Therefore, in 1757 it laid the stone church in honor of Our Lady of the Sign. The temple was built with funds donated by the Irkutsk merchant Ivan Bechevin. Cloister was built a long time. Its chapels were completed and consecrated consistently since 1762 for 1794 In 1797, it was built by the abbot, and in 1858 it added two to the second floor. The construction of monastic cells along the north side of the monastery in 1818 was engaged in merchant NS Chupalov. It was he who donated the necessary amount of money that is needed to build them. The second temple - in the name of Sts. Demetrius and Trifon - it was also built and consecrated in 1818.

At the end of the second half of the nineteenth century. Znamensky Monastery was a great economic education. In 1872 the monastery was opened a hospital for the monks. In 1889 there began to operate exemplary school female religious school. In addition, the monastery also served as a hospice, and some time later officially founded a school for girls, who studied church music, reading and literacy, parochial school and orphanage for children.

In 1926 the monastery was closed Irkutsk. Znamensky church became a parish. In 1929 he was awarded the status of the city's cathedral. In 1936 the church was closed and later it placed aircraft repair workshops. In 1945 Znamensky cathedral was returned to the church, after which he again became a cathedral.

The life of the monastery was revived in 1994. To date, the monastery buildings are preserved only the church, the holy gates, abbot's cell and the monastic enclosure.