Armenia's Khor Virap Monastery
Khor Virap is an ancient Armenian monastery located near the border with Turkey some 8 km (5 mi) from the town of Artashat, Armenia. It is situated on the Ararat Plain and offers fantastic views of Mt. Ararat in good weather. Legend has it that St. Gregory the Illuminator (c. 257-c. 331 CE) was imprisoned here for 14 years by Tiridates III of Armenia (r. 287-330 CE). Historical record states that a chapel built on the site by Catholicos Nerses III (r. 641-661 CE) — who was also responsible for the construction of Zvartnots Cathedral — in 642 CE. Continuously reconstructed througout the centuries, Khor Virap remains one of the most visited pilgrimage sites in modern Armenia.
Image by James Blake Wiener










