A famous pilgrimage site at the bottom of Mount Ararat in Armenia, the Khor Virap Monastery is located in the Ararat Valley, quite close to the Turkish border.
If you’ve been in Armenia for any length of time, you’ll recognise it as soon as you arrive from the many postcards bearing its image all over the region. Considered to be one of the most visited pilgrimage sites in Armenia, Khor Virap Monastery is located about 8 kilometres south of the city of Artashat in the Ararat Province.
flickr/Lea_from_Armenia
Khor Virap Monastery with Mount Ararat in the background
flickr/Ani S.
Khor Virap Monastery and the village of Lusarat
The monastery has a very interesting, if not somewhat gruesome history. The name Khor Virap roughly translates to deep pit or well, so called because King Tiridates III imprisoned St Gregory the Illuminator at the monastery in a well for 12 years. Had women from the local town not fed him, St Gregory would have perished here.
During this time the King was cursed with madness (or cursed by growing a boar’s head depending on the fable you believe) and somehow cured by St Gregory. This led the king to convert from Paganism to Christianity. St Gregory then went on to become the first Catholicos of the Armenian Apostolic Church and began the construction of churches on top of the pagan temples to spread the faith.
So whether or not you believe that the King’s mysterious recovery caused him to convert, or if you’re in the same camp as historians who think he switched sides to gain friends from the growing Christian community, the monastery is well worth a visit.
flickr/Lorenzoclick
khor Virap monastery
Sitting on a knoll near the Araks River, it is surrounded by beautiful river pastures and vineyards. Although the buildings at ground-level have been rebuilt consistently since the 6th century, the main church dates back from the 17th century and is built around the well in which St Gregory was a prisoner.
The pit where St Gregory was imprisoned
Visitors to the monastery can even climb down the well, although it is some 60 metres, to experience the setting for the saint’s imprisonment. It is a spooky experience to be sure, and sturdy shoes are definitely required.
Locals and pilgrims keep the priests busy on weekends with baptisms and weddings, among other things, so if you are thinking of visiting the Khor Virap Monastery do keep that in mind. Also, be sure get out your camera to capture the amazing backdrop of Mount Ararat, which when paired with the monastery, makes for an impressive travel photograph.
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