The Christmas Monastery, formerly a women's Orthodox monastery in Soligalich, was founded in the mid-17th century through the efforts of Tsarina Maria Ilinichna Miloslavskaya, the wife of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich, who grew up near this city.

To this day, the Cathedral of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary has been preserved, which is now a city cathedral. Its construction began in 1668 but was halted after the death of Maria Miloslavskaya, as her donations ceased. For over a century, the church remained unfinished, and trees even managed to grow on its walls. Only in 1792 was a decision made to complete the construction with funds from the parishioners.

The cathedral was consecrated in 1805, but it was closed in 1925. In 1927 and 2000, the building housed the local history museum named after G. I. Nevelskoy. In March 2004, the cathedral was transferred to the Kostroma and Galich Diocese, after which renovation work began.

The cathedral has four altars. On the upper floor are the main Nativity of the Virgin Mary altar, the summer altar, and the Nativity of Christ altar, which is winter. Below the winter altar is the Protection altar, and under the bell tower is the chapel of Abraham of Gorodets. The interior features a carved iconostasis dated 1826 and 1827.