Saint Hripsime Church, Echmiadzin, Armenia

Saint Hripsime Church is an Armenian Apostolic Church located located on the eastern side of Echmiadzin in the province Armavir about 20 km west from Yerevan. The church was built by Catholicos Komitas of Agtz in 618 and is one of the oldest Armenian churches. It is also inscribed in the UNESCO World Heritage sites.

Saint Hripsime Church was built in honor of the nun Hripsime who refused to marry the Roman Emperor and fled from Rome accompanied with 36 virgin nuns in Armenia about year 300. Hripsime and other nuns were later killed on order of King Trdat III who converted to Christianity in 301, proclaimed Christianity the state religion and Hripsime a saint.

The first Saint Hripsime Church was supposedly built by Saint Gregory the Illuminator at the beginning of 4th century. The present church dates from 618 what are confirming the two signatures (one inside the church) of Catholicos Komitas as well as the 7th century historian Sebeos. The church went through many changes over the following centuries but it represents one of the finest examples of classic Armenian architecture.

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