It was intended as a memorial to the war of conquest and is full of symbolism illustrating Russia's claims to the Byzantine heritage.

[1][2] On December 6, 1788, by order of Potemkin bodies of soldiers killed during the Siege of Ochakov were buried in the church's cemetery.

[1] After Potemkin's death he was buried in the cathedral, as was Prince Charles Frederick Henry of Württemberg, Maria Feodorovna's brother.

[1] The walls contain the copies of six life size figures of the apostles and saints executed by Gavrila Zamorayev from Moscow (1758-1823).

On 26 October 2022, Vladimir Saldo, collaborator and Russian-appointed acting "governor" of Kherson Oblast under the Russian occupation of 2022, announced that Prince Grigory Potemkin's remains were taken from his tomb and transported to Russia.