A previous church on the site was built in 1866 by the order of the Governor-General of the
Northwestern Krai Konstantin von Kaufman for the needs of the local
garrison and was consecrated in honour of the emperor
Constantine I and his mother
Helena. Usually referred to as the
Iron church (
Железная церковь,
Dzelzs baznīca) because of its external cladding, it was dismantled and rebuilt at Tsargrad (now
Jersika), where it still remains, following the decision to build a new garrison cathedral at the original site. The contemporary church was built in 1904–1905, the construction work being financed by the military. It was consecrated on in honour of the Holy Righteous Princes and Passion-bearers
Boris and Gleb and Saint
Alexius, Metropolitan of Moscow. == Architecture ==