The history of the church begins in 1625 when a Persian embassy arrived in Moscow to establish diplomatic relations with Russia. As a gift from Shah Abbas I, they brought the Robe of the Lord to Tsar Michael Fyodorovich, the garment of Jesus Christ in which he was led to crucifixion. For a long time, it had been in the Caucasus and was captured by the Persians during the conquest of Georgia. The Russian delegation met the embassy at the Kaluga Gates, on the way to the Don Monastery, and together they went to the Kremlin. Later, the Robe was divided: one part remained in the Assumption Cathedral in Moscow, two others were sent to St. Petersburg, to the Peter and Paul Cathedral and to the chapel in the Winter Palace. Small fragments were given to major monasteries, such as the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra and the Kostroma Ipatiev Monastery. One fragment remained on Donskaya Street, where a wooden church was built in memory of the meeting of the Persian envoys, which is now commemorated by a white stone obelisk.

In the early 18th century, fundraising began for the construction of a stone church on Donskaya Street in honor of the Robe of the Lord. Initially, a chapel in the name of Saint Catherine was built, possibly in honor of Peter I's wife, the future Catherine I, to which the main volume of the church was later added. The consecration of the new church took place in 1716. The church, designed in the style of 'Naryshkin Baroque', received rich decoration of its facades. A distinctive feature was the large shells instead of the usual kokoshniks. To the west, a traditional tent-shaped bell tower with 40 small windows adjoins the church. The church is topped with five domes, and the domes are made black and faceted. The central cross is adorned with a small crown, symbolizing the protection of the royal dynasty.

The baroque style of the facades is reflected in the interior as well. The walls of the church are decorated with stucco featuring cartouches, flowers, and leaves, as well as angel heads. The composition continues with a six-tiered iconostasis created by masters from the Armory Chamber. The carved Royal Gates with the icon of the Annunciation and figures of the Evangelists, Basil the Great, and John Chrysostom stand out particularly. The iconostasis is topped with sculptures of the Crucifixion with the Virgin Mary, the Apostle John, and angels.

In addition to the Catherine chapel, there was a chapel in the refectory in the name of the Apostle James the Less, created in 1763 with funds from Colonel Yakov Khitrovo. In 1886 and 1889, the refectory was expanded according to the design of architect A.S. Kaminsky, which gave the church symmetry. He also created the existing fence with gates. Since then, the external appearance of the church has not changed. The wooden gilded iconostases in the chapels, made by I.M. Frolov, have been preserved since that time.

In addition to the fragment of the Robe of the Lord, the church houses the icon of the Mother of God of Ilyinskaya-Chernigov, a gift from the monastic brotherhood from Chernigov. This unique image from 1696 contains an image of a double-headed eagle and a dedication to Peter I.

There is a church of the Deposition of the Robe in the Moscow Kremlin, but it is dedicated to another event, the Deposition of the Robe in Blachernae. This Byzantine feast is associated with the Robe of the Virgin Mary, for which there are churches in Greece and Russia. The celebration of the Deposition of the Robe of the Lord in the Assumption Cathedral of Moscow is marked only in the Russian Orthodox Church, and in its honor, there is only one church in the capital on Donskaya Street.

Previously, the name of the church was reflected on the map: the neighboring alley was called the Deposition Alley. In 1923, it was renamed Exhibition Street, and in 1973, to Academician Petrovsky Street. Despite this, the church itself did not suffer during those years and preserved its decoration and bells almost untouched. Upon entering, one can see it as it was known to many generations of Muscovites.