Since 1657, there was a church on the site of the cathedral. According to legend, in 1704, Prince Menshikov brought an ancient icon of the Mother of God here and ordered the construction of a temple for it. The construction was headed by architect Ivan Zarudny. Domenico Trezzini, as well as Italian and Swiss masters, are believed to have taken part in the project. The work was completed in 1707. The building was the tallest in Moscow.

In 1723, lightning hit the spire with a height of 30 meters. It burned down along with the figures of angels and the clock, and the wooden vault collapsed. Part of the tower was restored in 1779 by Mason Izmailov. He started using it for his box meetings. But 1863 brought changes: the Metropolitan of Moscow ordered the renovation of the building and knocking down Masonic symbols from its walls. In 1923, the Bolsheviks closed the church and stole church utensils.

Currently, the building has been returned to the church, and the religious building is in operation. Its height is now 26 meters. The decor of the XVIII century inside the temple is almost completely preserved, in some places the paintings of the 1770s remain.