In the past, the Transfiguration Cathedral was located near the crossing over the Oka River and the docks. During floods, the water reached its entrance. In a description from 1626, it is mentioned as "Transfiguration of the Savior on the Podol with an altar in honor of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos, wooden, cell-type, in the old fortress on the Podol."

The current church with an altar in honor of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God began construction in 1709 and was completed in 1717. Although the church was officially called the Transfiguration of the Savior "that is under the mountain," it was more commonly referred to as Kazan. The main benefactor was Tsarevna Natalia Alexeyevna, who donated 1000 rubles. Among other notable contributors were the nobleman D.A. Mansurov (100 rubles), boyar B.P. Sheremetev (2 rubles), and prince A.D. Menshikov (11 gold chervonets). A significant contribution was made by Metropolitan Ion (Vasilievsky), who had previously served here as a protodeacon.

In 1802, an altar was arranged in honor of the Placement of the Lord's Robe, and a bell tower was built. The church has been rebuilt multiple times, transforming into a diverse ensemble. The three-tiered bell tower adjoins the refectory, and the entrance through it is adorned with a portico. The church is topped with five domes, with the main dome rising on a double octagonal base. On both sides of the church, there were side entrances in the form of galleries, which have not survived.

In the early 1930s, the Kazan church was served by the holy martyrs Pavlin (Kroshechkin) and Dmitry (Dobroserdov). The church was closed in 1933, and in 1934, the bells were thrown down from the bell tower. From 1938, the building housed the Kaluga Sculpture Factory. During the Great Patriotic War, residents of Kaluga took refuge in its cellars, and the top of the bell tower was damaged by an artillery shell.

On April 8, 1996, the church was handed over to the Kaluga Diocese. During the Cross-Exaltation week in 1998, a four-meter forged cross was consecrated, which was raised to a height of seventy meters on the bell tower by the evening of Holy Thursday. On July 18, 1998, on the feast day of Sergius of Radonezh, new bells were consecrated and raised to the bell tower. Regular services began in the church on August 19, 2011.