Previously a wooden church dedicated to the Ascension of Christ stood here until it was destroyed in the Times of Troubles, it was later rebuilt but it once again burned down. In 1751 work started on building a stone replacement which was completed in 1760. Three years later the new cathedral was damaged by fire, but it was fully restored in 1768. A bell tower was added in 1805. In 1935 the cathedral was closed but was briefly reopened once more during the Nazi occupation of the city. In 1991 the cathedral was returned to the Orthodox Church and reopened in 1993.