YEREVAN. - Feast of St. Sarkis is a national holiday in Armenia, which is annually celebrated in late January or early February.

St. Sarkis is one of the greatest saints of Armenia. He died together with his son Martyros and 14 soldiers for the sake of the Christian faith.

Noticing St. Sarkis’ courage, king Kostandianos the Great (285-337) appointed him the prince and general in chief of the region of Cappadocia bordering Armenia.

St. Sarkis was not only a brilliant ruler but also a wonderful preacher. With the

consent of the emperor, he destroyed pagan temples in the cities under his rule and built churches instead of them, disseminating Christianity. When during the period of reign of king Julianos the Betrayer (360-363) the persecutions against Christians began, God appeared to St. Sarkis and urged him to leave the territory of the empire. Together with his only son Martyros, St Sarkis came to live in Armenia, where the Armenian king Tiran, grandson of Tiridates the Great, ruled.

Receiving notice that Julian was moving to Persia with great army, and seeking to avoid intrusion into his lands, the Armenian king persuaded Sarkis to go and start serving in the army of the Persian king Shapouh. The latter received St Sarkis with love and appointed him the captain of regiments.  

Seeing morality and dedication to God in their new captain, many fighters converted to Christianity. However, Shapouh ordered him to worship the fire and offer sacrifice to the heathen gods, to which Sarkis immediately refused, saying: “We should worship one God - the Holy Trinity, which has created the earth and the heaven. Whereas fire or idols are not gods and the human being may destroy them.”

After these words the saint destroyed an idol statue. The enraged crowd went at the saint and his son. First the son of the saint was martyred. St. Sarkis was put into prison and beheaded remaining unshaken in his faith. 14 soldiers-companions of the saint were also martyred for the sake of the Christian faith. After the martyrdom of the saint, light appeared over his body.

St. Sarkis is one of the most beloved saints of Armenians. It is no coincidence that St. Mesrop Mashtots brought the relics of the saint to the village Karbi (Ashtarak Region), where the Church of St. Sarkis was later built.

In Armenia the Feast of St. Sarkis is celebrated not only according to church rites and prayer, but also according to various folk traditions. St. Sarkis the Captain is considered the patron of youth. Many miracles happen thanks to his intercession. On this day, young people pray, asking the saint to make their prayers audible to God and St. Sarkis helps the lovers.

The feast is preceded by the five-day fast of Catechumens established by St. Gregory the Illuminator.

On the eve of the feast, young people eat salty cookies in the evening and don’t drink water, expecting revelation in their dream about their future bride or bridegroom. Also, on the night preceding the feast of St. Sarkis, the faithful place a tray full of gruel before the door believing that while passing near their door at dawn St. Sarkis will leave his footprint on the gruel symbolizing the fulfillment of their dreams.

On this day, the lovers gift each other cards, flowers or sweets.