At the end of the XV century, Grand Duke Ivan III, having united Russian principalities under the rule of Moscow, began the creation of his new residence with the reconstruction of the Assumption Cathedral. The old stone church, founded by Prince Ivan Kalita in 1326, was dismantled, and construction of a new, more pompous building began in its place. But the creation of Pskov masters Krivtsov and Myshkin turned out to be technically unsuccessful and collapsed shortly after the completion of construction. Then Ivan III invited Aristotle Fioravanti, an architect from Italy, to build the temple. The architect was instructed to take the Vladimir Assumption Cathedral as a model, thereby emphasizing the continuity of Moscow in relation to one of the ancient centers of Russia. The building, which still adorns the Moscow Kremlin today, was erected in 1475-1479.

The Assumption Cathedral in Moscow is a five-domed church built of white stone combined with brick. The first paintings in it were made in the period from 1481 to 1515 with the participation of the famous icon painter Dionysius. These are the oldest examples of fresco painting on the territory of the Kremlin, and their fragments have been preserved in the church to this day. The iconostasis was created in 1653 by order of Patriarch Nikon. The collection of icons of the 11th-17th centuries in the Assumption Cathedral is one of the richest in the world. Most of them were written in Moscow, but some were brought to Moscow from other ancient cities. The oldest monument of applied art in the cathedral is its southern doors, which were brought to Moscow from the Suzdal Cathedral. They are painted from the beginning of the 15th century — 20 images on biblical themes in gold on black lacquer.

In 1547, Ivan IV was married in the cathedral for the first time. The Zemsky Sobor of 1613 was held in the cathedral building, where Mikhail Fedorovich Romanov was elected tsar. After the transfer of the capital to St. Petersburg, the cathedral remained the coronation site of all Russian emperors, starting with Peter II.

In 1551, the Monomakhov throne appeared in the church, which is now known as the royal place in the Assumption Cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin. This is the place where the king sat during the services. The place was not chosen by chance — there are positive symbols on the right side of the temple.

In 1918, the Assumption Cathedral was closed due to the placement of the government of the RSFSR in the Kremlin, and in 1922 it was turned into a museum. Divine services were resumed there in 1990. They are held on major church holidays, and admission is by invitation only. But everyone can sign up for an excursion to the cathedral.