Խոր Վիրապ is a Christian monastery located in Armenia at the border to Turkey. It is located on a mountain and very close to Mount Ararat – therefore it is very often depicted in media about Armenia. The place is deeply connected to the history of Gregory the Illuminator, a Christian martyr who was imprisoned in a deep hole in the ground by the Pagan king. It is said that he survived there for 15 years and three hundred years later a church was built here. Still today people get to this place to visit the hole in the ground.
Khor Virap offers other good reasons to visit it. First, you can have great views of Mount Ararat here. It is still today considered by the Armenians as their mountain also they cannot visit it because it has been given to Turkey by Stalin. Don’t expect too much – in some seasons the mountain is covered by clouds and only partially visible. Wait for sundown and enjoy the sun going down behind the mountains revealing the shape of it through the clouds.
The other thing that you can see very well from here is the border to Turkey. As a visitor from Europe, this might feel strange for you as you can see the fence and the no-man’s-land; something that doesn’t exist anymore in united Europe. Take a look at the crosses made of stone in front of the monastery – they are typical for Armenia. Underneath Khor Virap there is a parking area and a market. You can get different souvenirs there; like pomegranate fruits made of ceramics.
Khor Virap monastery
Խոր Վիրապ
Armenia
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