St. Hripsime(Saint Arsema)

St. Hripsime(Saint Arsema)

Early scholars have testified about the martyrdom of St. Arsema by painting her icon and writing a Melk, a prayer that uses body parts for glorifying. This holy martyr's father was Theodore and her mother was Atnosiana. Since her parents got her through a vow to God, she was raised at a church built in the name of Our Lord, starting at the age of three. As she started to outgrow her humble beginnings, she began to hear the word of other saints. St. Paul said, " There is also a difference between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman careth for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit: but she that is married careth for the things of the world, how she may please her husband.” (1 Corinthians 7:34) She thought about St.Paul’s words and devoted herself to Christ in a life of virginity. 

A few years later, the renegade Diocletian, who reigned in Rome from 284-305, wanted to marry a beautiful lady and ordered his servants to choose the one and bring him. As if by coincidence, they found the one beautiful virgin they were looking for (St. Arsema), and yet she didn’t want to give both those characteristics up. St. Arsema was found in a church located in Rome, had herself painted on a canvas, and was sent to the king. He was very happy and ordered them to bring her and sent a wedding invitation to the nobles. 

When she and the virgins who were with her heard this, they were saddened and remembered what our Lord said in the Gospel, "If they trouble you in one city, flee to another" (Matthew 10:23), begging God to protect their virginity, they left Rome and fled to Armenia, which was the territory of King Tiridates III. As St. Arsema entered the country of Armenia, she saw the unbelievers inflicting suffering on the Christians who believed in the divinity of Christ. Remembering when Jesus said “Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. But whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my Father in heaven. (Matthew 10:32-33) she testified, "I am a Christian who believes in the divinity of Christ."

St. Arsema again was noticed for her beauty, Tiridates III desired her for himself, so they tried to persuade her to give up her worship and deny Christ, but it did not work for them. Then, thinking that she would be afraid and deny it, they took her to the square where Christians are fed to hungry lions. She prayed just as Daniel did and when they released the lions, they bounced back on the soldiers and killed many. Then they bowed down to her. After his first plan backfired, the king forced her to bow down to the idols and took her to the temple where the gods were. She prayed with the sign of the cross, then the idols were broken and fell all over the place. And the demons who were deceiving people come out screaming. Then, they put her in prison to punish her through starvation, but an angel fed her bread like Elijah.

As a last resort, they dragged her to where the king was. He took her to the palace and took hold of the virgin Arsema; Just as David defeated Goliath with the power of God, Saint Arsema threw him to the ground with the power of God upon her. Then, being ashamed, he ordered her head to be cut off. However, it still didn’t separate her from Christ, as Saint Paul said in his message, "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36 As it is written: For your sake, we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”(Romans 8:35-36)

Our Lord, accompanied by his mother, the Holy Virgin Mary, revealed to her. As it is written in the holy book, "Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commandments." (Deuteronomy 7:9) After making a covenant that he would show mercy to those who call her name and commemorate her she was beheaded and received the martyr's crown on October 9th(Meskerem 29), 290 A.D. But her memory still lives on, as said in Isaiah, "For this is what the Lord says: To the eunuchs who keep my Sabbaths, who choose what pleases me and hold fast to my covenant to them I will give within my temple and its walls a memorial and a name better than sons and daughters; I will give them an everlasting name that will endure forever." (Isa 56:4-5) A church was built and named after her. The inauguration took place on Tahisas 6th and it is celebrated to this day. Her glorious body remains in Armenia to this day.

In Ethiopia and all over the world, many churches are being built in her name, and many sick people are being healed by the covenant she received from her God, and we are getting her blessing to this day. Among the early scholars of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church who wrote and praised her are scholar Arke Selus and Father Giorgis Zegascha. The scholar Arke Selus testified about the struggle of Saint Arsema saying, “ Peace be unto you Arsema with your mother Agatha and with the virgins who died with you. You did not fear the two-edged sword and the blade of the spears, but rather you confessed about your lord Jesus, who is the king of without fear, who is the king of Ephrath.” The scholar Father Giorgis Zagseksha also wrote in his book Tamino Kidusan, "Peace be upon Saint Arsema, for she is beautiful inside and outside. The weepings did not cause her pain to the flesh and the lions cleaned the dust from her feet." May the blessing and intersession of St. Arsema be with us all Amen!