Khor Virap Monastery
Khor Virap is a historic monastery in Armenia, famously associated with Saint Gregory the Illuminator, the patron saint who brought Christianity to Armenia.
According to tradition, in the late 3rd century, King Tiridates III imprisoned Gregory in a deep underground pit (the "virap") at the site - because Gregory was a Christian and refused to renounce his faith. He was held there for about 13 years.
Eventually, the king went mad, and only recovered after Gregory was freed and prayed for him. Grateful, Tiridates converted to Christianity, and in 301 AD, Armenia became the first nation in the world to adopt Christianity as its state religion.
Khor Virap marks the place where Gregory was imprisoned and later emerged as a symbol of Armenia’s Christian faith.
Khor Virap Monastery
Khor Virap is a historic monastery in Armenia, famously associated with Saint Gregory the Illuminator, the patron saint who brought Christianity to Armenia.
According to tradition, in the late 3rd century, King Tiridates III imprisoned Gregory in a deep underground pit (the "virap") at the site - because Gregory was a Christian and refused to renounce his faith. He was held there for about 13 years.
Eventually, the king went mad, and only recovered after Gregory was freed and prayed for him. Grateful, Tiridates converted to Christianity, and in 301 AD, Armenia became the first nation in the world to adopt Christianity as its state religion.
Khor Virap marks the place where Gregory was imprisoned and later emerged as a symbol of Armenia’s Christian faith.