Memorial Day of Saint Ripsime in Armenia (13/06)

On this day, the memory of Saint Ripsime (Ripsimia) — of the early Christian Armenian martyr and saint is honored in Armenia. The holiday is celebrated on Monday, a week after Pentecost.

In 301, 37 Christian virgins came to Armenia, fleeing Rome due to persecution of Christians. Conquered by the beauty of one of them, a maiden named Ripsime, King Trdat III wished to take possession of her. The refusal of the virgin, who declared that she belonged only to Christ, infuriated the king. He ordered the murder of Ripsime, her mentor Gayane and their friends who had made the same vow.

Nine days later, St. Gregory the Enlightener found the relics of the martyrs who died and interred them, after which he built chapels in the name of the martyrs. Subsequently, it was in these parts that the churches of St. Ripsime, St. Gayane and St. Shoghakat.

King Trdat himself, after the execution of innocent Christian women, became possessed by demons. The king was healed from the possessions of his baptism by Grigor the Illuminator. After this, believing in the power of the Christian faith, Trdat was baptized himself, and then baptized the people and proclaimed Christianity the state religion in Armenia.

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