In the whole immense Siberia, there is no building of more venerable age than the St. Sophia-Assumption Cathedral. It was built in 1686 by Moscow and Veliky Ustyug craftsmen under the leadership of G. Sharypin, G. Tyutin, V. Kharitonov and S. Larionov. The Ascension Church of the Chudov Monastery, located near the Moscow Kremlin, was used as a model. In 1704, a small chapel was added to the north side of the cathedral. In the middle of the XIX century. it was altered and extended along the entire northern wall, consecrated in the name of John Chrysostom. The crypt of the chapel contains the graves of the Tobolsk metropolitans.

For several centuries, the Sophia-Assumption Cathedral was the cathedral for the Tobolsk diocese.

The Sophia Cathedral houses the main shrines of the Tobolsk-Tyumen Metropolitanate: the relics of saints, miraculous icons, as well as frescoes of the 18th century that are unique for Siberia.