One of the key stages in the history of Russian diplomatic presence in the Holy Land was the opening of the Russian General Consulate in Jerusalem. It was established in 1858. Initially, the Russian Society of Shipping and Trade (ROPiT) was responsible for transporting pilgrims, for which an agency was opened in Jerusalem. However, from 1882, this function was taken over by the Imperial Orthodox Palestinian Society (IOPS). If in 1858, up to 800 pilgrims visited Jerusalem for Easter, by 1912 their number had increased to 6,000. This active pilgrimage movement required a constant consular presence of Russia in Jerusalem, and already in 1858, appropriate steps were taken.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Empire, A.M. Gorchakov, in his report to Emperor Alexander II on April 19, 1858, proposed appointing V.I. Dorgobuzhinov as the Russian consul in Jerusalem. The Emperor approved this proposal on December 13-14, 1858. As a result, in December 1858, the Russian consulate was opened in Jerusalem, consisting of a consul and a secretary.

The Russian envoy in Constantinople, A.P. Butenev, approved instructions according to which V.I. Dorgobuzhinov was to oversee Russian pilgrims, maintain relations with Turkish authorities and consuls of other countries. The consulate was allowed to independently resolve practical issues in cooperation with the head of the Russian Spiritual Mission in Jerusalem, and in complex situations, to refer to the envoy in Constantinople. For the construction of a permanent consulate building in 1859, V.I. Dorgobuzhinov purchased a plot of land in the old city of Jerusalem, but due to discovered archaeological finds, the plot was transferred to the IOPS, where the Alexander Courtyard was later built.

As a result, a plot for the consulate was allocated on Meidan Square, and the building was erected as part of the construction of Russian buildings in the center of western Jerusalem between 1859 and 1864.

From 1879, the Russian consulate in Jerusalem was headed by general consuls, and in 1891 its status was elevated to that of the General Imperial Russian Consulate. Until 1878, Russian consuls combined diplomatic service with the duties of ROPiT agents.

The most successful period of the consulate's work lasted until 1914, especially during the leadership of A.G. Yakovlev (1897-1907). In 1914, due to the war with the Ottoman Empire, Russian diplomats left Jerusalem and evacuated to Egypt. Turkish troops occupied the consulate building, and in 1917, British authorities placed their administrative corps there.

After 1948, Israeli authorities occupied the consulate building and rented it out. In 1964, the building was sold by the Soviet government as part of the 'orange deal,' the legality of which is still disputed by historians.

Today, the building of the former Russian Imperial General Consulate is used by various departments of the Jerusalem municipality. The facade retains a historical stone plaque from the 19th century with the initials of Nicholas II.