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In 1710, Batonishvili Vakhtang VI, the regent of Kartli, made changes to the dome, roof, and inscriptions on the building. Since the twelfth century, the plan of Sioni church has not changed significantly. Late in the eighteenth century, in 1795, the Aga Makhmad Khan raided Tbilisi during which the Sioni church was again damaged. This time the repairs included the replacement of the burned wooden [[iconostasis]] with one made of stone.
On [[April 12]], 1802, Sioni cathedral became the scene of where the annexation of Georgia into the Russian Empire was announced. On that date, General Karl von Knorring, Russian commander in chief in Georgia, presented the manifesto to the assembled Georgian nobility and required the nobles to take an oath to the Russian Imperial crown. Those who refused were arrested. <ref>[[Julius Heinrich Klaproth|Klaproth, J.]] (2005), ''Travels in the Caucasus and Georgia. Performed in the years 1807 and 1808, by command of the Russian government'', Adamant Media Corporation, ISBN 1-4021-8908-7, p. 220 (''Replica of 1814 edition by Henry Colburn, London'')</ref><ref>Villari, L. (1906), ''Fire and Sword in the Caucasus'', T. F. Unwin, London, p. 32 (Online version [http://armenianhouse.org/villari/caucasus/caucasus-history.html])</ref><ref>[[David Marshall Lang|Lang, DM.]] (1957), ''The Last Years of the Georgian Monarchy: 1658-1832'', [[New York]]: [[Columbia University Press]], p. 247</ref>
There are two bell towers that compliment the cathedral. In 1425, King Alexander I built a free standing three story bell tower next to the church. However, in 1795, this tower was largely destroyed during an attack by Persian forces. In 1812, another three story bell tower was built across the street from the cathedral that commemorates the Russia victory in the Russo-Turkish War of 1806 to 1812
