The representation of the Russian Orthodox Church in Jerusalem and the Holy Land was established in 1847 at the initiative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Empire. Today, there are two Russian spiritual missions operating in Jerusalem: one under the leadership of the Moscow Patriarchate, directly subordinate to the Patriarch of Moscow and all Rus, and the other, a self-governing mission of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad, which is part of the Moscow Patriarchate.

The site for the Russian spiritual mission's buildings in Jerusalem was acquired in 1859. When the building was completed in 1864, it housed the Russian consulate in Jerusalem, a house church in honor of Saint Martyr Queen Alexandra, as well as administrative, residential, and utility premises.

Later, one of the rooms was opened as the Museum of Palestinian Antiquities. In 1914, with the onset of World War I and the entry of the Ottoman Empire into the conflict, the building was occupied by Turkish troops and then by British administration. From 1919 to 1948, most of the building was occupied by the Supreme Mandate Court of Palestine, and in 1948 it came under the management of the Russian spiritual mission of the Moscow Patriarchate.

In 1964, after the 'Orange Deal', a significant part of the building was transferred to the State of Israel. Currently, the Israeli Magistrate's Court is located here. In the southern wing of the building, there are residential premises for the staff of the Russian spiritual mission, a house church, a refectory, as well as administrative and utility premises.