The land on which the ensemble of buildings is located has belonged to the Orthodox Church since the 18th century. From 1785, there was a wooden church of Peter and Paul here, and later, a small stone chapel of the Valaam Monastery. From 1930 to 1932, a complex of buildings of the Finnish Orthodox Church was built on this site according to the design of Finnish architect Juhani Viiste, which includes the administration building and the Church of Johannes. The administration building is located along Kirova Street, while the church is situated behind it, deeper into the plot. The view of the temple opens through a high arch.

The administration building is made of brick and plastered. It represents a complex composition of four parts of varying heights. The left part, four stories high, is horizontally elongated with a gable roof. The right part consists of two five-story sections connected by a three-story arch. One of the five-story volumes is topped with a square belvedere with a dome and a cross. The main facade is adorned with classical and Byzantine elements. Two grand entrances are highlighted by arched vestibules and columns supporting massive arches. The window openings vary in shape across different floors, and the metal elements are decorated with church symbolism.

The first floor of the administration building housed shops connected to the basement by internal staircases. The arch divides the building into two parts: the right side contained shops and residential apartments with a separate entrance, while the left side housed church administration offices and apartments of varying comfort. A notable feature of the building was the underground garage for 9 cars, partially located under the courtyard.

During the Soviet-Finnish War of 1939-1940, the building was damaged but was restored by 1943. Currently, it houses shops and apartments, and since 1973, part of the premises has been occupied by the Sortavala Children's Art School named after K.A. Gogolev.

The administration building of the Orthodox Church is a significant structure in Sortavala from the first third of the 20th century, distinguished by its Byzantine motifs. The church, now known as the Church of Saint Apostle John the Theologian, is connected to the administration by a colonnade. It was built considering the street network rather than according to canonical rules, and it replicates a wooden prototype with elements of 17th-century Finnish architecture.

The church consists of three parts: the main volume with a gable roof, a bell tower with an octagonal spire, and a five-sided altar. It is made of brick and plastered, with minimal decor. Initially, the altar was open, and the bell tower housed 9 bells that imitated the ringing of Valaam bells.

The church was consecrated in 1932, and until 1940, services were conducted by students of the Sortavala Theological Seminary. During the war, the building was damaged, and after 1940, the church was closed. It was consecrated again in 1943, but in 1944, the altar was transported to Finland, and the church was closed once more.

After the war, the building was handed over to film distribution, which distorted its appearance. In 1992, the temple was returned to the Russian Orthodox Church, and it was restored. It is now an active church.

The church building is an example of architecture that combines Russian and Finnish traditions of the 17th century. The ensemble of buildings in Sortavala, due to its style and composition, is included in the register of cultural heritage sites of Russia.