One story indicates that Hripsime again was noticed for her beauty, this time by King Tiridates III, who proceeded to pursue her.

Gayane was then put to death by Tiridates' soldiers, as were all the members of her community except for Nune (or Marine), who was later a missionary in Georgia[3] and, as Saint Nino, is praised as the founder of the Georgian Orthodox Church.

Another version of the Saint's Acts indicates that, upon discovering Hripsime's whereabouts, Diocletian sent a letter to Tiridates insisting that he either send her back or take her for himself.

[8] According to legend, Christ designated the spot for the shrine by descending from heaven in a shaft of light and smiting the ground with a golden hammer until the earth shook.

[9] Some of the saint's relics, along with items relating to Tiridates and Gregory the Illuminator, were pillaged by Persians during an invasion in 1604, but were restored in 1638.

There are many old icons in the church portraying how she was martyred by Tiridates III (Dirtadis in Ethiopian languages) and how the cruel king was changed into a beast after killing her.