The building occupies an important urban planning position in the center of the Kremlin and, together with the Diocesan House, which adjoins it from the west, limits the territory of the Archbishop's courtyard from the south and east. The Metropolitan Chambers were built in the first third of the 18th century, as they are depicted on the city plan of 1732, compiled by V.L. Yanin. These plans show that the stone building starts from the Resurrection Gate of the Kremlin and, repeating the shape of the former wooden wall, continues to the St. Sophia Cathedral. A passage arch under the Church of St. John Chrysostom is noticeable, the northern end of the building expands to the west, and a long annex adjoins the middle part of the southern wing of the archbishop's house, turning west and connecting with the Kremlin wall, forming an inner courtyard.

Makarij mentions that in 1716, by the order of Peter I, an orphanage and a poorhouse were opened in the Kremlin, funded by the income of the archbishop's house. These institutions were located in a one-story building on the site of the Metropolitan Chambers. It is possible that it was at this time that the long building was constructed, which was later occupied by the services of the archbishop's house.

A drawing from 1760 has survived, showing the plan of the northern wing of the building without the Church of the Epiphany. In the southern part of the building, there is a wide passage arch that divides it into two parts. The southern wing was occupied by the spiritual consistory. The purpose of the building is unclear, but it can be assumed that it was used for the residence of the higher Novgorod archbishops.

In 1775-1780, under Metropolitan Gavriil, the building was extensively rebuilt in the style of early classicism according to the project of architect Peter Romanovich Nikitin. He preserved most of the load-bearing walls but changed the layout and redesigned the facades in the spirit of ceremonial palace architecture.

In 1804, the building was damaged by fire and was repaired the following year. After the repairs, the Church of the Epiphany was renamed the Church of the Annunciation.

The drawings from 1830 show that the layout and facades of the building did not change significantly. On the first floor, there were a chapel, the Church of Guriy, Samon, and Aviv, a bell-ringer's lodge, cells for the watchmen, the archbishop's kitchen, and storerooms. In the middle part of the northern wing was the archbishop's bathhouse, and in the southern wing, the spiritual consistory. On the second floor were the Church of the Annunciation and the metropolitan's chambers.

In 1911-1912, under Metropolitan Arsenius, the western one-story part of the building was dismantled, and a three-story Diocesan House was built in its place with facades similar to those of the Metropolitan Chambers. The Diocesan House was intended for spiritual and moral readings, lectures, and concerts, as well as for the archive. In 1913, a church-archaeological museum, a bookstore, and a storeroom were established there. The southern wing housed a library and a reading room.

The building of the Metropolitan Chambers was used for its intended purpose only episodically, as the metropolitans spent most of their time in St. Petersburg and Moscow. It also served as a residence for notable figures, such as Grand Duchess Catherine Pavlovna, Princess Alexandra Fyodorovna, and Emperors Alexander I and Nicholas I.

The monument is an interesting and rare example for Novgorod of a large ceremonial building from the 18th century, executed in the spirit of early classicism with elements of baroque. It includes parts of older constructions that are still little studied and is an example of the reconstruction of an ancient building from the 18th century. The Metropolitan Chambers have significant urban planning importance as an elongated building in the center of the Kremlin.