The building of the gymnasium, designed in the style of Russian classicism, was erected in 1810 by the provincial architect V. I. Suranov as a mansion for merchant F. V. Kotenev. The appearance of such a luxurious structure in the old trading square, where dilapidated wooden shops predominated, prompted Governor A. D. Panchulidzev to take action to improve it and remove the market buildings.

Later, the mansion passed to the wine and salt contractor M. A. Ustinov, who sold it to the Holy Synod in 1829. From 1830, a spiritual school was located on the first floor, and a seminary on the second. In 1885, a new building was constructed for these institutions, and two years later, the 2nd men's gymnasium opened in the former Kotenev mansion. In 1904, it was replaced by the 2nd men's real school named after Tsarevich Alexei, named in honor of the birth of the long-awaited heir of the Romanovs. During the Soviet era, it housed a labor secondary school of the 2nd stage, the 20th men's school, and the 25th general education school. Based on the latter, the Russian Classical Gymnasium was established in 1995.

Located in the cultural and historical center of Saratov, near the main shrine of the city and in the building of the former seminary, the gymnasium today strives to provide children with knowledge and understanding of Orthodox culture, traditions, history, and customs of the Russian people. Special attention is paid to the spiritual and moral education of students. In 2007, the gymnasium became a laureate of the All-Russian competition "School of the Year," and in 2007 and 2008, it won twice in the competition for educational institutions implementing innovative educational programs within the framework of the priority national project "Education." The building of the lyceum is recognized as a monument of federal historical significance.

In the mid-19th century, notable figures such as Bishop Guriy (Karpov) of Taurida, Bishop Peter (Ekaterinovsky) of Ufa and Tomsk, Bishop Alexander (Khovansky) of Sukhum, Bishop Nestor (Metaniev) of Aksai, educator and literary scholar I. I. Vvedensky, editor of the journals "Russian Word" and "Delo" G. E. Blagosvetlov, and philosopher and revolutionary N. G. Chernyshevsky studied at the spiritual seminary located in the building of the modern gymnasium. The facade of the building is adorned with memorial plaques in memory of its outstanding graduates.