Evidence ID
E00460Saint Name
Hripsime, Armenian virgin and martyr of Roman origin : S00071
Gregory the Illuminator, Converter of Armenia : S00251Type of Evidence
Literary - Other narrative texts (including Histories)Evidence not before
600Evidence not after
661Activity not before
616Activity not after
617Place of Evidence - Region
ArmeniaPlace of evidence - City name in other Language(s)
Hadamakert
Հադամակերտ
Hadamakert
BaşkaleMajor author/Major anonymous work
SebēosCult activities - Places
Cult building - independent (church)Cult activities - Non Liturgical Practices and Customs
Construction of cult buildingsCult Activities - Miracles
Miraculous sound, smell, light
Miracle after death
Healing diseases and disabilitiesCult Activities - Protagonists in Cult and Narratives
Ecclesiastics - bishopsCult Activities - Relics
Bodily relic - entire body
Discovering, finding, invention and gathering of relicsSource
The History attributed to Sebeos is one of the rare extant Christian chronicles from the 7th century. It was written near the end of the first phase of the Islamic conquest, when hopes temporarily rose among the Christians that the Islamic occupation would soon be over. Sebeos' task was to chronicle the events that, according to him, led to the disaster of the Islamic invasions. In a familiar Armenian tradition, he depicts himself as a continuator of earlier history writers, and sets out to connect his History with his immediate predecessor, Łazar P'arpec'i. Sebeos' principal interest lies in the reign of the Sasanian king Khosrow II (590-628).
Sebeos' History is an important work, as he does not confine himself to a narrow account of affairs purely Armenian, but elaborates on the historical context and the influence of the mutual relations between Sasanian Iran and the East Roman empire on Armenia proper. Contrary to Movsēs Xorenac'i and other hellenophile authors, Sebeos considers Armenia an integral part of the Persian world and choses a Sasanian perspective. Therefore, Sebeos effectively chronicles the demise of the Sasanian empire, with a particular interest in the campaigns of Heraclius and the rise of Islam.Discussion
The story of Hripsimē's dismemberment is quoted from Agathangelos (E00126). According to Agathangelos, Gregory wrapped each of the martyrs' remains in her clothing, placed them in separate caskets and sealed them with the seal of Christ. The sealing of the caskets by Sahak is not mentioned by sources before Sebeos.
Komitas is named the third worthy prelate who sealed the relics of Hripsimē. Komitas was particularly revered as he was one of the rare staunch Armenian anti-Chalcedonian patriarchs of the 7th century. Komitas, being 'devoted to love' for Hripsimē, is also known as the composer of hymns in honour of the martyr.Bibliography
Edition:
Abgaryan G. (ed.), Պատմութիւն Սեբէոսի [The History of Sebeos] (Yerevan: Armenian Academy of Sciences, 1979).
Translation:
Thomson, R.W., and Howard-Johnston, J., The Armenian History Attributed to Sebeos (Translated Texts for Historians 31; Liverpool: Liverpool University Press, 1999).
