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Khor Virap is 40 km to the
south of Yerevan.
Before approaching this church, you’ll stop on a comfortable place
and with binnacles have a look at Mt. Ararat
and this church. From there opens the most picturesque view of mountain
Ararat- the pride of the Armenians. This is the church where
Gregory the Illuminator was imprisoned 13 years for preaching
Christianity. Inside the church is a staircase taking down to the hole where
Gregory the Illuminator was put to torture. This church was built in the
late of middle ages.
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Noravank ("New
monastery") is 120 km to the south of Yerevan. This is one of the masterpieces of medieval Armenian
architecture. It was founded by Bishop Hovhannes, who moved
there in 1205.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 principal church is known as St. Karapet, which 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.
On
the way to Noravank you can taste and buy Armenian best kind of wine.
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