Originally, at the entrance to the kremlin, there was a combat passage tower with eastern gates leading to the fortress. These gates were popularly called the Kabatskiye, as opposite, at the corner of Bolshaya Street, there was a tavern. In the tavern's front corner hung an icon of the Uncreated Savior, brought to Astrakhan by the tsar's voivode Shemyakin-Pronsky. Later, it was decided to move the icon from the tavern and place it in a niche above the main gates of the kremlin, which became known as the Savior's Gates. In the first half of the 17th century, in honor of the expulsion in 1614 of Marina Mnishek and ataman Ivan Zarutsky from Astrakhan, a church in the name of the Kazan icon of the Mother of God was built on the main eastern passage tower. Since then, the gates have been called the Prechisten's Gates, in honor of the Most Holy Virgin.

After the construction of the Assumption Cathedral in 1710, the first bell tower was built on the site of this church under the guidance of architect Dorofey Mineevich Myakyshev. Bells and a clock were installed on it, which was a novelty for the city. The height of the Prechisten Bell Tower was significant, but due to a weak foundation, it began to settle and develop cracks. In 1765, under Governor V. N. Beketov, the bell tower was dismantled to prevent its collapse. The gap at the site of the Prechisten Gates remained for almost half a century until a generous Astrakhan resident decided to build a new bell tower at his own expense. In 1809, the construction of the new bell tower began, as evidenced by a marble slab found in 1978 in the kremlin courtyard. It states that the bell tower was built at the initiative and expense of Ivan Andreyevich Varvatsiya, of Greek descent, from the island of Psara. The project was commissioned to the famous architect Luigi Ruska, and construction was completed in 1813. The second bell tower, executed in the style of late classicism, was distinguished by its elegance and severity. Under Varvatsiya, a chapel in honor of the icon of the Uncreated Savior was added to it. However, in 1896, the bell tower began to lean, which became noticeable to the townspeople. It became known as the Leaning Bell Tower of the Astrakhan Cathedral, and its image appeared on postcards. The bell tower stood for about 100 years, harmoniously fitting into the ensemble of the kremlin.

In 1910, it was dismantled, and a new, more grandiose four-tiered bell tower designed by architect S. I. Karyagin appeared in its place. It was stylized in the spirit of classical and ancient Russian traditions and impressed with its decor. The bell tower turned out to be so heavy that it immediately caused ground subsidence. In 1910, the F. Winter clock factory from St. Petersburg proposed to install tower electric clocks, and in 1912, the bell tower was equipped with clocks with an electric motor and four glass dials. Now the chimes play the melody "Slav'sya" by M. I. Glinka twice a day and strike every quarter hour. In the 1930s, the bells were confiscated as non-ferrous metal, and the cross was sent for melting.

In 1990, a 7-meter cross was installed on the bell tower of the Assumption Cathedral with the help of a helicopter, and in 1992, the Prechisten Bell Tower was returned to the Astrakhan Diocese.