Armenian Information
Khor Virap Monastery
There
are ruins of the ancient capital of Armenia here and the church of XVI
AD. This monastery complex is widely known for its fortress and underground
prison where the first Armenian Saint and the establisher of Christianity
in Armenia Grigor Lousavorich (Gregory the Illuminator) has been in confinement.
For preaching faith Christianity in Armenia he was imprisoned in this
remote place by Trdat King for 13 years. Trdat got ill and in his dream
he was told that only Gregory would be able to help him. Indeed, Gregory
cured him and was rewarded and given his freedom and began baptizing the
nation in 301 and Armenia claimed Christianity as a state religion. You
can climb down into the dark pit yourself, and then treat yourself to
the most spectacular view of the glorious Mt. Ararat.
