Khor Virap Monastery

Khor Virap is one of the most sacred sites for Armenians and a popular place of pilgrimage. The history of this site is linked to the adoption of Christianity in Armenia as well as the entire process of educational and cultural development. According to historical documents, a temple of goddess Anahit stood here before. St.Grigor church (1662-1669) of Khor Virap was built atop of the old church's foundation. As the historical sources state, in 642 catholicos Nerses G Tayeci built a Zvartnots-looking church on top of the pit. St.Grigor church was built on the ruins of this church in the 17th century. Under the main altar of this church is the pit where St.Grigor Lusavorich was kept and tormented. The pit is 6.5 meters deep with 4.5 meters in the diameter. In the center of the complex stands St.Astvatsatsin church (end of the17th century) rich with its sculptural artwork depicting Grigor Lusavorich and Tiridates the Great. Columnar belfry (19th century) is located next to the church from the western side. Gates with 7 circular pyramids (17th century) inside consist of adjacent structures. According to an Armenian historian Agatangeghos, king Tiridates G the Great, who prosecuted christians, threw Grigor A Lusavorich, after the latter was long tortured, to a pit of the royal prison in Artashat meant for prisoners sentenced to death and famous as 'Virap Artashatu' (Artashat pit). The founder of the Armenian Apostolic church, Grigor Lusavorich, spent 13 years enclosed in Khor Virap's pit surrounded by snakes and scorpions. A widowed woman fed him every day secretly throwing a loaf into the pit. Grigor Lusavorich was freed from the pit 9 days after Hripsime's nuns were prosecuted. In the eastern part on the pit's ceiling is a hole through which the widow fed Grigor Lusavorich throwing down a loaf of bread every day. Preserved from the 3rd century this building is the oldest surviving domed structure of the Armenian medieval architecture. During the cleaning of the ages old layers of soil at the bottom of the pit a chapel-like sepulchre with cleric remains was discovered. It was possibly the grave of Nerses G Tayeci catholicos which was left in its own place and was covered again with soil.

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