The first version of this cathedral was built out of wood between 1642 and 1646 as part of the Bogoyavlensky Monastery which was established during the re-establishment of Oryol after its sacking by Polish interventionists in 1615. The present stone building was constructed in 1684 after the monastery was destroyed by fire. After the revolution the cathedral remained open but its bell tower was demolished. In the Second World War it was heavily damaged but later restored as a building of architectural heritage. In 1963 the cathedral was closed and used as a puppet theatre. It was returned to the Orthodox Church in 1994 and subsequently reopened for worship.