1737. The fortress Stavropol -on- Volga has appeared on the map of the Russian empire. What has it based for? Samara, Syzran and Simbirsk were nearby...
Besides the reason of its basis is simple and was connected with Kalmyks, who very much had early liked christianity. And the imperial authority even encouraged it.
On april, 7, 1737 the imperial decree about branch of orthodox Kalmyks from pagans was issued.

The place for moving Kalmyks and construction of the city was elected by V.N.Tatishchev, the chief of the Orenburg expedition. V.N.Tatishchev founded the city, being guided by necessity of protection against the Bashkirs' attacks. The city had a projekt of development, due to a favourable geographical position on the main water highway of Russia. It was decided to build a fortress and a city - the capital of orthodox Kalmyks, on the left bank of Kunja Vologka (a branch of the Volga river), opposite to the Molodetsky barrow.

It was named Stavropol, that means from Greece " the City of a Cross " means. V.N. Tatishev, the founder was against of its name, he suggested the name of the city - Epiphaniya, that means "Enlightenment", but the tsarina Anna (The Qeen) was against it. The buildung of the city started in spring, 1738. The building went in a quick way - houses for princess, the commandant, officials, a room for archive, offices, church had being built.