The Cathedral of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the Root Monastery has existed in its current form and proportions since the mid-19th century. Previously, there was a more modest stone church on this site, built in 1703, and before that, two wooden churches stood. One was burned down in 1611 during the Polish-Lithuanian invasion, and the other was dismantled due to decay.

The construction of the majestic cathedral in the Root Monastery lasted eight years. It began in 1852 and was completed in 1860. Initially, it was planned to build the cathedral according to a different project, but ultimately the construction was carried out according to a plan that came from the office of Count P.A. Kleinmichel, who, after visiting the Root Monastery, paid special attention to it and replaced the original project with one more suitable for the antiquity of the monastery and its surroundings.

The built cathedral became the dominant feature of the architectural ensemble and, before its destruction in the post-revolutionary period, inspired admiration among pilgrims. One old description of the Root Monastery notes that the view of the monastery from the opposite bank of the Tuskor River is particularly beautiful, revealing the full splendor of the buildings, including the new five-domed cathedral in the Russian-Byzantine style.

The cathedral stood until 1923, when it was destroyed. The restoration of the church began in 2007 and was completed in 2009.