- Khor Virap
The Khor Virap ("Խոր Վիրապ" in Armenian, meaning "deep dungeon") monastery is one of the most popular tourist destinations in
Armenia . Its location, near the closest point toMount Ararat within Armenian borders, offers a spectacular view of the mountain, the national symbol of Armenia.It is also significant as being the place of
Gregory the Illuminator 's 13-year imprisonment, after which Gregory, by converting the King Trdat III toChristianity in the year 301, made Armenia the first country to adopt Christianity as its official religion.In the mid-1990's, volunteers for the
Canadian Youth Mission to Armenia helped renovate/restore the cathedral.History
The main church, St. Astvatsatsin, dates from the end of the 17th century. The smaller St. Gevorg Chapel was originally constructed in 642 by Catholicos
Nerses III the Builder , but has been repeatedly rebuilt. St. Gevorg was built over the pit of imprisonment ofSaint Gregory the Illuminator . This prison pit is where Saint Gregory the Illuminator was imprisoned for 13 years before curing King Trdat III of a disease. As reverence for Saint Gregory's act of healing and kindness, the King converted Armenia into the first officially Christian nation in the world in the year 301.Gallery
External links
* [http://www.armenica.org/cgi-bin/armenica.cgi?=2=ba=1=baz0024 Khor Virap at Armenica.org]
* [http://www.armeniapedia.org/index.php?title=Khor_Virap_Monastery Detailed information about Khor Virap on Armeniapedia.org]
* [http://armeniaphotos.info/photos/armenia_sights/khor_virap Photos at Armenia Photos.info]
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