Khor Virap Monastery

Khor Virap is among the most revered and photographed sites in Armenia, standing on a hill above the Ararat plain with Mount Ararat rising dramatically behind it. The name means "deep pit," referring to the dungeon where, according to tradition, St. Gregory the Illuminator was imprisoned for some thirteen years by King Trdat III before converting Armenia to Christianity in 301 AD. Visitors can descend a ladder into the original pit beneath the chapel. The main church, Surb Astvatsatsin, dates to the 17th century. Built on a hill of the ancient capital Artaxata, Khor Virap offers the country's classic view of Ararat.