The monastery-fortress Khor Virap is an architectural monument of the 17th century. located on top of a hill, about 40 km. from Yerevan. From the territory of the monastery, due to the special proximity, an unusual view of the legendary Mount Ararat opens.
This is the location of the ancient capital of Armenia, Artashat, built around 180 BC. e. King Artashes I.
On the site of the monastery there used to be a royal prison ("khor virap" - translated as "deep pit"), in which, according to legend, the Armenian king Trdat III imprisoned for about 14 years St. Gregory the Lusavorich, the founder of the adoption of Christianity in Armenia ( 301).
In 642, Catholicos Nerses III erected a chapel over the prison cellar. And the entrance to the underground prison, 6 meters deep, has survived to this day, and is located in the chapel of St. Gregory, built in 1661. After some time, the chapel was destroyed.
In its place, in the middle of the 17th century, the large church of Surb Astvatsatsin (Holy Mother of God), which exists to this day, was erected. At the same time, the cells of the monks and the monastery itself were built.
In the monastery-fortress of Khor Virap, there used to be a theological seminary and the residence of the Armenian Catholicoses. In the 18th century the temple fell into disrepair and only in 1765 Catholicos Simeon Yerevantsi reconstructed it.
Now it is one of the most famous places of pilgrimage for Armenians from all over the world. The church holds regular services. And in the monastery you can also participate in the ceremony of releasing white doves - they believe that they will fly to the top of Ararat.
Excursion tours to Armenia - Travel Agency "Hot Line", www. hot. com. ua +38(044)599-46-30, +38(050)346-4599, +38(067)462-9242
This is the location of the ancient capital of Armenia, Artashat, built around 180 BC. e. King Artashes I.
On the site of the monastery there used to be a royal prison ("khor virap" - translated as "deep pit"), in which, according to legend, the Armenian king Trdat III imprisoned for about 14 years St. Gregory the Lusavorich, the founder of the adoption of Christianity in Armenia ( 301).
In 642, Catholicos Nerses III erected a chapel over the prison cellar. And the entrance to the underground prison, 6 meters deep, has survived to this day, and is located in the chapel of St. Gregory, built in 1661. After some time, the chapel was destroyed.
In its place, in the middle of the 17th century, the large church of Surb Astvatsatsin (Holy Mother of God), which exists to this day, was erected. At the same time, the cells of the monks and the monastery itself were built.
In the monastery-fortress of Khor Virap, there used to be a theological seminary and the residence of the Armenian Catholicoses. In the 18th century the temple fell into disrepair and only in 1765 Catholicos Simeon Yerevantsi reconstructed it.
Now it is one of the most famous places of pilgrimage for Armenians from all over the world. The church holds regular services. And in the monastery you can also participate in the ceremony of releasing white doves - they believe that they will fly to the top of Ararat.
Excursion tours to Armenia - Travel Agency "Hot Line", www. hot. com. ua +38(044)599-46-30, +38(050)346-4599, +38(067)462-9242
Translated automatically from Russian. View original
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