The hill where the church is located was called "Andrew's Hill" after the Apostle Andrew. There is a legend about the Saint, who travelled around the world and peached. One day he came to the banks of the Dnipro River and spent the night there. In the morning he said to his followers: "Do you see these hills? On these hills God will spread his grace. A town will appear and many churches will be raised." After having blessed the place, Andrew placed the cross on the hill. The legend binds the construction of the cross with the location of St. Andrew's Church.

 Sticking back to the history it is known that the idea to construct the church came to Empress Elizabeth, who visited Kiev in 1744, and with her own hand she laid the first stone of the future church. Now the monogram of the sovereign is inscribed on the frontons of Saint Andrew's Church. 

 The chief-architect of the court was Bartolomeo Rastrelli, who was known for numerous constructions in the baroque style - grandiose palaces and churches in Petersburg. But the Church of Saint Andrew with its modest proportions is perharps the most harmonious and picturesque work he left behind. 

 Saint Andrew's Church, an outstanding monument of the 18th century, was declared a museum in 1968.