1. Introduction
2. The palace of the Roman Emperor, Diocletianus. The envoy of Goths brings the offer of a single combat between the Roman Emperor and the King of Goths. By the advice of courtiers Licinius and Maxentius, Armenian prince Tiridates fights instead of the Roman Emperor. The King of Goths is killed. Emperor Diocletianus crowns Tiridates as the king of Armenia.
3. Armenia. People welcome the new king. Here is Gregory, a friend of Tiridates. Tiridates orders Gregory to pray to his Gods. As Gregory is a Christian, he refuses to take dictation. King Tiridates savagely tortures Gregory for preaching Christianity and puts him in a dark dungeon called Khor Virap (literally - deep pit) full of serpents and scorpions. Gregory remains imprisoned in Khor Virap for twelve long years.
4. The Emperor Diocletanius wants to marry a Christian nun named Hripsime. In order to escape from the Emperor she leaves Rome for Armenia. Here, Tiridates falls in love with the virgin, desiring to marry her. As Hripsime refuses to marry the king, Tiridates orders to beat her to death.
5. Years later, God punishes Tiridates for torturing Hripsime and other Christians by turning him into a wild boar. People are in panic. Tiridates’s sister Khosrovidukht has a vision in which God tells her that only Gregory could cure Tiridates.
6. Gregory is released; he cures the king and converts him into Christianity. In 301 Armenia adopts Christianity as State religion.
7. Tiridates and Gregory together lay the foundation of St. Etchmiadzin, the Mother Church of Armenia's Holy Apostolic Church in the capital city of Vagharshapat, which became the new spiritual and as well as cultural center of Christian Armenia and remained so to this day - for nearly one thousand seven hundred years.

Overture

Rome
Emperor Diocletianus, envoy of Goths

Challenge
Diocletianus, Licinius, Maxentius, king of Goths, crowd

Crowning
Diocletianus

Rite
Tiridates, people of Armenia

Mission
Gregory, Mariam

Revolt
Tiridates, Gregory, High priest, Khosrovidukht

Homily
Gregory

Punishment
Tiridates, Gregory, High priest

Virap
Gregory, serpents-scorpions

Virgins
Virgins, herald

Violent love
Hripsime, Tiridates

Execution
Hripsime

Regret
Tiridates

Calamity
an elderly, people

Coming out from Virap
Ota, people, Gregory

Forgiveness

Benediction
Gregory, Tiridates

ROME

Palace of Roman Emperor

The king of my land calls for a battle
I brought a challenge to a duel.

Envoy of Goths

II

Let Trdat go to the battlefield.

Licinius 

III

The Duel

- What an imposing fight, they both are brave.
- They clash like huge rocks.

Crowd / spectators       

IV

You won the battle, but you're not the emperor

King of Goth's

V

The Feast

A celebration of triumph in the palace,
Everybody is invited
Trdat, you're brave and generous
You're worthy of your father's throne.
I crown you...

Diocletianus

VI

A R M E N I A

Rite

Let's sacrifice to great Vahagn
For our land to be fruitful

People

VIIC A E S A R I A

Mission

May God bless you Lead you and be your supporter

Mariam

VIII

A R M E N I A

Order

Kneel down Gregory in this sacred hour
And worship my dearest Gold Mother

Trdat

IX

Your idols deceive you
They are mortals like you
How can they give eternity?
They are nothing, just statues

Gregory

X

I'll punish before all of you
To cite them all as an example

Trdat

XI

Homily

We'll conquer death by new senses
Let fill with love

Gregory

XII

Punishment

Take away and throw him into that dungeon/deep virap

Trdat

XIII

VIRAP

Death and torment
Sting, satisfaction

Serpent - scorpion

XIV

Aria

For my god and his glory
I'll suffer, but never deny

Gregory

XV

Let's do the Holy will honorably

Virgins

XVI

TRDATE'S PALACE

If not with love I will take you by violence

Trdat

XVII

Don't desire me
I belong to the Lord/Master

Hripsime

XVIII

Take and kill her
Away from my eyes

Trdat

XIX

Aria

Father, receive me too,
And forgive them with divine mercy

Hripsime

XX

Calamity

Hripsime is not here, who entered my heart
Also Gregory, the old friend of mine

Trdat (aria)