YEREVAN. - On May 31, Armenians honor the memory of St. Ripsime – early Christian martyr and saint. This holiday is marked a week after Trinity Sunday.  

In 301, 37 Christian virgin nuns escaped to Armenia from Rome as a result of Christian persecutions. Taken by the beauty of one of them, Virgin Ripsime, Armenian King Tiridates III wished to possess her. The refusal of the virgin, who stated that she belongs only to Christ, made the king furious. He ordered to kill Ripsime, her teacher Gayane and their friends, who had made the same vow.

According to the legend, following the execution of the innocent Christians, Tiridates was possessed by demons. The king was cured of his illness by Gregory the Illumiator, who christened him. Persuaded by the power of Christian faith, Tiridates christened himself and then the nation, proclaiming Christianity as the state religion of Armenia.