Khor Virap

Khor Virap
Խոր Վիրապ

Khor Virap with Mount Ararat in background
Shown within Armenia
Basic information
Location near Lusarat, Ararat Province
Armenia Armenia
Geographic coordinates 39°52′42″N 44°34′34″E / 39.878333°N 44.576111°ECoordinates: 39°52′42″N 44°34′34″E / 39.878333°N 44.576111°E
Affiliation Armenian Apostolic Church
Rite Armenian
State Armenia
Province Ararat Province
Territory Artashat
Ecclesiastical or organizational status Good
Status Functional Church
Architect(s) Original Chapel by Nerses III the Builder
Architectural style Armenian
Groundbreaking 642 (Original Chapel), New Church 1662, St. Astvatsatsin
Completed 17th century

The Khor Virap (Armenian: Խոր Վիրապ, meaning "deep pit" or "deep well") is an Armenian Apostolic Church monastery located in the Ararat plain in Armenia, near the border with Turkey, about 8 kilometres (5.0 mi) south of Artashat, Ararat Province.[1][2] The monastery was host to a theological seminary and was the residence of Armenian Catholicos.[3]

Khor Virap's notability as a monastery and pilgrimage site is attributed to the fact that Grigor Lusavorich, who later became Saint Gregory the Illuminator, was initially imprisoned here for 14 years by King Tiridates III of Armenia. Saint Gregory subsequently became the king's religious mentor, and they led the proselytizing activity in the country. In the year 301, Armenia was the first country in the world to be declared a Christian nation.[1][4][5] A chapel was initially built in 642 AD at the site of Kirat Virap by Nerses III the Builder as a mark of veneration to Saint Gregory. Over the centuries, it was repeatedly rebuilt. In 1662, the larger chapel known as the "St. Astvatsatsin" (Holy Mother of God) was built around the ruins of the old chapel, the monastery, the refectory and the cells of the monks. Now, regular Church services are held in this church. It is probably the most visited pilgrimage site in Armenia.[5]

Etymology

The place of imprisonment "virap nerk'in" came to be known as the Virap or khor (deep), 'virap' meaning the "Bottom most pit".[6]

Geography

Fenced border with Turkey.

Khor Virap is located on a hillock in Pokr Vedi; the village is 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) from the main highway. Yerevan, the capital and largest city of Armenia, is 30 kilometres (19 mi) to the north. It is situated about 100 metres (330 ft) away from the Turkish-Armenian border (sealed by barbed wire fencing) and defended by military establishments that guard the troubled border zone.[4][7][8]

The monastery is surrounded by green pasture lands and vineyards within the Ararat plain and is in view of Mount Ararat. The Arax (or Arakas) River flows close-by and the monastery is opposite of Aralykh.[9]

History

King Artashes I, founder of the Artashesid dynasty, established his Armenian capital at Artashat (also known as Artaxtisata) around 180 BC. It is believed that Hannibal, the Carthaginian General who was persecuted by Rome, was also instrumental in establishing Artashat.[4] Artashat remained the capital of the dynasty till the reign of King Khosrov III (330–339) when it was moved to Dvin.[10] Subsequently, Artashat was destroyed by the Persian King Shapur II.[8] Artashat is close to the hillock of Khor Virap.[11] Until its chapel was built, Khor Virap was used as royal prison.

Baptism of Tiridates III by St. Gregory.

When King Tiridates III ruled over Armenia, his assistant was the Christian Grigor (Gregory) Lusavorich who preached the Christian religion. However, Tiridates, a pagan was not pleased and he subjected Gregory to severe torture. When news reached the king that Gregory's father Anak the Parthian was responsible for the murder of the king's father, the king ordered that Gregory's hand and legs be tied and that he be thrown into the Khor Virap to die in the dark dungeon located in Artashat. In addition, Gregory's refusal to offer sacrifice to the goddess Anahita provoked the king to torture him and condemn him to imprisonment in the Khor Virap.[12] He was then forgotten and the King pursued his wars and persecution of Christians.[13] However, Gregory did not die during his 13 years of imprisonment. His survival was attributed to a Christian widow from the local town who, under the influence of strange dream vision, regularly fed Gregory by dropping a loaf of freshly baked bread into the pit.[13]

During this period, the Roman Emperor Diocletian wanted to marry a beautiful girl and he sent others to search for the most beautiful woman. They found a girl named Rhipsime in Rome who was under the tutelage of Abbess Gayane in a Christian nunnery. When Rhipsime heard about the king's marriage proposal, she fled to Armenia to avoid the marriage. After a search was launched to locate the girl and punish the people who had helped her to escape, Tiridates located Rhipsime and brought her forcibly to his palace, trying to woo her. He was not successful against the strong defence put up by Rhipsime. He then ordered that she be dragged into his presence by putting a collar around her neck in hopes to persuade Rhipsime to agree to marry him.[13]

However, what ensued was the persecution and murder of Rhipsime, Gaiane and many Christians. Tiridates went mad and is "said to have behaved like a wild boar while torments fell on his household and demons possessed the people of the city."[14][15] It was then that Tiridates's sister, Khosrovidhukt, had a vision in the night, where an angel told her about the prisoner Gregory in the city of Artashat who could end the torments with the words "when he comes he will teach you the remedies for all your ills".[13] People did not place much reliance on this dream vision as they thought that Gregory had probably died within days of his being cast into the pit. But Khosrovidhukt had the same dream repeatedly with a threatening message that if the dream's instructions were not followed, there would be dire consequences. Prince Awtay was deputed to get Gregory from Kirat Virap. He went to the pit and shouted to Gregory saying "Gregory, if you are somewhere down there, come out. The God whom you worship has commanded that you be brought out". Gregory was brought out in a miserable state. He was taken to the king who had gone mad "foraging among the pigs at Valarshapar", tearing his own skin. Gregory cured the king and brought him back to his senses. Gregory knew of all the atrocities that were committed and saw the bodies of the martyrs who were later cremated. The king, accompanied by his court, approached Gregory seeking forgiveness for all the sins they committed. Henceforth, Gregory started preaching Christianity to the king, his court and army.[13]

King Tiridates, who had embraced Christianity as his religion following the miraculous cure effected by Gregory's divine intervention, proclaimed Christianity as the state religion of Armenia in 301 AD. Gregory became the Bishop of Caesarea and remained in service of the King till about 314 AD.[10][15] Another version attributed to Tiridates's conversion to Christianity is that it was a strategic move to create national unity to checkmate the hegemony of Zoroastrian Persians and pagan Rome, and since then, the Christian Church has acted as a strong influence in Armenia.[16]

Architecture

Church of the Holy Mother of God (St. Astvatzatzin)
Church

The Nerses chapel, built in the 5th century around the famous pit, was of white limestone.[3] Though plain in appearance, a monastery was built around a large enclosure that surrounds the ruins of the old chapel. This church has a twelve sided tholobate and dome and is dedicated to S. Astvatsatsin. The altar pulpit is well decorated.[4][10] Though most Armenian churches have an east-west orientation, placing the altar at the east end, St. Gevorg Chapel is oriented northwest-southeast.[17]

Pit

The pit where Gregory was imprisoned is southwest of the main church, underneath St. Gevorg Chapel which is a small basilica replete with a semicircular apse.[17] Of the two pits inside the chapel, Grigor's is the farther one, 6 metres (20 ft) deep and 4.4 metres (14 ft) wide.[17] The pit is approached through two unmarked holes. A small chamber, winding stairway, and a ladder lead to a small enclosure in the pit. To the right of the altar in the dungeon is the main room. A long ladder from here descends to a large cell of fairly good size, which was Grigor Lusavorich's prison cell.[4] The climb down the well is to a depth of 60 metres (200 ft). The pit is well lit but the climb down the metal ladder requires sturdy shoes. It is also extremely humid down the pit in the summer months so be cautious and don't bring candles down as this adds to the heat.[18]

Grounds and surroundings

The 17th century church built around the pit is a simple structure surrounding a large courtyard which looks like a fort complex.[1][5][10]

Archaeological sites were excavated starting in 1970 in the thirteen hills (maximum height 70 metres (230 ft)) around Khor Virap and up to the valley of the river. Excavations in the hills 1 and 4, and sections of hills 5, 7 and 8 and of the neck of the land between Hills 1 and 2 are in progress.[19] Some archaeological excavations have also been carried out outside the walls of the church at the site of Artashat, the capital of the Tiridat dynasty.[20] In addition to ancient coins and potsherds, excavations have unearthed well preserved mud-brick fortifications on the north slope of the third hill from the northeast.[8]

Culture

Celebration

The anniversary of the deliverance of Gregory is also celebrated in the Illuminator's cathedral built in Erivan. On New Year's Day, light is brought from Khor Virap as a religious celebration.[21] In a recent event, Catholicos Garegin II climbed down the same deep prison pit where the first Catholicos Grigor had passed many agonizing years, and came out of the pit by holding a lighted candle as symbol of the light that illuminated Armenians several centuries ago.[22] As a pilgrimage centre, people visit Khor Virap for baptism or subsequent to a wedding to perform a matagh animal sacrifice.[23]

Tourism

The monastery attracts a very large number of tourists and there are a number of souvenir kiosks here. Of interest for visitors is the releasing of doves from Khor Virap with the hope they will fly to Mount Ararat.[10]

In the mid-1990s, young volunteers for the Canadian Youth Mission to Armenia, CYMA, helped renovate/restore the cathedral.

Gallery

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "Armenica.org: Khor Virap". Official web site of Armenia. Retrieved 15 February 2011.
  2. ↑ "The Main Sightseeings of Armenia:Khor Virap Monastery" (PDF). Portfolio Enterprise. Retrieved 15 February 2011.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Ararat Landmarks – Khor Virap Monastery". advantour.com. Retrieved 18 February 2011.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 "Khor Virap Monastery". Armenian Travel Bureau. Retrieved 15 February 2011.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Noble, pp. 176–
  6. ↑ Robert W. Thomson (June 1974). Agathangelo's History of the Armenians. SUNY Press. pp. 467–. ISBN 978-0-87395-323-8. Retrieved 13 February 2011.
  7. ↑ Julie Hill (18 December 2006). The Silk Road Revisited: Markets, Merchants and Minarets. AuthorHouse. pp. 253–. ISBN 978-1-4259-7280-6. Retrieved 13 February 2011.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 "Cities and sites". Khor Virap Monastery. Plant Genetic Sources in Central Asia and Caucasus. Retrieved 16 February 2011.
  9. ↑ Mabdesian, Arshng (1921). The New Armenia. The New Armenia Pub. Co. pp. 8–. Retrieved 18 February 2011.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 10.4 Nicholas Holding (1 October 2006). Armenia: with Nagorno Karabagh. Bradt Travel Guides. pp. 120–122. ISBN 978-1-84162-163-0. Retrieved 13 February 2011.
  11. ↑ Brady Kiesling; Raffi Kojian (April 2001). Rediscovering Armenia: an archaeological/touristic gazetteer and map set for the historical monuments of Armenia. Tigran Mets. Retrieved 13 February 2011.
  12. ↑ Mircea Eliade; Charles J. Adams (1987). The Encyclopedia of religion. Macmillan. ISBN 978-0-02-909750-2. Retrieved 13 February 2011.
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 13.3 13.4 Christian History Project. By this sign: A.D. 250 to 350 : from the Decian persecution to the Constantine era.
  14. ↑ Holding2006,p.13
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 Razmik Panossian (2006). The Armenians: from kings and priests to merchants and commissars. Columbia University Press. pp. 42–. ISBN 978-0-231-13926-7. Retrieved 13 February 2011.
  16. ↑ Noble, p. 133
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 17.2 Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. "Khor Virap 9: St. Gevorg Church / Khor Virap". armenianmonuments.org. Retrieved 18 February 2011.
  18. ↑ Noble, p. 166
  19. ↑ Center for Comparative Studies of Ancient Civilizations (1994). Ancient civilizations from Scythia to Siberia. E.J. Brill. Retrieved 13 February 2011.
  20. ↑ Noble, p. 176
  21. ↑ S. ÊJ̌miacin owġegrowt'yownner. Moughni Publishers. 2003. ISBN 978-99941-33-04-8. Retrieved 13 February 2011.
  22. ↑ Levon Abrahamian (2006). Armenian identity in a changing world. Mazda Publishers. ISBN 978-1-56859-185-8. Retrieved 13 February 2011.
  23. ↑ Noble, p. 178

Bibliography

External links

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