St. Nicholas Orthodox Church was established after the Great Northern War for the military, merchants and their families. In 1721-1747 the Orthodox did not have their own church, and between 1748-1750 the first wooden church was built in Kuressaare with an area of 35 square meters, and the church was consecrated in honor of Bishop Nicholas the Defender of the Seas. This church was demolished in 1790; The present-day limestone cross-shaped chapel was built by order of Empress Catherine II between 1786-1789 and consecrated on September 22, 1790.