Several decades ago, ancient ruins stood on this site, making it difficult to determine what building had previously existed here. Today, the Pokrovsky Cathedral rises majestically.

This church can rightfully be called a Phoenix. Among all the Penza churches, it has endured the most fires and destruction. Built in the Starodragunskaya sloboda in 1677 as a parish church, it suffered from an attack by Crimean Tatars and Nogais just three years later. During fierce battles, the wooden cathedral burned down. It took ten years to restore it, and during that time, the miraculous icon of the Vladimir Mother of God was moved to the new church. However, it could not save the cathedral from another fire in 1737. Later, it was decided to build a stone church instead of the wooden one to protect it from fire. The interior walls were finished with marble, and the porch was plastered. A high massive bell tower became an architectural feature, filling the former sloboda with melodic ringing during holidays. The church was considered one of the most beautiful in Penza. It was visited not only by residents of the future Chkalov Street but also by people from other areas during holidays such as Easter or Apple Spas.

However, everything changed during the Stalin era. The church was closed and converted into a cinema. Soon, the building was completely abandoned and fell into ruins.

Today, after ten years of restoration and renovation work, the church is known as the Pokrovsky Archpriest Cathedral. On April 23, 1998, the first archpriest service was held here, and on June 3, the main altar was consecrated in the name of the Protection of the Most Holy Theotokos and the church itself. On June 6, 2003, the right chapel of the church was re-consecrated in honor of the Vladimir icon of the Mother of God, and on August 31 of the same year, the left chapel was consecrated in honor of the venerable Seraphim of Sarov.