The present building was erected in the 1990's on the site of the former cathedral, constructed in the 19th century.
After the war against Napoleon according to the manifest of the Emperor Alexander I the construction of the cathedral was started by the architect Alexander Vitberg. The funds were coming from all over the country. On the walls of the cathedral there were carved names of the officers of the Russian army, who died during the war against Napoleon in 1812. The construction of the cathedral lasted for 44 years and the church was consecrated only in May of 1883, after Alexander III had been crowned.
The cathedral was destroyed in December of 1931 with three explosions. It was planned to build a Communist building - the Palace of Congresses on the site of the cathedral, but because of the WWII it was delayed. After the war the place was empty till 1958. At the end of the 1950's the local authorities decided to create a swimming pool there, which had existed till the 1990's.
In 1994 the reconstruction of the Cathedral was started in 1994. The church was opened to the public in 2000. The first service took place on Christmas Eve, on January 6th (Russian Orthodox Christmas). The cathedral was officially consecrated in August of 2000.
