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removed info that may be outdated due to age of source (1928)
[[w:St. Hripsime Church, Echmiadzin|St. Hripsime Church]] in Echmiadzin (formerly known as Vagharshapat) is dedicated to Rhipsime; the current structure was consecrated in 618, and contains her tomb in the [[catacombs]] beneath the building.<ref name=armeniapedia>[http://www.armeniapedia.org/index.php?title=Hripsime_Church Hripsime Cathedral]</ref> According to legend, Christ designated the spot for the shrine by descending from heaven in a shaft of light and smiting the ground with a golden hammer until the earth shook.<ref name=britannica>[http://www.1911encyclopedia.org/Gregory_The_Illuminator Gregory The Illuminator - LoveToKnow 1911]</ref> Some of the saint's relics, along with items relating to Tiridates and Gregory the Enlightener, were pillaged by [[w:Persian people|Persians]] during an invasion in 1604, but were restored in 1638.<ref name=CathEncyc2>[http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/05571a.htm Catholic Encyclopedia: Etschmiadzin]</ref> In the Catholic tradition, Rhipsime and her companions are commemorated with a [[feast day]] of September 29;<ref name=catholic/> the [[Orthodox Church in America]] commemorates them on September 30.<ref name=OCA/> The [[Armenian Apostolic Church]] remembers Rhipsime and her companions on June 4; Gayane and her companions are commemorated separately, on June 5.<ref name=AAC>[http://www.saintsarkis.org/church_calendar.htm Church Calendar<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
Saint Rhipsime is known as "Arsema" in the [[Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church]] and currently there are three a number of churches in her name found in Ethiopia. Among the churches, the oldest one which is found in one of the islands of [[w:Lake Tana|Lake Tana]] is known for its miracles. There are also many old paintings in the church portraying how she was killed by Tiridates III (named as ''Dirtados'' by Ethiopians) and how the cruel king was changed into a bear after killing her. There is annual pilgrimage by Ethiopian Christians to this church in January. There are also Christian songs that praise her name. The book entitled ''Gedle Arsema'' meaning "The Life of Arsema" is found almost in every spiritual bookshop throughout Ethiopia. Her story is told in the Ethiopian Synaxarium on Mäskäräm 29.<ref>[[w:Budge, E. A. Wallis|Budge, E. A. Wallis]]. ''The Book of the Saints of the Ethiopian Church: A Translation of the Ethiopic Synaxarium: Made from the Manuscripts Oriental 660 and 661 in the British Museum''. 4 vols Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1928.</ref>
==Notes and references==