Figurine of Saint Ripsime

Hripsime Suffered in Armenia from Tsar Trdat. Emperor Diocletian, struck by the beauty of the Virgin Hripsime, wished to take her as his wife, but Hripsime, wanting to remain the bride of Christ, fled from Rome together with the prioress Gayane and her friends. After long wanderings, they arrived in Armenia, where they settled in a vineyard near Vagharshapat, the capital of Armenia. King Trdat, who received the message of Diocletian, sent in search of the maidens of warriors who found them in the vineyards and led Hripsime to the palace. For the refusal to marry Trdat Hripsime, she was betrayed by the cruelest tortures, and later executed. Companions of Saint Hripsime 35 virgins, were immediately beheaded.