Khor Virap

Choir Virap (Armenian Խոր Վիրապ, "deep dungeon " ) is an Armenian monastery, which lies between the cities and Artashat Ararat province Ararat about 40 km south of Yerevan in sight of the border with Turkey beneath Mount Ararat.

According to legend, imprisoned King Trdat III. in the year 288 AD, on the small hill in the middle of the plane of Araxtals Gregory the Illuminator, and kept him trapped there for 13 years, to dissuade him from the Christian faith in a cave. As the torture Gregor could not bend, and this cured the king of a incurable respected, disfiguring skin disease, is Trdat III had. baptized with his family and the farm in 301 and ruled that the Armenians - the first nation in history - accepted Christianity as the state religion. The hill of Khor Virap is also the point at which 180 BC, the ancient Armenian capital Artaxata was built by Artaxias I., the founder of the dynasty of Artaxiden. Today on the hill there is a small monastery of the 17th century, from the Mother of God Church ( Surb Astvatsatsin ) from 1661 and built up again several times, originally from the Catholicos Narses III. the builder donated 642 St. George's Chapel ( Surb Gevork ) exists. The first chapel had a design similar to that of an earthquake ruined cathedral of Zvartnots. Nearby her two holes in the floor through which you should have been held captive in the cave cell in which Gregor, and can descend into a similar underground cell. For a certain period was in choir Virap a theological seminary and the residence of the Catholicos.

Because of these legendary events the monastery for the Armenians has a special meaning. The events at the beginning of the 20th century reinforced this yet, as the final border between Turkey and the Soviet Union were ( the Armenian SSR ) is drawn close to the monastery. Thus choir Virap was for today Ararat, the national symbol of the Armenians, the nearest point on Armenian territory, after the mountain in Turkey was slammed. If weather conditions permit, offers from the monastery of one of the most beautiful views of the mountain.

Entrance to St George 's Chapel

Descend to the dungeon Gregory the Illuminator

Cave cell Gregory the Illuminator

Armenian language Ararat, Armenia Tiridates III of Armenia Artaxiad Dynasty Zvartnots, Armenia History of Armenia Amaras Monastery Gandzasar monastery Goshavank Hayravank Monastery Kecharis Monastery Sanahin Monastery Saint Stepanos Monastery
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