The cathedral stands on the University Hill by the bank of the Lopan River and dominates the entire downtown.

The Neoclassical cathedral bell tower, built in the 1820s and 1830s to a height of 90 meters, remained the tallest building in the city until the 21st century.

[2] It is first mentioned in a 1658 military report of the voivode Ofrosimov, who wrote to Moscow about shipments of wood for the construction.

Research of later centuries discovered multiple human remains near the church that proves it had its own cemetery nearby.

[4] Kharkiv was growing rapidly and by 1685 the city authorities started construction of the stone Assumption church.

It boasted a gilded icon screen, carved from limewood to Rastrelli's Rococo design, in Baroque fashion and at the same time the facades were reserved and strict.

On October 1, 1841, the gilded cross crafted by Moscow master Lukinov was installed on the bell tower.

[8] In 1924 the bell tower as the highest building of the city was used to install an antenna for the first Soviet radio station.

During the 1920s, the church wooden altar was moved to Kharkiv Art Museum, where it burned during the World War II.