The five-domed katholikon of traditional Byzantine design was constructed under Ivan the Terrible, starting in 1559.

The naos or cella has the shape of a cross, in line with the popular Byzantine cross-in-square design.

Architecturally, it is of a simple Byzantine cross-in-square design, with a single nave and apse.

The church follows the Byzantine cross-in-square design, with unusually short arms of equal size.

The capitals, which are of varied Byzantine design, are superimposed by dosserets.

It is a mixture of Romanesque and Byzantine designs, both in Russian style.

The dome was of stained glass, in carefully leaded sections worked into a symbolic Byzantine religious design.

The three-naved church follows the traditional Byzantine cross-in-square design.

The worn carvings on the pillars, as well as the essentially cruciform layout of the floor, argued for Byzantine design.

St Sophia is a Byzantine design by architect John Oldrid Scott.