The Martyrdom of Saint Thomas the Apostle died December 21, 72 a.d.

on Winter Solstice (he was the one who doubted Christs resurrection hence the term Doubting Thomas), martyred at Saint Thomas Mount known as Parangimalai (Tamil: , meaning big mount), in Chennai city, Tamil Nadu state, in India, where he went after meeting with the Persian Magi (the Wise Men who visited the Christ Child). The name of the mountain is derived from the word Farangi (from the Indo-Persian word Farang meaning foreigner) and means European in general and Catholic specifically in the Tamil region. The site was visited by the Blessed Pope John Paul II (born Karol Wojtya May 18, 1920 April 2, 2005, reigned from October 16, 1978, beatified on May 1, 2011 by Pope Benedict XVI). Saint Thomas was known in India as Tauma (here painted between 1636 and 1638) by the Flemish Baroque painter Sir Peter Paul Rubens (28 June 1577 30 May 1640).

The alcove of Tauma and Hripsim

a poem by Konrad Tademar
Icon of Saint Hripsim () died c. 290 a.d on September 29 (painted c. late 1700s by Armenian Iconographer Hovnatan Hovnatanian 1730 - 1801). Also known as: Rhipsime, Ripsime, Ripsima, and among the Ethiopians as Saint Arsema), famed for her beauty that attracted the sexual attentions of the Roman Emperor Diocletian (Dec 22, 244 Dec 3, 311 a.d.) and the Pagan Armenian King Tridates III (250 330 a.d., Armenian: , pictured in the icon under her foot). She was an Armenian of Roman origin, a virgin nun of noble birth, part of a Christian Community of Female Virgins led by the Abbess Saint Gayan ( , died c. 290 a.d.) and numbering 35 (a number one less than 36, signifying the hours of light on the first day of creation, Christ was the 36th member who dwelt among them). Martyred by rape and quartering by King Tridanes at Shoghakat (, drop of light) after she refused his advances, he then butchered all her Christian sisters only one escaped to Georgia, known as Saint Nino (Georgian: / Armenian: / Greek: c. 296 c. 340) where she continued Hripsims and Gayans work.

The Incredulity of St. Thomas an illumination from the Malatia Gospel, painted between 1267 - 1268 a.d. currently located at the Matenadaran () - The Mesrop Mashtots Institute of Ancient Manuscripts in Yerevan in Armenia; by Toros Roslin ( ) (1210 1270 a.d.) the Armenian manuscript illuminator, who worked at the Scriptorium of Hromkla (Armenian: , Arabic: Qal'at arRum / - meaning Roman Castle on the river Euphrates) - the Malatia Gospel was probably commissioned by King Leo II (, 1236 -1289, reigned from 1269) for his coronation - of the Hethumid Dynasty / House of Lampron (Armenian: , French: Les Embruns, after the Castle in the Taurus Mountains.)

I am in the alcove of the Saints today Saint Thomas the doubting one gave me a sign I wonder aimlessly through concrete courtyards And settle for a cup of ice coffee in Styrofoam The street is busy with Hindu housewives and Armenian youth, as dusty cars speed by There is this dry yellow and brown leaf Sitting patiently a few inches from my foot It contrasts against the concrete and the light of the sun, weaving a pattern With the shadows cast by the living tree and my polished black leather shoe Resting on the warm dry cement I can feel the heat through the soles Emanating from the parched earth herself It is as if I am being roasted alive I am in the alcove of the Saints today Saint Arsema, the beautiful one who always wore white Gave me a sign today, as the sun set I drove by dejected and depressed On streets filled with the downtrodden and miserable refuse of mankind

Cathedral of Saint Hripsim ( ) built by Catholicos Sahak (Isaac) the Great Sahak Partev ( ) (338 439 a.d.) son of Saint Narses the Great ( . d. 373 a.d.) and from the same family as Saint Gregory the Illuminator (275 331 a.d.) in the year 395 a.d. to contain the remains of the martyred Saint Hripsim, completed in 618 a.d., renovated and modified 1651 1653 a.d.

The wind has been pushing the leaf Towards me in steady rhythmic gusts Over the last half hour, inch by inch I think the leaf and the wind are in collusion On this journey of the inanimate object To kiss the shoe of glistening blackness To reach beyond that which is possible To escape the destiny of mere things Reaching another dimension, one of blood Placing ones hands into the very wounds I am in the alcove of the Saints today The secrets of the Twin are revealed in Farsi And the shadows of doubt weigh on my soul Blessed are they who have not seen And yet the light emanating from the sun Reaches India as surely as the New World The warm wind caresses my face As I stare absently into the distance The urban desolation is vastly overdone It would be a pleasant enough scene If not for the two young Armenians Speaking of their life and loves Of women and of the general lack of common sense in our world today I like them, they are my kind of people But my mood is not of this world

The Incredulity of Saint Thomas painted 16011602 by Caravaggio (birth name: Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio born on Saint Hripsims feast day: September 29, 1571 died July 18, 1610.

I am in the alcove of the Saints today I hear the waves of Lake Tsana And my eyes gaze on the islands that live there My heart beats to the bells of some distant Monastery, and my fingers yearn for a rosary I am Ethiopian today, and I feel awake Id join in the conversation If not for the lonely little leaf So desperately trying to reach my foot It is so close to its impossible goal See it just stirred right now! An object, a dead object came to life If only the wind would cooperate Heed the prayer of the leaf But the wind is fickle And unknown are its motivations I am in the alcove of the Saints today Parangimalai watches soldiers training with guns While pilgrims walk the one hundred sixty steps To achieve some small measure of sanity I recall the precious moments on my knees Asking my God to enlighten me

n Hy the Amharic name for Lake Tana / Tsana - largest lake in Ethiopia, source of the Blue Nile, location of Tana Qirqos the legendary islet where the Arc of the Covenant once was kept as well as the place the Virgin Mary rested at when she was returning from Egypt, it is also the location of the oldest known shrine to Saint Hripsim (known as Arsema among the Ethiopians). The word Hy () means Armenian in the Armenian language after the legendary founder of the Armenian nation: Hayk Nahapet son of Torgom the third son of Gomer and grandson of the Biblical Japheth (brother of Ashkenaz and Riphat son of the Biblical Noah.)

But the wind alas, has other ideas The collusion I suspected it of, is but an illusion A sudden gust, a blowback, a twist of fate Against the alcoves concrete benches The Hindus are suddenly on their guard Someone utters a few words in hurried Armenian A spilled cup of coffee and a child crying with delight Oh, how beautiful the sight of candles at daytime In darkened hallways beneath holy icons I dip my hand in the holy water and cross myself I am in the alcove of the Saints today The sun strikes the ground like a hammer of gold Gregorys illumination pales by comparison But under the cold stones of Shoghakat I am sure one can find a few drops of her blood For I saw her today, walking past my car, in white

The smell of coffee, cigarette smoke and gasoline Intrude on the vision of vast distances The busy highway drowns out the Armenians For a blissful moment of clarity My Armenian mechanic doubts my car can be fixed Thomas, I say, have some faith But he laughs and tells me his name is Alexander And then suddenly the leaf is gone Swept several feet away, never to reach its goal As I get up and walk away from the alcove of the Saints, where I spent the day And only Arsema known as Hripsim follows me Leaving Tauma known as Thomas behind To his eternal doubts, for she alone is certain Her white dress flows gently in the warm wind And I watch her pick up the leaf and fade away.

September 29, 2011 on the feast of Saint Hripsim

Konrad Tademar

Tombstone of Saint Hripsim, finalized in 618 a.d. restored in 1970 a.d. located in the Town of Etchmiadzin ( ) also known as Vagharshapat () established 685 b.c. Armavir () Province (established 8th century b.c.) in Western Armenia at the Cathedral of Saint Hripsim.