In the Armenian Calendar, we honor two female saints following the second Sunday of Pentecost: St. Nooneh and St. Mane. These two women were companions of St. Hripsime, one the first martyrs in Armenian history. While many of St. Hripsime’s companions were martyred alongside her, the Lord had a very different purpose for the lives of these two saints.

St. Mane

After fleeing Rome, the community of St. Hripsime and her sisters arrived in Armenia around 300 A.D. At this point, St. Mane decided to withdraw to the region of Mt. Sepouh, living alone in a cave as a hermit. She became well known as an ascetic of the region, and later the cave was called “Mane’s cave”. We do not know if she heard about the persecution and martyrdom of her sisters in Vagharshapat, but it seems likely that she continued in steadfast prayer for her community from the mountains, prayers which likely strengthened them as they underwent the greatest test of their endurance. 

Some traditions say that during the end of St. Mane’s life, St. Gregory the Illuminator also wished to live his last days withdrawn from the world and went into the mountains. Approaching St. Mane’s cave, he heard the voice of the nun asking him to leave and to return to the cave in three days. Respecting her wish, St. Gregory returned to the cave three days later and found her dead. Sources tell us he then buried her body in the cave in 323 A.D.

St. Nooneh/Nune

St. Nooneh is a saint you may know by a different name! From an early age, she was raised in the faith - her parents even decided to become monastics when she was twelve years old. They placed her in the care of a devout woman who told her how Christ’s Robe had arrived in Georgia, a country that was still very pagan (is this sounding familiar?)

Soon Nooneh began to pray fervently to the Theotokos, asking for her blessing to travel to Georgia and be made worthy to venerate the Sacred Robe that she had woven for her beloved Son. The Most Holy Theotokos heard her prayers and appeared to her in a dream, saying, “Go to the country that was assigned to me by lot and preach the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. He will send down His grace upon you and I will be your protector.”

Yes, this is St. Nino/Nina of Georgia! After this dream and a subsequent vision, St. Nooneh/Nino related her experiences to her uncle, Patriarch Juvenal, and her desire to preach the Gospel in Georgia. He blessed her and sent her to Rome, where she met and baptized the princess Rhipsimia (or Hripsime) and her companion, Gaiana. They founded a community together and, as you know from St. Hripsime’s story, fled together into Armenia when they became the focus of Emperor Diocletian’s attention. 

St. Nooneh/Nino remained with the community of St. Hripsime for some time. However, when the time of persecution and martyrdom came, she was able to hide and escape, believing that God still had a mission for her to fulfill in Georgia. After a dangerous journey, she finally arrived in the capital city of Metskhita. There she continued to live a prayerful life and preached the Gospel. As a result of her faithful evangelism, the entire nation was converted to Christianity. 

Armenian sources tell us that as the result of all these events, upon the advice of Nooneh/Nino, a delegation was sent to the Armenian Pontiff St. Gregory the Illuminator and the Armenian King Tiridates, asking to send clergy to perform baptisms and establish the Church of Georgia. 

The lives of these two women, as well as the life of their companion St. Hripisime, show us the incredible ways that God works through the chaos and violence of our times. Through terrible circumstances, the Holy Spirit brought the gospel to Armenia through the courageous witness and martyrdom of St. Hripsime and her community; provided Armenia with a holy ascetic example through St. Mane; and brought the Gospel all the way to Georgia through the boldness of St. Nooneh/Nino. One woman chose to withdraw to the deserts, another was asked to stay and die as a witness for Christ, and still another was asked to flee and fulfill her greatest task in a foreign land. In moments of upheaval and fear, each of them acted with courage, wisdom, and intuition in order to listen to the guidance of the Holy Spirit within them and give their lives uniquely into the hands of Christ. 

We honor their witness on June 12, or the second week after Pentecost. 

Holy Mothers Mane and Nooneh, pray to God for us!