[Armenia] Khor Virap Monastery with Mount Ararat, the site of Noah's Ark, in the background

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Located in western Armenia, near the border with Turkey, is Khor Virap Monastery, one of Armenia's most famous monasteries.

With a history spanning over 1,700 years, it is one of the oldest monasteries in Armenia, and it is also the monastery that marked the country's first Christian nation.

When the ancient Armenian kingdom still practiced animism (including Zoroastrianism),
it is said that when St. Gregory came to preach, the king imprisoned him in the dungeon of this church for 13 years.

The king suffered from illness during that time. Legend has it that the monks were plagued by various calamities, but when they freed Gregory through divine revelation, the calamities disappeared and they converted to Christianity.

The dungeon where they were imprisoned still remains, and tourists are welcome to enter, but it's dark and humid, and frankly, I didn't want to stay there for long.

Rising in the background is Mount Ararat, the famous "Noah's Ark" site on the Turkish side.

It's often hidden by clouds, but on this occasion, it only briefly appeared.


📍Location: Khor Virap, Ararat Province, Armenia
💰Free admission
🕒Opening hours: 8:00 AM - 7:00 PM
🚗Access: Approximately 25 minutes by car from Ararat Village

#Armenia #Church #Monastery #StunningView

Post by タビノモリ | Sep 25, 2025