CATHEDRAL OF ST. HRIPSIME

Cathedral of St. Hripsime (7th c.), located near Yerevan, Armenia's modern capital. The nun Hripsime and her companions were martyred by Armenia's pagan King Drtad III, setting in motion the chain of events that led to Armenia's conversion. Catholicos Komitas built the cathedral in the 620s (the bell tower is amore recent addition); Hripsime's body is buried under the alter, and her companions are interred in the land around the structure.Excavations conducted during the pontificate of Catholicos Vasken I have uncovered skeletal remains around the church, corroborating the historical account.