The first wooden cathedral of the Kazan Mother of God on the monastery grounds was built in 1594, but was replaced by a stone structure just a year later. In 1774, during the attack by Pugachev's troops, the cathedral was burned down. By the end of the 18th century, the building had deteriorated so much that it had to be dismantled in the early 1790s. In 1791, architect I. E. Starov developed a project for a new church, but construction only began on May 30, 1798, when Emperor Paul I laid the first stone and allocated 25,000 rubles for the construction. In 1802, Emperor Alexander I added another 20,000 rubles. Architect F. E. Emelyanov, who was checked by Starov in St. Petersburg, started the construction but did not complete it due to accusations from Abbess Sophia. Ultimately, the cathedral was completed by provincial architect Y. M. Shelkovnikov. Over 10 years, a majestic five-domed church of the Nativity of the Mother of God was erected, the largest in the city, measuring 49 by 43 meters and over 44 meters high. The church was adorned with portals and columns of the Ionic order, while the main dome was supported by a colonnade of the Corinthian order. Subsequently, the church took a central place in the monastery ensemble. The interior also amazed with its splendor.

The construction of the cathedral, excluding the interior, cost 57,142 rubles, and the consecration took place in 1808. The cathedral had two side chapels: in honor of Alexander Nevsky and the Dormition of the Most Holy Mother of God. In 1913, a chapel was built in the basement of the cathedral in honor of the Nativity of the Mother of God, thanks to the efforts of Grand Duchess Elizabeth Feodorovna.

The church was destroyed on May 26, 1932. In the new millennium, the restoration of the monastery complex began. On November 4, 2015, the President of Tatarstan, Rustam Minnikhanov, signed a decree for the reconstruction of the Cathedral of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God. The government of Tatarstan developed measures to collect donations for the revival of the shrine.

Currently, the exterior appearance of the cathedral has been fully completed: crosses have been installed on the domes, the facade is adorned with mosaic icons, and the surrounding area has been improved. The cathedral has become one of the architectural dominants of the city. In February 2020, the consecration of the Cave Church in honor of the Nativity of the Most Holy Mother of God took place at the site of the appearance of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God.