The fifth day of the Armenian Lacrosse and Daily Bible Readings journey brought Coach Johnny Mouradian to Khor Virap Monastery, one of Armenia’s most sacred sites and a place inseparable from the nation’s Christian identity.
Set against the backdrop of Mount Ararat, Khor Virap marks the place where Saint Gregory the Illuminator was imprisoned for nearly thirteen years before converting King Tiridates III to Christianity. That conversion led Armenia to become the first nation to adopt Christianity as its state religion in 301 A.D., forever shaping the country’s history and identity.
Standing at the monastery, Coach Mouradian reflected on a passage from Matthew 16, one that speaks to the foundation of the Christian faith.
“Who do people say the Son of Man is?”
The disciples answered with what they had heard from others. Some believed Jesus was John the Baptist. Others said Elijah or Jeremiah.
Jesus then asked a more personal question.
“But who do you say that I am?”
Simon Peter answered:
“You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”
Jesus replied:
“Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father in heaven. And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it.” (Matthew 16:15-18)
The conversation marks a turning point in the Gospel. Faith is no longer about what others believe or what the crowds are saying. Jesus asks each disciple to answer for himself.
“Who do you say that I am?”
It is a question every generation must answer.
There could be few places more fitting to reflect on those words than Khor Virap.
For centuries, pilgrims have made the journey to this monastery because it represents the beginning of Armenia’s Christian story. Long before churches filled the country and monasteries crowned its mountains, the seeds of Armenia’s faith were planted here through perseverance, conviction, and God’s providence.
The image of the “rock” carries particular significance in this setting. Jesus spoke of building His Church upon the confession of faith made by Peter. In Armenia, that same confession became the cornerstone of a nation. Christianity shaped Armenian law, literature, architecture, education, and culture. It gave a people enduring hope through invasions, exile, persecution, and genocide.
The monastery itself reflects that permanence.
Its stone walls have overlooked the Ararat plain for centuries, serving as a reminder that kingdoms rise and fall, but faith rooted in Christ continues to endure.
As the Armenian Lacrosse and Daily Bible Readings journey moves from one historic site to another, each stop offers more than a lesson from Scripture. Together, they tell the story of a nation whose history cannot be separated from its Christian heritage.
At Khor Virap, that story begins with a simple yet profound question posed by Christ Himself.
“Who do you say that I am?”
Coach Mouradian concluded the day’s reflection with the invitation that has become the hallmark of this journey:
“Bring a friend to church. Bring a family member to church this Sunday and every Sunday.”
Tomorrow, the road trip continues to Saint Mesrop Mashtots Church in Oshakan, where the journey will honor the man whose creation of the Armenian alphabet allowed Scripture to be read, preserved, and passed from one generation to the next.
