After the devastating fire of 1810, which destroyed the Church of the Prophet Elijah at the Izhevsk factory, a decision was made to build a new temple. A year later, architect Semyon Emelyanovich Dudin, the first professional architect of Izhevsk, proposed a project for a large three-altar cathedral. However, his project with three altars and bell towers was rejected due to its excessive grandeur and high cost. Instead, the authorities in St. Petersburg recommended using the design of the Andreevsky Cathedral in Kronstadt, created by architect Andrey Zakharov, as a model. Dudin adapted it to local conditions and limited financial capabilities, simplifying the structure and replacing cast elements with granite. The construction was financed by the Artillery Department of the military agency, as the cathedral was intended for the arms factory. Emperor Alexander I also contributed to the construction of the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, which lasted from 1816 to 1823. The main altar was consecrated in honor of Saint Prince Alexander Nevsky, the southern altar in honor of Saint Catherine, the northern altar in honor of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God, and the lower church in honor of Saints Blasius and Modestus. In 1824, during a visit to the Izhevsk factory, Emperor Alexander I inspected this largest Orthodox church in the Vyatka province.

The cathedral, executed in the traditions of Russian classical architecture, still stands out against the backdrop of Soviet construction in the center of Izhevsk. Until the early 20th century, the church harmoniously fit into the urban ensemble, which included the main building of the arms factory, the triumphal Mikhailovskaya column, and the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, symbolizing the three pillars of Russian statehood: 'For Faith, Tsar, and Fatherland.' The building features a symmetrical composition and clarity of forms. The square-shaped building is topped with a spherical dome on a drum. Initially, the church was decorated in a strict classical style, but in 1870, its interiors became more ornate due to gilding of stucco decorations and architectural details. Four massive pylons support the vault, and two supporting arches open onto the altar and the main nave. The main nave is separated from the side naves by two colonnades of the Ionic order. The ceiling above it is designed as a barrel vault. The cross-shaped plan is ensured by the introduction of porticos from the south and north, as well as a third under the bell tower on the west side of the refectory.

The Alexander Nevsky Cathedral long remained the main parish church of Izhevsk, associated with several chapels and churches, including the Mikhailovsky Cathedral, completed in 1907. A charitable organization operated at the church, managing schools, hospitals, and almshouses. In 1875, a Sunday school for 135 students opened here.

The year 1922 marked the beginning of a tragic chapter in the history of the Russian Orthodox Church. The decree of February 23, 1922, mandated the confiscation of church valuables, including liturgical vessels, under the pretext of aiding the famine victims in the Volga region. This action also affected the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral. In 1929, the cathedral was looted and closed, the bell tower was destroyed, and the bells were sent for melting down. At the demand of the 'Union of Militant Atheists,' services ceased, and the building was repurposed as a club. From 1930, it served as a children's club and cinema, later becoming a museum of atheism. In 1932, the first sound cinema in the republic, 'Colossus,' opened in the building. In 1937, the dome of the church was dismantled, and the building was classified as a first-category architectural monument.

In 1990, the church returned to the fold of the Church. Restoration work began in 1992 and was completed by the end of 1993. A new baptistery, a Jordan, and a temporary bell tower were built. On January 2, 1994, the cathedral was reconsecrated, and the first service was held on Christmas. The main shrine of the cathedral is the icon of the Pochaev Mother of God.

Next to the cathedral is the burial place of Andrey Fyodorovich Deryabin, a mining engineer who played an important role in the construction of the cathedral and oversaw the construction of the Izhevsk factory from 1808 to 1843.