The first Catholic church in Keren was constructed in the western outskirts of the town in 1865, but was demolished in 1871 by the Egyptian Ethiopian forces who in the 1870s controlled much of Eritrea.

The Apostolic Vicariate of Abyssinia, which from 1870 to 1894 had its headquarters in Keren, was allowed to rebuild the church, began the work on 24 May 1873 and completed it and blessed it on 14 February 1875.

[5][6] This church became the cathedral of the Eritrean Catholic Eparchy of Keren, when this was set up by Pope John Paul II on 21 December 1995.

[7] Since the beginning, following the practice set by Saint Justin de Jacobis, the liturgy is celebrated in the Ge'ez variant of the Alexandrian rite.

[9] With projections for the sanctuary and three entrances, it is octagonal in shape, as in many churches of Ethiopic tradition.