The history of Chersonesos-Cherson was two thousand years long, and for one millennium it existed as a Christian city. Churches, baptisteries, and tombs were constructed for over a thousand years; icons, crosses and other church utensils have been imported to the city. Cherson was a centre of Christianity in Taurica, which is why so many Christian antiquities were found during excavations.

From the beginning of the fourth century onwards, Christianity was not persecuted in the Roman Empire anymore. It was announced a "permitted cult" and a little bit later was proclaimed the state religion. The policy of the Byzantine emperors included the attempts of Christianizing the north Black Sea area. The few-century-long process of penetration and establishment of Christianity in Cherson started in the fourth century. However, some graves of Cherson with a few artefacts with Christian inscriptions and symbols date back to the late third century.