A bit further down the road is the monastery of Khor Virap, built atop a small hill with the best view you'll get of Ararat--from Armenia. The border fence with Turkey is just a a stones throw away. Inside the gate is a courtyard with various chapels and room in the around. Not as cool as the Geghard Monastery--but it's the story of Khor Virap that gives it special significance.

As the legend goes, St . Gregory came to Armenia and was thrown into a pit here in Khor Virap by the pagan king, and here he sat for 13 years. He survived only because a woman would toss him a loaf of bread every day. Then one day the king went mad, and the word went around the Gregory would be able to cure him. So they pulled him out of the pit and, sure enough the king got better.

Whether or not this whole story is true is to be debated. But what is clear is that Christianity was then imposed on the entire population. And that's why Armenians are Christians today. Because 1,700 years ago their great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-grandparents were forced to "believe" the Christian message or face dire consequences.

So whatever happened here in this dungeon-turned-monastery, it had a huge impact on the history of this country.

He climbs up to the top of the hill and take one last video clip with Ararat in the background... walks to the nearby village of Lusarat... then back to the main highway... and back on his way.