The Archangel Cathedral, built between 1505 and 1508 by the Italian architect Alevis Novy, is the most original monument in the ensemble of Cathedral Square in the Moscow Kremlin. Its construction marked the completion of the reconstruction of the grand princely residence, envisioned and executed by Ivan III, the Grand Prince and sovereign of all Rus (1462-1505). During his reign, the unification of Russian lands, freed from the Mongol-Tatar yoke in 1480, was completed, and the international prestige of the Moscow state grew. This was reflected in the grand construction projects in the Kremlin. In the ideological program for the transformation of the Kremlin, which the customer himself envisioned, the Archangel Cathedral held an important place as the main princely church, which became the burial place of the Moscow grand princely house.

The temple is dedicated to the archangel Michael, the heavenly patron of princes in their military exploits. The grand princes would come here to pray before going to war, hoping to receive spiritual strength for their deeds. Here, the younger brothers of the grand prince would pledge their loyalty. Later, the tsar, leading the solemn procession, would come to the temple to pay homage to the graves of his ancestors after the coronation ceremony.

The Archangel Cathedral, which has survived to this day, celebrated its 500th anniversary in 2008, but its history began even earlier.