The Legend of King Tiridates

For ten years, the Armenian king Khosrov waged war against the Persians and so vexed the Persian king that the latter turned to his nobles and declared:
"I swear! Whoever rids me of Khosrov, I will make my co-ruler!"

The cunning Anak volunteered to do this.
With his possessions, wives, and children, he arrived in Armenia and threw himself at Khosrov's feet, pleading:
"Have mercy on us, O king, grant us shelter and protection from the Persians."
The trusting Khosrov not only settled him on his land but also showed him kindness and raised his status. However, Anak, waiting for the right moment, pierced Khosrov with a sword.

The dying king ordered a pursuit to annihilate the traitor's entire family. Anak, caught by the river, was drowned. Only his son, Gregory, miraculously survived. Meanwhile, taking advantage of Khosrov's murder, the Persian king invaded Armenia and subjugated it. Seeking refuge, the son of the Armenian king, Tiridates, was forced to flee to Rome, where he lived for many years, learning the art of war.

When the Goths attacked Rome, the outcome of the impending battle could be decided by a duel. The Roman Caesar was supposed to face their leader, but he sought a replacement among his warriors.
"Allow me, Caesar," Tiridates volunteered, and clad in royal armor, he fearlessly advanced against the enemy.

His strength was so great that he lifted the Goth with his mighty hands and threw him at his master's feet. The Goths, struck by the mighty hero, fled. Celebrating the victory, the Caesar promised Tiridates:
"I will give you legions so that you may reclaim your father's throne. You shall rule Armenia!"
When Tiridates regained his father's kingdom, he believed that the Roman gods had helped him and ordered sacrifices to be made to them. Joyful servants rushed to carry out Tiridates' command, and his nobles and household eagerly prepared for the solemn ceremony. Only his loyal friend and advisor, Gregory, frowned and averted his eyes. This was the son of Anak, whose long-standing loyalty to Tiridates had atoned for his father's guilt.

"Why, my friend, do you not join in our celebration?" asked Tiridates.
"Because, my lord, I cannot worship idols. There is no God on earth but Christ!"
This unexpected confession seemed to Tiridates an unimaginable betrayal:
"So you are a Christian?!" he gasped in anger and ordered Gregory to be hung upside down and gagged so that no one could hear him anymore.

Thus, Gregory hung for seven days, praising Christ all the while.
"Is he still alive?!" the king marveled, trying to break the faith of his former friend. "You call upon your God in vain, for you will receive no help from Him."
And he devised new tortures for him. The saint was beaten with sticks, suffocated with smoke, had sulfur, salt, and vinegar forced into his nostrils, nails driven into his soles, and was made to walk, dragged over ground studded with nails... All this time, rage clouded Tiridates' mind, preventing him from stopping. Finally, to rid himself of Gregory altogether, he ordered him thrown into a deep pit filled with snakes.

But the snakes did not harm the saint, and a certain widow prevented him from starving by bringing him meager sustenance daily. Meanwhile, the Roman Emperor Diocletian, seeking a wife, sent messengers across the empire. The most beautiful woman was found to be the Christian Rhipsime, who had taken a vow of chastity. Along with other nuns, she spent all her time in prayer and conversation with her mentor, Gayane. A portrait of Rhipsime was sent to Diocletian.

Struck by the girl's beauty, the emperor immediately sent her a letter proposing marriage. But could she break her vow and marry a pagan? Secretly gathering with her abbess Gayane and other maidens, Rhipsime fled to Armenia. Upon learning of her escape, Diocletian appealed to Tiridates:
"The Christians have bewitched Rhipsime, and she has fled to Armenia. Find her and send her back to us. If you wish, take her as your wife."

A search was declared, and the fugitives were found. Rhipsime truly was a beauty of otherworldly charm, and Tiridates ordered her to be dressed in royal robes and brought to the palace. But as soon as the guards tried to carry out the order, a deafening thunderclap resounded. Terrified soldiers rushed to Tiridates to report the miraculous sign.
"Pathetic cowards, frightened by a storm!" the king shouted and sent an entire legion to fetch Rhipsime, ordering them to kill all her companions. Rhipsime, however, stepped forward:
"Do not harm anyone; I will go to the king myself!"

Upon seeing Rhipsime, Tiridates was instantly captivated and tried to embrace her. But no matter how he approached, she evaded his advances. The king then left his chambers and sent for Gayane:
"Let the old woman persuade the maiden to submit to me, or else all will face a cruel death."
Gayane came, but when admitted to Rhipsime, she urged her not to fear the king's threats. News of "Gayane's treachery" reached Tiridates. The abbess was seized, beaten with stones, and expelled from the palace. The king again approached Rhipsime, but as before, he could not possess her. Then fury overtook him.

The next morning, all the maidens were subjected to horrific tortures: burned with candles, torn apart. One by one, in great suffering, they departed to Christ. Last of all, their mentor Gayane died in particularly agonizing pain.

A week passed. The king, as if nothing had happened, went hunting. But then something strange occurred to him and his companions. A bizarre, unseen illness suddenly struck them. They began to roar at each other, bite, and attack people... It seemed nothing could help them. At that very moment, Tiridates' sister had a dream. A radiant, fearsome youth appeared to her and said:
"Tiridates will be healed if Gregory comes out of the pit."
Upon waking, the princess was perplexed: "Fourteen years have passed since Gregory was thrown into the pit; could he still be alive?"

Just in case, she sent servants to check.
"Gregory, are you alive?" they called into the pit.
"I am," he replied.
Pale, emaciated, and covered in tangled hair, he emerged into the light. With great hope, he was led to Tiridates, who had been roaring like a wild boar in madness for days. But Gregory did not heal him immediately. First, he gathered the remains of the innocent maidens and mourned their suffering and the evil madness of their tormentors. Then he ordered a church to be built and transferred the remains there.

Tiridates was brought by Gregory to the bodies of the slain maidens. Obeying the saint's will, Tiridates begged for forgiveness for his great sin and pleaded for the maidens' intercession. His repentance was so sincere, and his prayer so fervent, that he was healed. With healing came clarity, with clarity came faith, with faith came goodness, and with goodness came holiness. Tiridates now built churches, founded monasteries, and became so gentle that people could hardly recognize the former tyrant and tormenter. It is said that by the end of his life, he resembled a hermit and achieved extraordinary spiritual heights.

Gregory, having been ordained a bishop, did not limit his evangelical preaching to the Armenians alone but also enlightened other nations. He established many Christian monasteries and only at the end of his life retreated to the desert to spend his remaining days in contemplation.

Holy Gregory, Rhipsime, Gayane, radiant maidens, and King Tiridates, pray to God for us!

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The Legend of King Tiridates

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