Saint Hripsime Church - is one of the most outstanding examples of religious architecture of the early medieval Armenia. Church founded in 618 on the site of Komitas Ahtsetsi previously housed here mausoleum IV cent., Which contained the remains of the martyr Saint Hripsime.

History of martyrs is closely connected with the history of this church. In 301 AD the Roman monastery of St. Paul in Armenia Gayane abbess came 37 young Christian girls. Hripsime is one of them. She was so beautiful that won the heart of the Roman Emperor, who invited her to become his wife. Hripsime refused the emperor and with his friends hid in Alexandria. It was here that Our Lady appeared to them, pointing the way to Armenia. King of Armenia - Trdat III, learn about the history and beauty of the girls Hripsime, as well as the Roman governor wanted to marry her. However, she refused him, saying that it belongs only to Christ. Trdat III was very angry at this answer and ordered the killing of all the girls, including Hripsime.

The execution of the girls did not ease the soul of the Armenian king. After what happened Trdat III became possessed by a demon. From the madness of the king healed St. Gregory the Illuminator, whose relics now kept in the monastery. Trdat III believed in the power of the Christian faith and made Christianity the state religion of Armenia.

Saint Hripsime Church - a masterpiece of early Christian architecture. This is a simple, and at the same time majestic and slender structure. The temple has a rectangular base. In 1790 the church built a two-tiered bell tower. The temple can be seen inlaid with mother-of-saint's gates in 1741 Under the altar there is a crypt, where according to legend, was buried St. Hripsime.