The history of the city of Sudogda begins with the fact that in 1778 the settlement of Sudogda was renamed the district city of Sudogda. The city arose due to its geographical location, as it had no industrial enterprises and a large population. There is no information about the time and founder of the first church in Sudogda. A record from the "census books," issued to Deacon Ivan, mentions that there was a church of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker with a chapel of St. Alexius, Metropolitan of Moscow, as well as a church of the martyr Mina in the settlement of Sudogda. In 1723, a new wooden church with the same name was built on the site of the burned church of the martyr Mina.

After receiving the status of a district city, it was decided to build a city cathedral with state funds next to the wooden Nicholas church. However, construction progressed slowly, and in 1806 a fire destroyed the Nicholas church. In the new city layout, another site was allocated for the cathedral, and the construction that had begun was dismantled. The church was completed in 1814, with the bell tower, interior decoration, and utensils created from private donations. The main altar was consecrated in honor of St. Catherine the Great Martyr, and the chapels were dedicated to St. Nicholas the Wonderworker and the martyr Mina.

In 1838, a new fire destroyed a large part of Sudogda. The cathedral was damaged both outside and inside, but the holy icons, utensils, and vestments were saved. Over the course of 10 years, the cathedral was restored, and services were held in its warm part. In the cold church, three altars were arranged: the main one in honor of St. Catherine the Great Martyr, and in the chapels, in honor of the Protection of the Holy Virgin and the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God. However, the warm part of the cathedral needed repairs due to overcrowding and long use. The expansion of the warm church was carried out in two stages in 1853 and 1871.

From 1875, reconstruction of the summer part of the cathedral began. By 1878, the wall masonry was completed, and five domes were installed, while in 1885-1886, the internal columns were reinforced. The repairs were completed in 1891.

By the beginning of the 20th century, the Cathedral of Catherine amazed with its majestic beauty. Two archpriests, three priests, and two psalmists served in its clergy. The parish included the city of Sudogda and the villages: Afonina, Berega Berezhki, Khorisheva, Zagorya, Polkhova, Basheva, Karastelikha, Stepacheva, Kostina, Ragozina, Demidova, Eolodina, Dorofeeva, Lavrova, Ushakova, Bykova, and Chubarova. In these settlements, including the city, there were 2,678 men and 2,928 women according to the clerical records.

The cathedral was associated with city churches: the cemetery church in honor of the Renewal of the Church of the Resurrection of Christ, and the church at the prison castle in honor of the Blessed Prince Alexander Nevsky.

After the revolution, the priests of the cathedral were repressed: some were sent to camps, others were tortured in the NKVD prisons. In 1930, the cathedral was closed and turned into a grain warehouse.

In 1959, the main part of the church was blown up and dismantled, while the remaining warm part was converted into a "House of Culture."

In 1990, a church community in honor of St. Catherine the Great Martyr was registered, but the remnants of the church were handed over to it only four years later. By that time, the former beautiful church had turned into a shapeless stone box with peeling plaster and a dilapidated leaking roof. By the blessing of Archbishop Evlogy of Vladimir and Suzdal, an altar was temporarily installed in the western part of the cathedral.

Due to the emergency condition of the roof and ceiling, in the fall of 1997, it was decided to first restore the less damaged Alexander Nevsky church and transfer services there. In less than two years, the church was restored and ready for services. Its consecration took place on September 12, 1999. From November 1999, preparations began for the major restoration of the Holy Catherine Cathedral with the restoration of lost architectural elements. The first dome with a cross over the southern chapel was installed and consecrated on October 18, 2001.