Mount Athos is commonly referred to in Greek as the "Holy Mountain" (Greek: Ἅγιον Ὄρος, Agion Oros ). Other languages of orthodox tradition also use names translating to "Holy Mountain" (e.g. Bulgarian and Serbian Света гора, Russian Святая Гора, Georgian მთაწმინდა). In the classical era, while the mountain was called Athos, the peninsula was known as Acté or Akté (Ἀκτή).
Mount Athos has been inhabited since ancient times and is known for its nearly 1,800-year continuous Christian presence and its long historical monastic traditions, which date back to at least 800 A.D. and the Byzantine era. Today, over 2,000 monks from Greece and many other countries, including Eastern Orthodox countries such as Romania, Moldova, Georgia, Bulgaria, Serbia and Russia, live an ascetic life in Athos, isolated from the rest of the world. The Athonite monasteries feature a rich collection of well-preserved artifacts, rare books, ancient documents, and artworks of immense historical value, and Mount Athos has been listed as a World Heritage Site since 1988.
Although Mount Athos is technically part of the European Union like the rest of Greece, the status of the Monastic State of the Holy Mountain, and the jurisdiction of the Athonite institutions, were expressly described and ratified upon admission of Greece to the European Community (precursor to the EU). The free movement of people and goods in its territory is prohibited, unless formal permission is granted by the Monastic State's authorities, and only males are allowed to enter.

 The longest ropeway "Wings of Tatev"  is a Guiness Book of Records entry.

   The cathedral is cruciform topped with only one dome of 25 meters height. Boris and Gleb Cathedral has impressive power. The cathedral construction is of high quality bricks - plinths, perfect masonry, delicate stone carvings. The design of parts of limestone facade decorated by relief ornaments in so-called "animal style" where floral designs together with fantastic birds and griffins. 

Since XII century it was repeatedly destroyed and rebuilt. Every time its architecture took on new features. At the beginning of XVII c.  the cathedral was rebuilt as Dominican Church.  In the second half of XVII century  it was rebuilt in Baroque style. Next in XIX century Boris and Gleb Cathedral was expanded to the east. The cathedral was badly damaged during World War II.

  To this day almost did not survive fresco. Only on the slope of the middle window of north wall above the portal barely visible geometric pattern of frescoes of XII century.

   Exposure decoration of the Cathedral are silver-plated Holy Gates weighing 56 kg. They were made in the beginning of XVIII century by order of hetman Ivan Mazepa.
Now it s a part of National Museum of Architecture and Historical Reserve "Ancient Chernihiv" .