According to legend, a wooden tent of Metropolitan Alexius once stood on the site of the current church, from where he observed the construction of the Spaso-Andronikov Monastery. However, the first wooden church dedicated to Metropolitan Alexius is only mentioned in 1625. In 1700 and 1701, a stone church with a Nikolsky chapel was built, but it also did not last long. In 1748 and 1751, a new building was erected, which has survived to this day.

The architect of the Alexievskaya Church was Dmitry Ukhtomsky, known for his works in the Elizabethan era, such as the bell tower of the Trinity-Sergius Lavra and the Red Gates (the latter was destroyed in the 20th century). The cubic church with a two-tiered dome is adorned with two tiers of elongated windows with baroque frames, sills, and oval medallions. On the western side, the refectory and three-tiered bell tower adjoin the church. A small almshouse operated at the church for ten female parishioners, who received housing and a monthly allowance of 7-8 rubles from parish funds.

The main altar of the church is consecrated in the name of the Fyodorovskaya Icon of the Mother of God, particularly revered by the Romanov dynasty, as it was used to bless Mikhail Fyodorovich for his reign. This is the only church in the capital consecrated in honor of this image. The chapel in the refectory is dedicated to Metropolitan Alexius, but the church is still referred to as Alexievskaya. Another chapel is dedicated to Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker.

The Alexiev parish housed the estate of the Alekseev merchants, which included the famous theater director K.S. Stanislavsky. Nearby was their gold-thread factory, which became a cable factory in the early 20th century, and now its buildings serve as an office center on Stanislavsky Street. The Alekseevs actively participated in the life of the church and financed its renovation in 1898. In their estate on Bolshaya Alexeevskaya Street, they established a Home for the Support of Merchant Widows and Orphans.

In 1930 and 1931, the Alexiev Church was closed and planned for demolition, but it survived. However, the building suffered greatly: the interiors, including the baroque iconostasis, were destroyed, the domes of the church and bell tower were demolished, the facades deteriorated, and new extensions distorted the appearance of the church. Inside, a factory for the production of special alloys was set up, later a repair and construction management. Only in the 2000s was the church handed over to the community of believers, and a long restoration began. Today, the church has been restored and has acquired a more noble appearance, but work is still ongoing.