The name of Khor Virap monastery is translated as “deep dungeon”. The first Catholicos of All Armenians Saint Gregory the Illuminator, was imprisoned here for 13 years by the order of the Armenian pagan king Tiridates III for the preaching Christianity. When the king was stricken with a disease his sister saw a dream: an angel told her that Tiridates would be saved only after the liberation of Gregory the Illuminator. Thus the king released Gregory the Illuminator, and the latter healed the king. After the cure the king proclaimed Christianity as the state religion. Khor Virap has an important historical significance for Armenia. Today tourists have the opportunity to descend into the underground dungeon which is located inside St. Gregory the Illuminator chapel. The best view of the holy mountain Ararat opens from the territory of the monastery.
The well-established transport infrastructure of Armenia allows to get to Khor Virap monastery by a private car or with the help of various travel companies which offer regular excursions and tours to different sights of the country. Due to the geographical location of Khor Virap monastery the trip will not seem long.
The high season in Armenia lasts for a long time due to the pleasant climate conditions. Warm days in Armenia start in March and last until late autumn; winter is usually snowless and not long. The high precipitation season is variable. The tourist season for Khor Virap monastery depends on the weather conditions.
Khor Virap was originally a prison, which was a deep pit filled with snakes, poisonous insects, where prisoners were thrown.
There is a shrine called "Otiats Khach" in the wester part of the monastery, where, according to the legend, Apostles Thaddeus and Bartholomew met. The abbot of the monastery Vardan Alexandropolsetsi, built a chapel in this holy place in 1869.
Large-scale restoration work was carried out at Khor Virap monastery in the 1970s and 1980s. Household and living quarters, dilapidated fences were completely restored, and an observation deck appeared, from where a stunning panoramic view Mount Ararat opens. Khor Virap again became an important spiritual center and gained importance as an interesting tourist attraction. The religious and cultural newspaper "Gavit" was published here in the 80s-90s.
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