Khor Virap Monastery

Khor Virap Monastery, Armenia – 2016. Khor Virap is the most famous pilgrimage site in Armenia, as it is directly connected with the adoption of Christianity as a state religion in Armenia in 301AD due to endeavors of Saint Gregory the Illuminator, who before converting King Trdat the 3rd to Christianity, was imprisoned in the dungeon over which a church of Khor Virap monastery was built in the 17th century. From the monastery one can admire the stunning view of the Biblical Mount Ararat.
Khor Virap with Mount Ararat in the distance. Unfortunately it was a cloudy day and the mountain was never fully visible
The minaret is on the Turkish side boarder. The boarder is closed.
There was a lot of graffiti on the walls of the church, this one from 1918 so it has been going on for a long time.
The alter inside Church of the Holy Mother of God dedicated to Saint Astvatzatzin
The entrance to the Church of the Holy Mother of God dedicated to Saint Astvatzatzin
St. Gevorg Chapel which is a small basilica built above the pit where Gregory was imprisoned
Khor Virap
Khor Virap
Church of the Holy Mother of God dedicated to Saint Astvatzatzin
Near the top of the hill above Khor Virap
The cemetery for the nearby village of Artashat
Khor Virap
The cemetery for the nearby village of Artashat and at the foot of the hill were Khor Virap is located
Khor Virap
Beatles on a plant next to the parking lot at Khor Virap
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