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Khor Virap and the ancient city of Artashat stand on the left bank of the Arax River, in the shadow of Mt. Ararat. Khor Virap is located next to the site of a pagan temple to Anahit, on hill 6 of the upper city. It was here that King Artashes I, the founding monarch of the Artashesian Dynasty established his capital ca. 189-188 BC, reuniting Armenian lands and reforming the country's economy, culture and political-military systems in the process. It was here that the 4th century founder of the Armenian Apostolic Church, Grigor Lusavorich (Gregory the Illuminator) was imprisoned in a deep pit (”Khor Virap”) for thirteen years before beginning his ministry (with the king T'rdat III) to convert the kingdom to Christianity.

Mount Ararat is a snow-capped and dormant compound volcano in Turkey. It consists of two major volcanic cones: Greater Ararat (the highest peak in Turkey and the entire Armenian plateau with an elevation of 5,137 m and Lesser Ararat ( 3,896 m)

The Ararat plain 

The Khor Virap (meaning

"deep pit" or "deep well") is an Armenian

Apostolic Church monastery located in the Ararat

plain in Armenia, near the border

with Turkey

The Khor Virap monastery was

host to a theological 

seminary and was the residence of

Armenian Catholicos

Mount Ararat in Judeo-

Christian tradition is associated with the "Mountains of

Ararat" where, according to the

Book of Genesis, Noah's Ark came to rest.

It also plays a significant role in Armenian culture and 

nationalism. The mountain can be seen on the coat

of arms of Armenia

Ararat - The Biblical name Ararat derives from the ancient kingdom of Urartu

The eastern wall of the main church, St. Astvatsatsin (ca. 17th c.), is the first structure you see after passing through the gateway

The church is built on top of a rock dome, sloping edges of which jut out from the courtyard paving.

The church, a domed hall type, was destroyed during the Timurid invasions of the late 14th century and rebuilt in the 17th century

Though venerated from the time of St. Grigor's death (ca. 334) and mentioned as a pilgrimage site in early medieval (5th-6th centuries) chronicles, the current monastery is traced to the 7th century, when the Catholicos Nerses III (the Builder) had a small chapel built over the pit where Grigor had languished for 13 years.

Another church may have been at the site before then, judging from the older blocks of stone used to construct the large central church of St. Astvatsatsin, its latest version dating to the 17th century

The most recent renovation was in 2000-2001 within the framework of 1700th anniversary of proclaiming Christianity as state religion in Armenia.

Khor Virap is also tied to the Vartanants (Vardanants) War, when Armenians rebelled against the rule of Sassanid Persia. In the war the Armenians were led by Vartan (Vardan) Mamikonian, who was made Sparapet (general) of the Armenian forces in 432

The pit where Grigor languished for 13 years is located to the southwest of the main church, underneath St. Gevorg Chapel, a small basilica with a semicircular apse

A chapel was built in 642 for one of the greatest Catholicos in Armenian history, Nerses III (the Builder), responsible for many of the religious structures of the 7th century. He put an end to the divide between the state and the church. His grave is located near the relics of St. Grigor.

Inside the chapel there are two pits, the farthest of which is the one where Grigor was held for 13 years before meeting King T'rdat and converting him to Christianity.

The pit is deep, 6 meters, and 4.4 meters in diameter; in its day located inside the city's castle keep, a prison for those designated for execution. St. Grigor was left to die, and it was only with the help of a kind woman who lowered baskets of food to the prisoner that he survived.

Khor Virap's notability as a monastery and pilgrimage site is attributed to the fact that Grigor Lusavorich, who later became Saint Gregory the Illuminator, was initially imprisoned here for 13 years by King Tiridates III of Armenia. Saint Gregory subsequently became the king's religious mentor, and they led the proselytizing activity in the country. In the year 301, Armenia was the first country in the world to be declared a Christian nation. 

Khor Virap Baptism of Tiridates III by St. Gregory

The hills of Artashat (“Artaxiasata”) were chosen as the site of a new Armenian capital by the founder of the Artashesian Dynasty, Artashes I. The city was built between 189 and 188 BCE. 

The city was located in the

ancient confluence of the

Arax and Metsamor Rivers on 12 small and

large hills. Excavations

uncovered a large settlement from the early Bronze Age and a newly

discovered Urartian city.

According to Plutarch and Strabo, the city's site and design was attributed to the Carthaginian general Hannibal, who, during the Battle of Magnesia (190 BCE), was defeated by Antioch the Great, and fled to befriend the young Artashes becoming his advisor.

The complex includes the ruins of Artashat city (Citadel, Temples, Khor Virap, Workshops and Residences, Roman-style Baths and water systems)

Artashat was the main capital of the country for 600 years, the "Vostann Hayots" (court or seal of the Armenians) and royal seat for the Artashesian and Arshakuni dynasties.

Cemetery just near the monastery

Cemetery just near the monastery

Cemetery just near the monastery

Most of the cemeteries in Armenia have pictures of the people on the outside of the tomb

Cemetery just near the monastery

Artashat remained the principal political and cultural center of the kingdom until the Persian king Shapur II attacked Armenia and destroyed Artashat's fortress walls and stone structures, burning the rest (364-369)

Thank you Ararat from ArmeniansMeruzhan Khachatryan

Temple to AnahitThe temple was located in the area where the present Astvatsatsin now stands. It was, along with the Temple to Apollo-Tir (Mher), one of the most important temples in the old city, and was covered with marble and copper plate, its treasury lavished with statuary, gold and silver plate.

Sound: Djivan Gasparyan - I'm gone

Text: Internet

Pictures: Internet

Sanda Foişoreanu

Sanda NegruţiuCopyright: All the images belong to their authors

Presentation: Sanda Foişoreanu

www.slideshare.net/michaelasanda

Inset (close up of Khor Virap vank)1. Khor Virap fortress walls2. Astvatsatsin Church3. Single Nave Basilica with Khor Virap (Pit)

Legend1. Artashat Fortress Walls2. Arax (“Yeraskh”) River3. Hill 2: Citadel4. Hill 6: Acropolis, Khor Virap5. Hill 1: Military Defense6. Hills 5, 7-9: Workshops & Residences7. Bridge8. (Temple to Mher), Public & Private Roman Baths