Hripsime

Saint Hripsime Սուրբ Հռիփսիմէ
Born	3rd century Rome, Italy
Died	9 October 290 Vagharshapat, Armenia
Venerated in	Armenian Apostolic Church Georgian Orthodox Church Coptic Orthodox Church Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church Roman Catholic Church Orthodox Church in America
Major shrine	St. Hripsime Church, Echmiadzin
Feast	September 29 (Roman Catholic Church) September 30 (Orthodox Church) October 9 (Coptic Orthodox Church) October 9 (Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church) June 4 (Armenian Apostolic Church)

Hripsime (Armenian: , died c. 290), also called Rhipsime, Ripsime, Ripsima or Arsema, was a martyr of Roman origin; she and her companions in martyrdom are venerated as the first Christian martyrs of Armenia.

According to legend, Hripsime was possibly of noble birth. She belonged to a community of virgins in Rome, numbering 35 under the leadership of Gayane. She was known to be extremely beautiful, and attracted the notice of Diocletian. To avoid his advances she, along with her community, fled the city, going first to Alexandria before settling in Vagharshapat. The varying accounts of her martyrdom diverge at this point. One story indicates that Hripsime again was noticed for her beauty, this time by King Tiridates III, who proceeded to pursue her. Upon being brought before him, she refused his advances and was punished by being roasted alive. Gayane was then put to death by Tiridates' soldiers, as were all the members of her community except for Nune (or Marine), who was later a missionary in Georgia and, as Saint Nino, is praised as the founder of the Georgian Orthodox Church.

Another version of the saint's Acts indicates that, upon discovering Hripsime's whereabouts, Diocletian sent a letter to Tiridates insisting that he either send her back or take her for himself. The king's servants found her among her companions, here described as nuns, and urged that she follow his wishes. She responded that she could not marry as she was betrothed to Jesus Christ, as were the others. At this, a voice from heaven was heard, saying, "Be brave and fear not, for I am with you". Upon this, Tiridates ordered that Hripsime be tortured; her tongue was cut out, her stomach cut open, and she was blinded before being killed. Her body was then cut into pieces. Inspired by her example, Gayane and two other nuns gave themselves over to similar treatment before being beheaded. The rest of the community was put to the sword, their bodies thrown to the beasts to be eaten. Supposedly, Tiridates and his soldiers were then punished by God for their actions; the soldiers were beset by devils, and began to act like wild animals, running through the forests, gnawing at themselves, and tearing their clothes. The legend states that the King was turned into a wild boar for his actions, and had to be saved by the intervention of Gregory the Illuminator. These accounts are likely highly fictionalized; about the only thing certain about Hripsime's story is that she and her companions were, in fact, martyred in Armenia in about 290.

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