Trinity Cathedral is the principal and oldest church in the monastery. It was built in 1422 by Abbot Nikon in honor of St. Sergius, his teacher and spiritual father. It is the most important monument of early Moscow architecture—in Russia only four churches of this type have been preserved. Although the height of the church to the top of the cross is 30 m, it appears even taller. The massive walls of white stone emphasize the deep portals and narrow windows. The cathedral’s only decorations are three rows of stone carvings along the façade, the apse, and the drum of the dome.