The construction of the cathedral was conceived as a symbol of Russia's victory in the 1812 war. The initiator of its creation was General Pyotr Andreyevich Kikinin. Emperor Alexander I supported the proposal and issued a decree for construction. It was planned to complete the cathedral by the anniversary of the victory over Napoleon. The initial project was developed by artist and architect Alexander Lavrentyevich Vitberg, and in mid-autumn 1817, the foundation was laid on the Sparrow Hills.

According to the project, the cathedral was to consist of three parts: Incarnation, Transfiguration, and Resurrection. The lower part was planned for the burial of the remains of warriors. However, the soil on the Sparrow Hills could not support the weight of the building, and Vitberg's project was deemed unsuccessful. The construction was entrusted to a new architect, Konstantin Andreyevich Ton.

The cathedral was moved to a site near the Moscow Kremlin, where the Alekseevskaya Convent had previously been located. According to legend, one of the nuns predicted that the new cathedral would stand for less than half a century. Nevertheless, the laying of the foundation took place in early autumn 1839. After 21 years, the construction was completed, and later the frescoes and the improvement of the embankment were finished.

In 1880, the cathedral became a cathedral church, and on May 26, 1883, on the Feast of the Ascension of the Lord, it was consecrated. On the same day, the coronation of Alexander III took place. In the summer, the chapels were consecrated: on July 12, St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, and on July 8, Alexander Nevsky. From that time on, services were held daily.

Since 1918, the cathedral lost state support, and in early winter 1931, it was destroyed by Stalin's order. The ruins of the cathedral confirmed the prediction of the nun, as it indeed stood for less than 50 years. A Congress Palace was planned to be built in its place, but due to the Great Patriotic War, the project was not realized. During the war, the area turned into a pit, which was used for the construction of a swimming pool.

In the late 1980s, a public movement arose for the restoration of the cathedral. In the summer of 1992, the Moscow Monuments Revival Fund was established, and the Cathedral of Christ the Savior became one of the first objects for reconstruction. The first service in the restored cathedral took place on Christmas 2000, and the consecration occurred in August of the same year.