В ходе посещения святой горы российский президент сел в кресло, на котором раньше могли располагаться только византийские императоры.

Actually Vladimir Putin did not sit on on an emperor’s throne, but he was standing in the Protaton church and the throne is a bishop’s stasidion (a choir stall in an Orthodox church, thanks Alex for your comment).

https://athosweblog.com/2016/06/01/1823-putin-and-the-protaton-throne/

"Here in Mount Athos, there is great and important work done on moral values," Putin said after a Mass in his honor, where he was seated in the bishop's throne.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/wires/ap/article-3613977/Putin-visits-Orthodox-monastic-community-Mount-Athos.html