Saint Rhipsime

Hripsime (Armenian: Հռիփսիմէ; died c. 290) was a martyr of Roman origin. The story of her martyrdom is connected with the traditional account of the Christianization of Armenia. She and her companions in martyrdom are venerated as some of the first Christian martyrs of Armenia. Saint Hripsime Church in Vagharshapat, where she is buried, is one of Armenia's most visited shrines. According to the traditional account recorded in the Armenian history attributed to Agathangelos, Hripsime was a woman of noble origin who was one of a group of Christian virgins who led a monastic life in Rome, led by their mother superior Gayane. Fleeing the persecution of Christians by the Roman emperor Diocletian (r. 284–305), they come to Armenia and settle near the capital of Vagharshapat. The story says that Hripsime was selected to be Diocletian's bride in a beauty contest but refused to marry the emperor. Diocletian sends a letter to the king of Armenia, Tiridates, informing him about the nuns' escape and saying that if Tiridates so wishes, he can keep Hripsime for himself. Tiridates has Hripsime brought to the palace, but despite his physical strength he is unable to overpower her and she escapes. Finally, Hripsime and the other nuns (a total of 37 out of more than 70 who came to Armenia) are put to death: In the story, the martyrdom of the nuns is followed by Tiridates's transformation into the form of a wild boar as divine punishment, along with other afflictions affecting the king's household and the entire capital. Tiridates's sister receives a vision showing her that Gregory, a Christian imprisoned and tortured on Tiridates's orders for his faith, must be released to stop the torments. Gregory is released and Tiridates is cured. The bodies of the martyred nuns, which had remained unburied for nine days, are buried and shrines are built over their graves. The king and the Armenian people are converted to Christianity.