This was the first St Nicholas Church located on Military Officer Street later known as Military Administration Street (Today's Street) in the old district of Harbin called . It was built on August 1, 1898. The first rector was Fr Alexander Zhuravsky. Fr Sergiy Braduchan also served as rector from 1906-1908. The temple was rebuilt in 1926.
In 1898, with the beginning of building of city of Harbin the first church has been built on Manchurian ground in honor of St Nicholas, "a speedy helper and intercessor of all who flock to him". Located in the Old Harbin area, it was wooden, small and modestly decorated. When it was transferred to a new more comfortable building in 1926, they erected a chapel on the site of the old church, having retained its name of St Nicholas. (Under the Protection of St Nicholas of Myra)
In fact, it was a home church.
"Behind the house there was a front garden and a vegetable garden, in it there are several beds of carrots, onions, parsley, cabbage, sugar peas, beans, tomatoes, eggplant and cucumbers,
potatoes were also planted, all this blossomed and rejoiced, reminding the homeland…"
(Memories of the pogrom in Manchuria along the line of the Eastern Chinese Railway in 1898. Historical Bulletin. No. 10, 1906)