Dvin – Khor Virap

• Dvin is one of the 12 capitals and one of very important historical towns of Armenia with the history of more than 1000 years. The history of Dvin, built on the site of prehistorical settlement, dates back to 330s. According to the witnessing of historians King Arshakuni Khosrov II Kotak (330-338) founded the town on the hill, not far from Artashat.The word ‘’dvin’’ means ‘’hill’’ in Persian. The foundation of Khosrov Forest, which stretches from Dvin to Garni, is attributed to the King too. Only after 150 years after the foundation of the city, in 481 Nerses Bagratuni declared Dvin the capital of Armenia. Because the River Araks changed the course and because of the water logging of the territory, the climate of Artashat became unbearable and its inhabitants moved massively to the new capital - Dvin.

• Khor Virap an architectural monument of the XVII century, monastery-fortress, is located on the hill, near the village of Pokr Vedi. In ancient times here used to be a historical city Artashat, one of ancient capitals of Armenia. The Monastery is one of the saints of the Armenian Apostolic Church, the place of pilgrimage. On the site of the monastery-fortress there used to be czar’s prison. ‘’Virap’’ in Armenian means pit. It was filed with poisonous snakes and insects, where condemned prisoners were thrown. Here bore his anguishes Saint Grigor Lusavorich, the initiator of acceptance of Christianity in Armenia (301). According to a legend, he was imprisoned in the dungeon by the order of King Tiridates III and spent there 13 years.