For 123 years, the Holy-Simeon Cathedral has been serving the Lord without interruption. This temple has an amazing fate: it survived the Civil War, avoiding destruction and desecration during the Soviet era, when many churches in Chelyabinsk faced a different fate. During this time, the church not only survived but also expanded, transforming from a small cemetery church into the main church of the Chelyabinsk Diocese. At the time of the construction of the Holy-Simeon Church, Chelyabinsk was already a large provincial city. In 1862, its parishes became part of the Orenburg Diocese, which had recently gained independence. In Chelyabinsk, there were already the Nativity Cathedral, Holy Trinity and Kazan Churches, as well as the monastic Odigitriyevskaya and Nikolayevskaya Churches and the Protection Church at the theological school. The need for a new church arose from the great love of the townspeople for the righteous Simeon of Verkhoturye, whose relics rested in the Holy-Nikolsky Monastery of Verkhoturye and attracted many pilgrims.

By the decision of the Consistory on January 24, 1873, the construction of a stone Simeon Church at the city cemetery was permitted. In 1883, ten years later, a church was built and consecrated with an altar in the name of St. Simeon of Verkhoturye, funded by donations. It was a small white building with a semicircular apse and a bell tower. In 1889, a storm destroyed the bell tower, damaging the roof. Restoration work was entrusted to Pavel Kutyrev and was completed by May 14, 1890. Pyotr Ilyinikh, a well-known benefactor, participated in the restoration. He was buried in the churchyard in 1896.

After the revolution, the Russian Orthodox Church went through difficult times, and churches in Chelyabinsk were closed one after another. In 1922, the Holy-Simeon Church was handed over to the Renovationist community. By 1930, it remained the only surviving church in Chelyabinsk. In August 1930, it was planned to close it, but thanks to a secret instruction from the All-Russian Central Executive Committee and the Council of People's Commissars of the RSFSR, the church was saved and continued to function. During the Great Patriotic War, the church became a center for patriotic work, and parishioners raised significant funds for the Defense Fund. The rector, Sergey Ashikhmin, received thanks from Stalin for his activities.

In the second half of the 20th century, the church underwent several reconstructions. In 1947 and 1960, new chapels and utility buildings were added. In 1976 and 1977, the narthex and altar part were expanded. In 1986 and 1990, a third reconstruction took place, transforming the church into a three-altar cathedral. In 1989, the church received cathedral status. The reconstruction of 1988 was a test for the parishioners, who actively participated in the construction. New chapels were erected, while the old church was preserved in its original form.

During the reconstruction, the churchyard was also transformed. Old buildings were demolished, and all services were relocated to a new administrative building. The project was designed by architects A.G. Burov and V.I. Tokarev. The facade was adorned with portals and picturesque images of saints. In recent years, the facade painting has been updated. In 1990, the interior of the church was painted by Moscow artists. From 2002 to 2005, the iconostases were updated. Currently, construction work continues in the church, with plans for the renewal of the iconostasis and painting. It is now hard to recognize this cathedral as the small white church it once was.