Khor Virap

Lusarat, Armenia

Open to visitors

The interior is normally open, possibly ticketed.

Strollie cannot guarantee access — always check before you travel.

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Khor Virap, an Armenian monastery located in the Ararat Plain near the Turkish border, about 8 kilometres south of Artashat, stands as one of Armenia's most significant pilgrimage sites. Built in 642 by Nerses III the Builder, the monastery's spiritual importance derives from its association with Gregory the Illuminator, the patron saint of Armenia, who was imprisoned there for 13 years by King Tiridates III. Gregory's subsequent conversion of the king led to Armenia's declaration as the world's first Christian nation in 301. The original chapel was repeatedly rebuilt over the centuries; in 1662, the larger St. Astvatsatsin chapel was constructed around the ruins of the earlier structure, alongside a monastery, refectory, and monks' cells. Historically serving as home to a theological seminary and residence of the Catholicos (head of the Armenian Church), Khor Virap continues to hold regular services and remains a major destination for Armenian pilgrims.