Stone of Change/Epic Upgrade Question

[SynalonEtuul]

If I perform a Stone of Change recipe on an item and subsequently upgrade it to epic, will the item retain the ritual upgrade? I plan to use the resistance ritual once I get a Torc, but I would also like to eventually epic the item, so

[RabidApathy]

Epicing an item creates a new item. It removes all permanent damage, it removes armor kits, and it removes alchemical rituals.

[SynalonEtuul]

Ah, that's what I thought. Thanks.