the viewing deck: On Khor Virap Monastery Overlooking Mt. Ararat

Saturday, August 17, 2013

On Khor Virap Monastery Overlooking Mt. Ararat

3-days Solo tour on Winter Armenia
february 22-24, 2013 friday to sunday

I left the Zvartnots ruins around 1400H going to the 3rd part of the tour for this day with approximately an hour travel. Probably one of the most scenic and biblical place I have visited, Khor Virap monastery erected on a hill overlooking the famous Mt. Ararat.

The name "Ararat" for the peak derives from the tradition linking it with the Biblical Mountains of Ararat where Noah's Ark came to rest after the great flood (Genesis 8:4). The Bible says that Noah's ark landed on the mountains of Ararat. This does not refer to any specific mountain or peak, but rather a mountain range within the region of Ararat, which was the name of an ancient proto-Armenian kingdom also known as Urartu. Nonetheless, one particular tradition identifies the mountain as Mount Masis, the highest peak in the Armenian Highland, which is therefore called Mount Ararat.

Mount Ararat is a snow-capped, dormant volcanic cone in Turkey. It has two peaks: Greater Ararat (the highest peak in Turkey, and the entire Armenian plateau with an elevation of 5,137 m/16,854 ft) and Lesser Ararat (with an elevation of 3,896 m/12,782 ft). Ararat is the national symbol of the Republic of Armenia, being featured in the center of its coat of arms.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Ararat

Khor Virap monastery

Khor Virap is the most famous pilgrimage site in Armenia, as it is directly connected with the adoption of Christianity. As a state religion Christianity in Armenia was adopted in 301 due to endeavors of Saint Gregory the Illuminator, who before converting king Trdat the 3rd to Christianity, was imprisoned in the dungeon over which a church of Khor Virap monastery was built in the 17th century. From the monastery one can admire the stunning view of the Biblical Mount Ararat.

http://www.hyurservice.com/eng/sights/khor_virap_eng.html