Holy Martyrs Gaiana, Rhipsimia, and the Other Thirty-Five Nuns

Life

Holy Rhipsimia was of extraordinary beauty, on account of which the Emperor Diocletian wished to take her as his wife. From this began the suffering of all thirty-seven nuns. Rhipsimia refused to go to the emperor, for she had consecrated herself to Christ as her Bridegroom. Then Tiridates tried to overcome her and take her for himself, for the king was as though intoxicated by her beauty. But holy Rhipsimia resisted the godless king with all her strength. "And he who had vanquished the Gothic princes and defeated the Persians could not overcome one virgin of Christ." The enraged king delivered her to cruel torments (they cut out her tongue, ripped open her belly, and spilled out her entrails), in which Rhipsimia surrendered her soul to God. After this the remaining nuns were also seized and put to the sword. Over the relics of these holy martyrs the famous Monastery of Etchmiadzin was erected, near Yerevan, the chief spiritual center of Armenia through many centuries.