Before the revolution, there was the Nikolsky Cathedral in Novorossiysk, built in 1846. During the Crimean War and after the temporary abolition of the city, it was partially destroyed but later restored and reconstructed after the Russians returned. In 1930, the cathedral was closed and converted into a garrison club, and in 1931 it was demolished. Now, a café called 'Teatralnoye' is located on this site in the Lenin Culture and Recreation Park.

In 1892, there were two churches in Novorossiysk: the Nikolayevsky and the Skorbyashchenskaya. The Nikolayevskaya church, the oldest in the city, was built in 1846 and was located in the first part of the city in a square known as Tserkovnaya (now Lenin Park). It was made of stone and covered with iron. The Skorbyashchenskaya church was located in the second part of the city, Zatsemeskaya, which was not part of the city limits until 1900. This church was wooden and dilapidated. The first parish schools for boys and girls began to appear near these churches. The first mention of such schools refers to the Nikolayevsky Cathedral. The organization of parish schools was managed by the rector, Father Mikhail Pavlov, who submitted requests for their opening and allocation of land for construction near the church.