Khor Virap Monastery

Khor Virap Monastery stands on a low hill near the village of Pokr Vedi in Ararat Province, Armenia, about 45 km south of Yerevan, right beside the border with Turkey. Its name means deep dungeon, and it marks the pit where Saint Gregory the Illuminator was imprisoned by King Tiridates III for about 13 years in the late 3rd century. According to tradition, Gregory later healed the king, who then converted to Christianity, making Armenia the first state to adopt Christianity as an official religion in 301 AD. A chapel was built at the site in the 7th century, and the present church of Surb Astvatsatsin, or Holy Mother of God, was built in 1662 by the Catholicos Philippos I, along with the surrounding walls and monastic buildings. The 17th-century church is built of dark local stone and has a cross-domed plan with a central dome. A narrow stone shaft in the floor of the chapel of Saint Gregory leads down by a ladder to the pit, which is about six metres deep, and visitors can descend a metal ladder to see the cell. The site was an important pilgrimage destination and for centuries a seat of bishops and a centre for the training of clergy. In the Soviet period the border with Turkey, just across the Arax River, restricted access, and the monastery was reopened for worship after independence. The setting is its most famous feature, with Mount Ararat rising directly behind the monastery on a clear day. The monastery has been repaired and the grounds landscaped, and it is used for baptisms and liturgy. A visit takes about 45 to 60 minutes. Access to the area is controlled by a border zone, so carrying a passport is advised. Souvenir stalls outside sell dried fruit and religious items.