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Construction of a [[temple]] in Harbin, that later became the Cathedral of St Nicholas, began on [[October 1]], 1899. The church was consecrated by the Bishop of Vladivostok. In 1900, the Holy [[Synod]] of the Church of Russia proposed attaching the northern territories of Manchuria to the Diocese of Transbaikal under Bishop [[Methodius (Gerasimov) of Harbin|Methodius]]. Church consecrations in the early years of the twentieth century were also conducted by Bishop [[Innocent (Figurosky) of Beijing|Innocent]], head of the [[Russian Orthodox Mission in China|Russian Mission]] in Beijing. On [[May 29]], 1903, the Holy Synod subordinated the clergy in northern Manchuria to the head of the Mission in Beijing, Bishop Innocent. By 1904, there were twelve [[priest]]s in Manchuria.
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With the start of construction of the China-Eastern Railway through Manchuria on [[August 16]], 1897, the number of Orthodox Christians in Manchuria increased steadily. In Manchuria, the city of Harbin that was in the center of the railway network grew steadily, becoming quickly a city with a large Russian population. By 1899, over 14,000 Russian citizens lived in Harbin, in addition to those in the countryside. Among the Russians who arrived in Manchuria were security details of cossacks who were responsible for security of the railway. These cossacks came with their own clergy, who began celebration of religious services on [[October 5]], 1987 in temporary facilities, using antimins provided by the [[Archbishop]] of Kherson and Odessa.
On [[August 8]], 1907, by decree of the Holy Synod the [[church]]es and clergy of northern Manchuria were transferred from the oversight of the Mission in Beijing to the ruling bishop of the Diocese of Vladivostok, Archbishop Evsevy. After this transfer church life in Manchuria developed more favorably with availability of more favorable transportation and communications capabilities between Vladivostok and Harbin.
