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Grape farm
A grape farm on the way to Khorvirab, just a few miles away from the
Turkish border. Mount Ararat in the background and Khorvirab is to the
left.
Photograph taken on: 9/22/2000
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Farm road
This is a dirt road going through farms, mostly grape farms, some apple
tree and peach tree farms.
Photograph taken on: 9/22/2000
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Monastery of Khorvirab
Khorvirab with Mount Ararat. One can only feel the majesty of this mountain
up close. The view from top of the hill where Khorvirab is located is
very good.
Photograph taken on: 9/22/2000
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Lighting candles in the Khorvirab Monastery
Ever since this Monastery and Chapel which was build in the 7th century
to protect the jail where legend has it that Grigor "The Illuminator"was
left to die in a deep "Khor" hole "Virab" (4th century)
but miraculously didn't, there has been thousands of believers who have
come here to pay a visit and see the location in person. The 7th century
chapel was replaced in 1662 and is still there.
Photograph taken on: 9/22/2000
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The Monastery of Khorvirab
Exterior, looking at this monastery and looking at Mount Ararat across
it, one can see the invisible line that separates Christianity and Islam,
so different but similar and both believing in the same God.
Photograph taken on: 9/22/2000
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Another view of the Monastery
Photograph taken on: 9/22/2000
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Visitors at the footsteps of the Monastery
Photograph taken on: 9/22/2000
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Close-up view of the top of the Monastery
Holes on the exterior wall of the Monastery which probably are bullet
holes are clearly visible.
Photograph taken on: 9/22/2000
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Thick walls
This picture shows how thick the walls of this monastery is.
Photograph taken on: 9/22/2000
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Clergy resting on the bench
in front of the monastery door with some tourists, also taking a rest.
Photograph taken on: 9/22/2000
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Hilltop view
Looking north toward mount Ararat. The border is somewhere in the middle.
Some white buildings are visible, these buildings are in the Turkish side.
Photograph taken on: 9/22/2000
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Old women in the monastery
They work and live in the nearby villages.
Photograph taken on: 9/22/2000
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Road to Khorvirab
Shepherd taking care of their herd, scenes like this are common in the
rural areas of the country.
Photograph taken on: 9/22/2000
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Another scene
Again road to Khorvirab.
Photograph taken on: 9/22/2000
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Nearing the monastery
Grape farms on both sides of the road, the village is nearby.
Photograph taken on: 9/22/2000
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One village
En route to Khorvirab. Unfortunately the population of the villages
like this is decreasing due to hardship.
Photograph taken on: 9/22/2000
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Back in Khorvirab
These are the modest living quarters of the clergy? or other workers
of this site. It is within the compound of the monastery.
Photograph taken on: 9/22/2000
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Dirt road
Heading toward the border.
Photograph taken on: 9/22/2000
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Khorvirab
This is actually the deep hole where Grigor the Illuminator was thrown
in to die on the orders of Tiridates the third because of his Christian
beliefs at the beginning of the 4th century. Now stair ladder has been
installed and people can actually go down in the hole which is a small
dark room.
Photograph taken on: 9/22/2000
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The other hole
was to the right of the door of the chapel. People can also go through
this one too. One person is coming out of the hole, his hands are visible.
Photograph taken on: 9/22/2000
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Window
on the wall of the living quarters with a hole at the bottom that has
been partially closed by some stones.
Photograph taken on: 9/22/2000
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Looking south
form top of the hill at Khorvirab.
Photograph taken on: 9/22/2000
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