The
monastery of Khor Virap is situated on top of the hill and is one
of the sanctuaries of the Armenian Apostolic church and a pilgrimage
site. According to church lore this is the location of the municipal
jail of the capital of Armenia Artashat, where upon the orders of
king Trdat III, they threw Gregory the Illuminator who was accused
of professing Christianity. Gregory spent there 13 years.
In 642 Catholicos Nerses III built a chapel over the jail. The monastery also includes the church of St.Astvatsatsin
was built in the end of the 17th century, fragments of the wall that once surrounded the monastery, the refectory, the cells of the monks.
The most magnificent view of mount Ararat opens from the hilltop of the monastery.
The
monastery of Noravank is one of the most splendid monuments of medieval
Armenia. It is 122 km away from Yerevan. Noravank is built in as
inaccessible location thought out the stunning nature. In the beginning
of 1980s, road was built leading to Noravank along a tributary of
the Arpa river. The monastery is overhanging the gorge of the river.
During the 12th and 14th centuries the Noravank monastery was the
cathedral of the bishops of Syunik. The oldest structure of the
monastery is the church of St. Karapet (9-10 c) that has not survived.
The principal church has known as St. Karapet,which it was built
in the 13th c. The church had an atrium, which was rebuilt by the
famous architect at sculptor Momik. The atrium is decorated with
bas-relifs on religious themes: Momik also built the two storey
church St. Astvatsatsin stunning in its perfection and richness
of decoration.
