The Holy Gates serve as the entrance to the monastery, symbolically separating the earthly and monastic worlds. The gates include two arches of different sizes: one for everyday use and the other for festive entry. Above them are two churches, the Church of the Epiphany and the Church of St. Ferapont, which have preserved all elements of their architecture. These churches, as examples of tent-like structures from the 17th century, stand out for their uniqueness and picturesque quality, thanks to their two slender tents. Together with the government chamber adjoining from the south, they form the main facade of the Ferapontov Monastery.

In 1666 and 1676, during the exile of Patriarch Nikon, the Church of the Epiphany became his private church from 1668. Here served the half-blind priest Varlaam, as Nikon was deprived of his priestly rank. Both churches inside are united in a small rectangular volume, elongated along the north-south axis and divided by an arch. The tents on octagonal bases are placed above the middle of the building, not connected to the vault system, and their weight is transferred to the walls through unique relieving arches, which is a rare architectural technique.