Vagharshapat, Armavir Province, Armenia
Once upon a time in a land far far away..................
In the 4th century of the common era a Roman emperor called Diocletian wanted to marry a fair maiden Hripsime, a Christian virgin. Well actually she was a Christian nun. Hmmmm, sounds like we could be dealing with a pervert here.
She refused and ran away with a number of other nuns, of virtuous intent. They were escorted and accompanied by one, Abbess Gayane, ending up in Armenia.
Diocletian, sounds a bit of a twat, he sent by letter a request to King Tiridates III, for him to kill all the escaped nuns except for Hripsime, who should be sent back to him.
Alas the Armenian King upon seeing Hripsime fancied a frolic himself and wanted to "make her his wife".
"Nope" said Hripsime
Tirdates spat his dummy out and ordered the torture and murder of the nuns including Hripsime.
Thought he would then have a chance with Abbess Gayane who also spurned his advances. Yup tortured and murdered.
The fairy tale legend has it that in the 7th century the Church of Saint Gayane was built where she was martyred.
The end
So arriving here on a Sunday Morning,the faithful were out en masse.
Let's mingle
Our leader Rosa, told us that the people had no problems with photography, they were accustomed to it. Which is good as there was not much space to enjoy the architecture.
The choir were belting out a hearty song....
...and the candle people were doing a roaring trade.
These guys in red were doing what they do, I really do not understand religion and its mechanics.
Stifling a yawn
Do monks have a collective noun? maybe a cloister or a brotherhood of monks?
The men in black don't seem so scary in the daylight.
So that's it. Sunday morning with your own personal jesus,
I'm off to find some nuns to martyr.
Let's just open up tinder
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