| Khor Virap |
| Above is the church complex Khor Virap, with Mt. Ararat right behind it. Khor Virap has several buildings inside the complex, the photo on the top right is inside the main church in Khor Virap. Khor Virap literally means Deep Dungeon in the Armenian language, and this is named after the pit that Gregory the Illuminator was thrown into. Even after being thrown into the pit, Gregory was also ordered to be tortured after the King found out he was the son of one of his great enemies. Most people who knew Gregory assumed he would be killed and he was forgotten. |
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| Khor Virap is an important part of Armenian history, and is one of the most famous places in Armenia for several reasons. The biggest reason is because of the events that happened here turned Armenia into the first Christan country in the world. The story begins with the Pagan king Trdat III and Christian Gregory the Illuminator. Before 300AD, the majority of Armenians were pagans, but with a small Christian population. Supposedly, King Tradt III had ordered a sacrifice to the pagan gods. Gregory claimed to be a Christian and he refused to take part in the sacrifice. As a punishment the king had Gregory the Illuminator thrown into a pit that was filled with dead bodies and snakes. |
| King Tradt continued to rule but overtime he was said to have gone crazy. Some people said this was the result of a curse that had been put on him, others said he had been possessed by the devil, and even one story says he was turned into a wild animal. By this time 13 years had passed, and in the people's desperation to save the King, they returned to Khor Virap to find Gregory still alive. He was pulled out of the pit and asked to save the King. Gregory did as he was told, and he cured the King who then immediately claimed Christianity as his own faith, and also declared Christianity to be the official religion of Armenia. Above on the left is St. Gregory's Chapel which is built around the pit. On the right is a metal ladder that provides the entrance to the pit itself. |
| The three surrounding photos are of the pit itself. As you can see there is very little lighting except for the small bulb. Inside the pit today, there is a small donation box seen above, and candles available for prayer. |
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