The history of the Assumption Cathedral in Mglin begins in the 17th century, when a wooden church was built in honor of the Assumption of the Mother of God. In 1693, Archbishop Theodosius consecrated the antimins for this church. By 1767, a three-altar wooden church stood on this site, with chapels in honor of Archangel Michael and the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

After the city was liberated from plundering by Napoleon's troops, the residents decided to build a new Assumption Cathedral. Funds for its construction were collected from everyone: from half kopecks to hundreds of rubles. The largest contribution came from collegiate assessor Grigory Lishin, who donated 10,000 rubles in banknotes and almost as much in promissory notes. The construction lasted 15 years.

By the autumn of 1825, the cathedral was still not completed. In the same year, when Emperor Alexander I passed through Mglin, the residents appealed to him for help in finishing the construction. The emperor promised assistance, but soon died in Taganrog. Nevertheless, in 1827, 5,000 rubles were sent from the royal cabinet for the completion of the construction and the purchase of bells.

By the autumn of 1830, the finishing works were completed, and on October 23, the cathedral was solemnly consecrated. After the arrival of Soviet power in 1929, the crosses and bells were removed, and the parishioners took the property home. In the 1930s, the bell towers and fence were dismantled, but the main building survived. In 1943, after repairs, services resumed.

In 1957, the cathedral estate was enclosed with a fence, but services continued for a short time. On November 14, 1961, new destruction of the cathedral began. On October 18, 1988, the building was handed over to the Orthodox community, and the first service took place on October 14, 1989, on the day of the Protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary.