The Ascension Cathedral is the main church of Novosibirsk and the location of the Archbishop's diocese, which manages the Novosibirsk Diocese. The cathedral is led by His Eminence Tikhon, Metropolitan of Novosibirsk and Berdsk.

Originally, the Ascension Church was wooden, with one bell tower and an iron roof. It was built with the permission of the diocesan authorities and the efforts of the construction committee. On April 6, 1913, Archpriest Nikolai Zavadovsky consecrated the newly built church.

Located on the northern outskirts of the city, the church was one of the poorest in Novonikolaevsk. According to a decree from the Holy Synod, the church had one priest and one psalmist on staff. The first rector was Priest Gavriil Lebedev, followed by his successor, Priest Vasily Kurkov.

In a report dated March 16, 1915, Priest Vasily Kurkov noted the church's remoteness and the dire situation of the parishioners, many of whom lived in modest homes and were laborers or small craftsmen. Among the parishioners were many non-believers and sectarians, complicating the spiritual life of the parish.

Three primary parish schools operated at the church. From 1924, with the establishment of the Novonikolaevsk Diocese, a new chapter began in the history of the Ascension Church. In 1925, an altar in honor of St. Nicholas was built. However, in 1937, Archbishop Sergey Vasilkov and other clergy were arrested and executed.

During the years of persecution, the church was closed and used as a warehouse. In 1943, Archbishop Bartholomew took over the management of the diocese. In 1944, services resumed in the church, making it the second active church in the city. Bishop Bartholomew described in his diary the joy of the parishioners at the resumption of services.

By 1946, the Ascension Church was attended by up to 900 people on regular Sundays and up to 5,000 on Easter. In March 1946, new bells were raised for the church. The archpastor made significant efforts for the restoration of the church, and in 1947, a new altar in honor of St. Seraphim of Sarov was consecrated.

In 1947, the church was elevated to the rank of cathedral. During the war years, the clergy actively assisted the army, and in 1947, Archbishop Bartholomew and other clergy were awarded medals for their valiant work.

Since 1956, relations between the Church and the state became strained, but the life of the cathedral continued. In 1971, Bishop Gideon began the reconstruction of the church. By 1988, the cathedral was completely renovated and became a decoration of the city. In 1989, the work of Novosibirsk architects was awarded the highest prize at the All-Russian review.

The architecture of the church is characterized by its elegance and simplicity. The cathedral now has seven gilded domes, and the bell tower is adorned with images and ornaments. The cathedral's fence includes a baptismal area and a chapel. In 1999, the main iconostasis was restored, and in 2011, the frescoes and iconostases were updated. In 2013, the centenary of the cathedral and the 25th anniversary of its reconstruction were celebrated.