Cathedral of Christ is a five-domed Orthodox white stone cathedral city of Arkhangelsk Oblast Kargopol.
The cathedral was founded in 1552 and was built 10 years it is likely to masters of Novgorod .  At first he was just in the volume, in terms of had a rectangular shape, 2 floors and was on the basement .  There is a theory that the original church was covered with tёsom with impressive eaves, and the upper (old) church were wooden stairs, arranged on three sides .  Stairs were decorated with ornate porches .  After 100 years of the north side of the cathedral was built a small chapel of Saints Philip and Alexy .  Then the south wall formed another chapel - in the name of All-Merciful Saviour, and in the west - a gallery and a covered porch, and, following the fashion of the XVII century, they were lavishly decorated with white-stone carvings .  In 1765 there was a fire, cracked walls of the cathedral were strengthened .  Some of the murals that have survived in the fire, have been spoiled, because for 5 years, the cathedral stood in the open, and he was not repaired .  In the cathedral is the miraculous icon of the Virgin of Kazan .  In 1936 it became part of the Cathedral of Christ Kargopolsky Historical and Architectural Museum-Reserve .

Cathedral of the Nativity of Christ is made of white stone and brick, shestistolpny, five-domed, trёhapsidny temple on the basement. His first tier has a unique collection of "heaven" of the churches and chapels Kargopol district. The second tier stores carved iconostasis dating back to XVIII century, part of the medieval frescoes. Currently, the walls are painted white, with only the west side one can see a small area of ​​medieval frescoes. From the icons kept only what was arranged after 1765. The peculiar element of the external structure - steel beam in the form of arms, rising above the main stone of the drum. By the end of it fastened the chain that holds the central chandelier. Over time, the building of the cathedral has gone into the land almost a meter.

Among the icons of the cathedral stand out "Christmas" and "The situation in the robe of the Virgin, with the Deesis and the Selected Saints" .  Icon "The Nativity of Christ» (II half of the XVI century) has a size of 155 x 180 cm .  She sends details evangelical legend about the birth of Christ .  The icon is no single compositional center, one scene flows smoothly into another .  It creates a good master of his time, its different interpretations of immediacy that characterizes folklore .  "Heaven" in the form of icons at the top of the circle .  The first scene - the journey to Bethlehem of Joseph and Mary .  Mary is depicted riding on a white horse .  In the center of the icon, you can see the birth of Christ, surrounded by angels .  The Magi, galloping horses, depicted in the upper corners of the icon .  Below, on the right side, the angel tells the shepherds about the birth of the sleeping Christ .  Beneath - Baby wash two women .  More below - the shepherds glorify Baby music .  On the left side of the three Magi tray gifts .  To the left - Joseph talking with an old man .  Currently, the icon is stored in the Russian Museum in St. Petersburg .

Icon "The position of the robe of the Virgin, with the Deesis and the Selected Saints" dates back to the XVI century. Dimensions - 38 x 46 cm. In the center - the Mother of God, pointing with both hands to the Church of St. Mary of Blachernae, which shows an ark with riza of the Virgin. Upstairs is visible on the right hand of God the Father's blessing. The top field displays the lap Deesis, consisting of 7 figures: Peter the Apostle, Archangel Michael, Mary, Jesus, Saint John the Baptist, the Archangel Gabriel and the Apostle Paul.