The St. George Cathedral in Kaluga, one of the oldest churches in the city, was founded in 1701 on the site of an older wooden church, first mentioned in 1626. Historical sources report that the old church had six bells, which is reflected in the chronicles. The exact reasons for the disappearance of the wooden temple are unknown; it may have burned down or deteriorated, and it was decided to replace it with a stone one. In 1702, the new cathedral was consecrated and began to receive parishioners. The name of the architect of the stone temple has not survived, but this does not diminish its appeal and significance.

The St. George Cathedral includes four parishes dedicated to St. George the Great Martyr, John the Baptist, the Icon of the Mother of God "Relieve My Sorrows," and the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. These parishes were richly decorated with frescoes and contain many venerated Orthodox relics. The architecture of the cathedral is characterized by a semi-ship shape and rich ornamentation. The main part of the building has a quadrangular volume, located on a high stylobate and supported by arches, topped with five domes and complemented by a tall tent-like bell tower.

The history of the cathedral is full of significant and tragic events. Several of its rectors suffered during the Soviet persecutions, and Archimandrite Joanniky was shot in 1937. In the following years, the church suffered greatly, but in our time it was restored and temporarily received the status of a cathedral, which later passed to another church in Kaluga.