Khor Viran Monastery is one of the most visited places in Armenia. It offers the most beautiful view of Mount Ararat, which is the symbol of the country. The monastery was founded in the 7th century AD on the site of the dungeon where King Trdat III imprisoned Gregory the Illuminator at the end of the 3rd century AD. And for several centuries, from the 3rd century BC, the city of Artashat, the ancient capital of Armenia, was located on this place.
Surely all people know the biblical legend of Noah`s Ark, which floated over the waters during the Flood for 150 days and landed on Mount Ararat. This mountain is located on the territory of modern Turkey, but from the territory of Armenia it offers the most beautiful view. Arriving at the monastery of Khor Virap, you admire its greatness, and immediately remember the story of Noah`s Ark.
Armenia is the first country in the world to adopt Christianity as a state religion in 301, and the Khor Virap Monastery is directly related to these events. Some historians call the date 314, but even in this case Armenia is the first country to adopt Christianity.
The territory of ancient Armenia in the 50s AD was visited by the apostles Thaddeus and Bartholomew, who were among the 12 disciples of Jesus Christ. Since then, a large Christian community has been formed in Armenia. Its members were persecuted, as were all Christians in the territory of the Roman Empire. One of the most prominent members of the Armenian community at the end of the 3rd century was Gregory the Illuminator. Tsar Trdat, following the policy of Diocletian, also persecuted Christians, and imprisoned Gregory the Illuminator on the site of the monastery of Khor Virap.
According to legend, at the same time, a community of 37 Christian girls lived in the vicinity of Rome, among whom was a girl named Rapsime. Their abbess was Saint Gayane. Rapsime was famous for her extraordinary beauty. When the Emperor Diocletian saw her, he immediately decided to marry her. She did not agree, and all the girls fled from Rome.
They had a vision of the Virgin Mary, who told them to go to the Ararat Valley. They settled in Armenia near the town of Vagharshapat. However, Diocletian sent a message to his ally King Trdat, demanding to capture the girls and bring them back to Rome.
When King Trdat III saw Rapsime, he also decided to marry her. But she refused him, too. Then he ordered to kill all the girls. They were stoned to death, and King Trdat fell into madness. His sister said that only Gregory the Illuminator, who by that time had been languishing in prison for 13 years on the site of the Monastery of Khor Virap, could cure him.
Gregory was brought to the tsar and after prayer Trdat was immediately healed. After that, the tsar decided to make Christianity the state religion. Gregory the Illuminator became the first catholicos of the Armenian Apostolic Church in 301. He died in 326 and became the first and most revered Saint of the Armenian Church. Above the dungeon at the foot of Mount Ararat, where he spent 13 years, a monastery was founded in the 7th century. It was named Khor Virap, which means "Deep Pit" in Armenian.
The foundation date of the monastery is 642, but the chapel over the dungeon of Gregory the Illuminator was built much earlier – in the 5th century. In the center of the monastery is the Church of the Virgin Mary. The building erected in the 17th century has survived to this day.
The monastery is located 40 km south of Ararat on the bank of the bank of the Araks River, which is the state border between Armenia and Turkey. An excursion to the Virap Choir is often combined with a visit to the Zvartnots Temple and the Echmiadzin Cathedral.
