There is a beautiful old place near Armavir, which is especially appreciated by lovers. It is a small Saint Hripsime Church built in 618. Small but elegant and very cozy, it has been a monument to female beauty, faith, and loyalty to their ideals for many centuries.

In the IV century, 37 Christian girls lived in an ancient roman monastery. The Emperor liked one of them, Hripsime, so much that he wished her to marry him. But the girl did not want to marry, as she wanted to become a nun, therefore, she took refuge in Alexandria together with her friends. But even there she had no peace – her beauty captivated men who sought to marry her. Tired of male attention, Hripsime had a vision that she should go to Armenia, where she would finally be allowed to become a nun.

Unfortunately, the prophecy was not to be fulfilled. King Tiridates III found out that the most beautiful woman of the Roman Empire was hiding in his country and ordered to bring her to the palace. He saw Hripsime and fell in love with her. The king wanted to force her to become his wife, but when he was refused, he ordered to stone not only the recalcitrant maiden but also her friends.
After this event, Tiridates III became very ill with a mental illness, which could only be cured by a Christian elder. After that, the king realized his guilt, adopted a new religion, and baptized the entire country.

In memory of this tragic story, three centuries later, St. Hripsime Church was built. It can rightly be called a masterpiece of early Christian architecture. It has a rectangular foundation, its roof is supplemented by four niches in the form of a semicircle. And in the end, it all adds up to a symbol of faith - the cross.

Surprisingly, there are almost no decorations inside the temple. Everything is quite ascetic and modest. Except for the throne gate, which is inlaid with mother-of-pearl. Perhaps the ancient architects thus wanted to emphasize the chastity of the young girl Hripsime, who gave the name to the temple.