Soon after the battle of Poltava Peter I issued an order to build two churches in the name of St. Sampsoniy, whose name-day is celebrated on the 27th of June - the day of the battle. One of these churches was erected in St. Petersburg and another one was supposed to be built in Poltava.

St. Sampsoniy is one of the most respected Saints of the Orthodox Church. He lived in times of the Roman Empire and was a gifted doctor, famous for his unique talent of curing even in hopeless cases. After his death in 1530 the Orthodox Church canonized him. The first St. Sampsony church was erected near the common grave of the Russian warriors in 1856 by architect Sharlemani. It was a simple five-cupola church built in the old Slavonic style. The local landowner Sudienko bequeathed 100,000 rubles to be used by the City of Poltava to build St. Sampsoniy sepulchral church in commemoration of the Russian warriors, who were killed in the decisive battle of the Great Northern War.In 1895 the church was renovated and enlarged by architect Nikonov. By that time the burial-mound was rebuilt and a big granite cross was installed on the top. On the eve of the celebration of the bicentennial of the battle the temple was reconstructed. The bell tower over the entrance gate was dismantled in 1930. This church is one of the three that were lucky to survive in terrible 1930-s when fourteen Poltava churches were razed to the ground. St. Sampsoniy church is well known by its beautiful icons, painted by the draft of the famous Russian painter Vasnetsov. In 1991 St.Sampsoniy church resumed its activity as a parish.