In 1337, after the death of his parents, he decided to leave for the forest together with his elder brother Stephen. The brothers founded their hermitage in a clearing surrounded by thick forest. They built a small wooden church, which they dedicated to the Life-giving Trinity. A flood of believers started to come and eventually a community was set up nearby. That was the beginning of the Trinity Monastery. Sergius was canonized after his death, and his remains lie in the monastery’s Cathedral of the Trinity.
Due to its location the monastery became a part of the defensive system around Moscow.
In 1744 Empress Elisaveta Petrovna awarded to the Monastery the highest title of Lavra, increasing its paramount in Russian Church and State.
In 1746, a terrible fire broke out and most of the wooden structures were destroyed. As a result of large scale reconstruction works, the appearance of many of the buildings was changed.
While the Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius is a popular tourist attraction, it is nonetheless still a sacred place that should be treated with respect. Everyone visiting orthodox churches or monasteries should wear proper attire.
For men: wear long pants. No shorts and hats.
For women: wear shirts and blouses with sleeves. Hair must be covered with a scarf. No short skirts.