Khor Virap is located on a hill about 40 km from Yerevan, and half a kilometer from the republican border, near the village Pokr Vedi of Ararat region. In ancient times, this place was located one of the capitals of Armenia - the historical city of Artashat, King Artashes I built about 180 BC According to legend, a huge role in the foundation of the city has played a Carthaginian general Hannibal.

Instead, the existing now the monastery here once housed the royal prison. Translated from the Armenian language "Virap" means "hole." This filled with poisonous insects and snakes deep pit throwing prisoners. Based on the well-known historian chronicles Agatangegos, here punishes the founder of Christianity in Armenia Grigor the Illuminator. Gregory was thrown into prison by order of King Trdat III. In prison the Illuminator spent as much as 13 years.

In 642 Catholicos Nerses built a dungeon of a prison chapel, which by its shape resembles a ruined after the earthquake, the temple of Zvartnots. After a while the chapel destroyed. In 1662 it was erected in place of the existing and the present day Church of St. Virgin Mary with the adjacent belfry on the west side.

The monastery-fortress Khor Virap was previously in a seminary and the residence of the Armenian Catholicos. Vardan Areveltsi historian XIII century., Founded the school. In the XVIII century. the temple was abandoned and only in 1765 Catholicos Simeon Yerevantsi reconstructed it.

Currently monastic complex consists of two churches: St. Gevorg, built by Catholicos Nerses III, 642, and the main church of St. Mary (Surb Astvatsatsin), built at the end of the second half of the XVII century. Church of St. Virgin is a domed building with the adjacent bell tower.

From the monastery of Khor Virap amazing views of the famous Mount Ararat.