The church, also known as "what is at the Kaluga Gates" of the former Earthen City, was built between 1709 and 1717. Its architecture combines elements of Moscow, Ukrainian, and European Baroque. It is believed that the architect was Ivan Petrovich Zarudny.

Construction began in 1709, the year of victory over the Swedes at Poltava, which explains the support of Tsar Peter I, who donated 300 rubles for the construction of the temple.

The architectural composition of the church includes a bell tower, refectory, and the church itself, creating the impression of a ship, which is why it was named "the ship" or "the little ship." In 1759, a chapel in honor of Saint Metropolitan Dmitry of Rostov was added to the left side of the refectory.

The architectural beauty of the temple is due to the harmonious combination of various elements. The rich facade, window frames with "torn" pediments, multi-tiered and centralized design reflect the style of Moscow Baroque of the late 17th century. The alternation of octagons on a square base is complemented by intermediate faceted domes, known as "zhalomy," which is characteristic of Ukrainian architecture, enhancing the solemnity of the composition. Moscow columns are replaced by pilasters with Corinthian capitals, and the "lucarnes" on the dome of the first tier, borrowed from European architecture, are decorated with frescoes instead of light windows.

The temple is crowned with a dome on an octagonal drum, typical of Baroque. The domes are adorned with squares of red, yellow, and green colors, creating a "checkerboard" effect.

The bell tower, equally beautiful, is also multi-tiered and repeats the rhythm of the church, consisting of octagons on a square base, which is characteristic of architecture from the late 17th to early 18th centuries.

Inside the church, a Baroque iconostasis from the 17th century stands out, which was originally located in the Church of the Three Hierarchs at the Red Gates.