In the historical center Alatyr, on the high bank of the river Sura is the oldest temple of the city - the Church of the Beheading of St. John the Baptist, built in 1703.

History has not preserved the date of foundation of the temple (presumably in 1552 - during the construction of the walled city Alatyr), but in 1703 the stone structure has replaced the dilapidated wooden church. In the first half of the nineteenth century, to the western facade of five-domed church was built porch with chetyrёhkolonnym portico. Overall decor of the building was made in Baroque style.

Service in the cathedral continued until 1929, after which the building was nationalized and placed under the base consumer union. In the mid-twentieth century old building that has preserved a colorful five-domed, due to lack of basic repairs on the bricks began to crumble. In 1969, at the initiative of local historians and Alatirskie All-Russian Society for the Protection of Cultural Monuments and history were started restoration work, which lasted about ten years. In 1976 the building of the cathedral acquired its present architectural appearance, and was transferred to a museum. In 1999, the historic building of the Church and returned in February 2002 in the cathedral resumed service.

Nowadays Baptist Temple is a monument of culture and history of federal importance and one of the oldest religious buildings of Chuvashia. The main shrine of the temple is an ancient icon of St. John the Baptist, donated to the Metropolitan Barnabas.

At the same territory with the Baptist church is the Cathedral of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, built in 1770. It completes the architectural appearance of the area of ​​the October Revolution (previously - Bazaar) Nicholas Znamensky temple built in 1779.