Shortly after the Battle of Poltava, to commemorate the victory, Peter decreed the construction of St. Peter and Paul Monastery with a church crypt below in honor of Saint Sampson the Hospitable on the battle field (since the battle took place on the 27th of June – the day of St. Sampson). Despite the decree of Peter I, the building of the monastery and the erection of the monument on the Swedish grave was hardly moved forward.

In 1840, at the suggestion of the governor-general Count A.G. Strohanov was held a design competition to build a church. From the presented projects, preference was given to the architect Joseph Ivanovich Charlemagne (1782-1861). The foundation of the church was laid on the 27th of June 1852. Its construction, which was carried out under the supervision of a local architect Khorunzhiy was completed in 1856. The church was consecrated on the 15th of July 1856. The church was designed in Old Slavonic Byzantine style.

In the late 19th century a special commission was set up in Poltava, which deemed it necessary to enlarge St. Sampson church. In 1890, architect M. Nikonov completed the project of reconstruction of the church. In late September 1895 the reconstruction of the temple was completed. On the 1st of October 1895 it was re-consecrated. In course of the preparation for the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Poltava St. Sampson church was changed again. The bell tower, designed by Poltava provincial architect S. Nosov, was built on the west side of the church. During the last reconstruction significantly changed not only the exterior but also the interior of the church. Inner surfaces of the church walls, ceiling, arches and the central dome were covered with a solid layer of highly decorative plant and scene paintings, painted by artist O. Sokol in V.Vasnetsov’s style. The wooden iconostasis was replaced by a single-tier marble one. Artistic and image-bearing features of the church’s wall-paintings and iconostasis give all reasons to classify them as a unique example of highly temple monumental art.

The church operated until March 1930. Divine service was resumed during 1942-1949. Since 1991 the church came under the jurisdiction of the Poltava Eparchy of Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate.

Saint Sampson the Hospitable, whose name the church was named after, became a prime example of Christian charity, genuine love for neighbor. After the death of his parents, he gave all his property to the poor and left Rome. His education and knowledge of medicine he used for healing people. Once St. Samson cured a Byzantine emperor Justinian the Great of an incurable disease. Not taking any gifts from him, the monk asked him only to build a hospital and an almshouse for the poor. The rest of his life he devoted to serving for neighbor. He lived an old age and after a short termed disease he entered peacefully into rest in 530 A.D.