Baring-Gould’s sources: Roman Martyrology on Sept. 29. By the Greeks on Sept. 30. The Bollandists on Sept. 30. Authority: — The legend of S. Gregory the Illuminator, by Agathangelos, also by Metaphrases, and the Armenian Lives of the Saints. Moses of Chorene alludes only by name to Rhipsime, but says nothing of the martyrdom. The legend is supremely ridiculous and preposterous. It is possible that there were such persons as Rhipsime and Gaiane martyred virgins at Valarshabad, but no reliance whatever can be placed on their legends.] In the days of the wicked Emperor Diocletian, there lived in the outskirts of Rome a virgin called Rhipsime. She was born of (Christian parents, who, after enlightening her by baptism, had devoted her to God from her birth, and had placed her in a religious house of consecrated virgins under the fostering care of S. Gaiane, who was the head of the establishment.
About this time — risum teneatis amici ? — “ Diocletian [Roman emperor 284–305, who began the ‘Great Persecution’ of Christians in 303] thought of taking to himself a wife. He therefore gave an order to painters to go round Rome, and draw the likeness of the richest, handsomest, and best-grown maidens found therein, and to bring him these portraits, that he might take to wife the one he liked best. Now he who had the management of the business having heard of the maidens who were in the convent under the care of Gaiane, hastened to send thither painters, who, having examined them, should make the best-looking of the nuns sit to them for their portraits.
So the portraits were done, and there was a grand exhibition of them in the palace of Diocletian; but when he came to that of Rhipsime, he was at once enamoured of her, and sent to her an invitation, with the good news that preparations were made for her espousals to him, the Emperor. No sooner did the news reach the convent than consternation fell on all therein. Gaiane at once shipped the whole sisterhood on board a vessel bound for Alexandria, and on landing there they made the best of their way on foot into Armenia. Agathangelos does not condescend to explain how they got from Egypt to Armenia; Metaphrastes says simply that they “flitted like sparrows to the barbarous Armenian land.” On reaching Valarshabad, they built a convent, ever after famous, and maintained themselves by making glass beads and weaving blankets. Diocletian sent a wonderful autograph letter to Tiridates, informing him that the girl he adored was hiding in Armenia. “And now, brother,” the letter concluded, “condemn to death her foster-mother and those that are with her; but send her, the handsome girl, back to me. But if thou admirest her beauty very much, why then keep her for thyself, for the like of her is not to be found in our land. May the gods grant thee health. With profound respect, — Diocletian.”
After this generous and disinterested offer, Tiridates could do nothing less than hunt out the beautiful girl, that he might send the Roman Emperor the latest information concerning her. News of her whereabouts soon reached him, for Rhipsime was already creating a commotion in the province of Ararat. “ Whenever she appeared,” says the biographer, “ all men flocked around her, rich and poor alike, even the nobles of the realm, all came in crowds to gaze at her beauty.”
Now when Tiridates heard of this, next day he gave orders that Rhipsime should be brought to the palace. Golden-decked palanquins, suits of gorgeous dresses, costly ornaments, were sent by some of the first men in the land, that Rhipsime might be brought to the king in state, for he purRkipsime and Others.
posed to make her his wife. Now when Rhipsime saw herself surrounded by the nobles, with the palanquins, and dresses, and jewels, she prayed to heaven; and suddenly there was an explosion of thunder over head, which tumbled the officers of the king on the ground. “ Many of the horsemen, rushing one against another, unable as they were to master their horses that were prancing and neighing, were trodden under foot and killed. Footmen also, in the general panic and confusion, staggered against one another, screamed and died. Then one of the courtiers ran and told the king that the maid would not put on the robes he had sent, nor come. “ For there were among them scribes learned in the Latin tongue, who wrote down all that Rhipsime had said,” and who had survived the thunder. Then the king ordered Rhipsime to be brought before him. And the officers went and seized her, and dragged her along, into the king’s presence. Now when Tiridates saw the beauty of the maiden, he was beside himself with admiration, and he ran up to her and put his arms round her neck, to kiss her. But Rhipsime was as stout as she was beautiful: she caught the king up off his feet, spun him round, and flung him “ on the floor, with his purple robes torn and crumpled, and his crown off his head.” She was shut up in a room for the night, but she managed to escape, and returned to S. Gaiane and her companions.
Next morning the furious Tiridates sent officers to put her to death. They found her at the convent of the “ Winepresses,” and having stuck four posts in the ground they tied her hands and feet to them, placed lamps under her, and roasted her body with the flame. Then they dug out her eyes and cut her limb from limb. After that they had finished with Rhipsime, the executioners set on her companions, and put them to death, to the number of thirtythree virgins. One of the nuns was at the time lying sick at home. Her name was Mariamne. The soldiers went to where she lay and massacred her also.
A church has been reared to her memory under the name of Shoghagath (difficulties of light), close to that of S. Gaiane and that of S. Rhipsime.
S. Rhipsime died on October 5th, and S. Gaiane and her companions on the 6th October. “ Tiridates continued six days in the deepest grief after the death of Rhipsime, on account of her exquisite beauty; after which he gave himself up to hunting for a time. Everything was now ready for the sport: the nets were spread, the snares were set, and other toils prepared for the king's chase in the royal domains called Shemagan. But as he got into his chariot to leave the city... suddenly he was changed into a wild boar; the snout, the mouth, the tusks, the ears, the feet, and the mane were all those of a wild boar. He went, therefore, and mixed with other boars of his own species; and once with them in their covert of reeds, began to eat grass like them, and roam about among the mountains and plains. They tried to keep him in confinement within the city, but could not, by reason of his savage disposition and ferocity, rendered far worse by evil spirits that had taken up their abode within him, and wrought in him.”
