The famous monastery complex Khor Virap (translated from Armenian “deep pit”), which is the second largest sanctuary of Christian Armenia after St. Echmiadzin, marking the beginning of the Great Conversion of Armenians, was erected in the Vostan gavar of the Ayrarat province of Historical Armenia, on the left bank of the Yeraskh river (Araks) (now - southwest of Lusarat village of the Ararat region of the Republic of Armenia, on the eastern slope of the sixth of the twelve large and small hills of Khor Virap).
The Armenian literature contains a lot of information about the history of the emergence of the Khor Virap monastery complex, which is considered as the main center of the Great Conversion of Armenians. The history of the monastery is closely intertwined with the events associated with the adoption and spread of Christianity in Armenia.
According to the legend of the Armenian Church, apostles St. Thaddeus and St. Bartholomew, who, after arriving in Armenia, stopped to rest on the hills of Artashat, carved crosses on the rocks. In honor of this historical event, a 7-meter cross was erected here in 2015.
This place became famous again later. 2.5 centuries after the apostles visited it, the first Armenian Catholicos Gregory the Illuminator (in Armenian Grigor Lusavorich) was tortured here in the name of the Christian faith. According to historian Agatangeghos, Gregory, because of his refusal to worship the goddess Anahit, was thrown into the pit of the Artashat city prison, intended for those sentenced to death, from which it was impossible to get out alive. However, Gregory has lived here for 13-15 years thanks to a kind-hearted Christian woman, who was throwing a piece of bread into the pit every day.
The liberation of Gregory the Illuminator from Khor Virap in 301 symbolizes the Great Conversion of the Armenians. King Trdat III himself ordered to destruct the temples and construct churches in their place. Christianity was declared as a state religion, and Gregory became the first spiritual leader of the Armenian Church, i.e. Gregory the Illuminator. The Armenian Apostolic Church is often called Gregorian or Enlightenment.in honor of Gregory.
The Armenian literature contains rich information about the erection of a chapel in the place of the pit, and then a monastery. Even in the 4-5th centuries it was mentioned about Saint Virap and the construction of a Christian church in the place of a pagan temple in Artashat. The constructions were destroyed during the Persian invasion.
Later evidences concerning the formation of a spiritual center are dated back to the 7th century. Catholicos Nerses III Tayetsi (641-661), who was called the Builder, built Surb Gevorg Church in the place of the pit in the middle of the 7th century, which, according to the bibliographic data, was similar to the Zvartnots temple. The current church is a vaulted structure built in 1662.
Surb Astvatsatsin Church, the main structure of the monastery complex, is a domed structure. The church was built in the 17th century during the period of the abbess of David II Tpghisetsi. The construction was repeatedly destroyed as a result of earthquakes, especially in 1679, when all the monuments in the Ararat valley were damaged. The constructions of the Khor Virap complex were restored during the life of David Tpghisetsi. The last repair of the constructions of the monastery complex was carried out in 2000-2001 within the framework of the events dedicated to the celebration of the 1700th anniversary of the adoption of Christianity as a state religion in Armenia.
In contrast to the cross-shaped central-domed structures characteristic of the medieval Armenian structures, the Surb Astvatsatsin Church is an elongated vaulted structure. The construction has a conical dome resting on an octagonal drum. From the west a bell tower, built at the end of the 19th century, adjoins the temple. In the eastern part, a single multi-figured bas-relief depicting the victory of Christianity in Armenia is carved in the wall. It depicts Gregory the Illuminator holding the Holy Scriptures in his left hand and blessing and healing King Trdat with his right hand.
The monastery complex today also includes a wall located from west to east, along which there are a refectory, a monastery hotel and other auxiliary buildings. Since the 13th century the monastery has also be mentioned as a famous school and center of writing in medieval Armenia.
Every year the relics of the Saint are brought here from the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin during the festivities dedicated to the Enlightener. The Khor Virap monastery complex, due to its greatness opening on the sacred Mount Ararat with a bewitching view, attracts many pilgrims from Armenia and from abroad.
