By the
order of His holiness
Karekin II , Supreme Patriarch
and Catholicos of
All Armenians, the Feast
of St. Sarkis
the and his
soldiers-companions is proclaimed
day of blessing of the youth.
This year the feast
is celebrated on 26.
Captain St.
Saris is one of
the most beloved saints among
the Armenian nation.
Together with his 14
soldiers- companions he was martyred for
the sake of Christian faith. During the
period of region
of the king
Kostandianos the Great (285-337) St. Sarkis,
being very courageous,
was appointed the
prince and General
in chief of the
region of Cappadocia
bordering Armenia. When
during the period
region of the
king Julianos the
Betrayer (360-363) the
persecutions against Christians
started by God’s
will St. Sar kis
and his only
son—Martyros, came to
live in Armenia, and
the Armenian King
Tiran, grandson of
Tiridates, received them
very well. From
Armenian St. Sarkis
and his son
went to Persia,
and started serving
in the army
of the Persian King
Shapouh as the
captain of regiments.
Become aware of
the fact that
Sarkis was Christian
the king Shapouh ordered
him to worship
the fire and
offer sacrifice to
the heathen gods.
But the captain immediately
refused to obey
the order saying,
“We should worship
one God—the Holy
Trinity, which has
created the earth
and the heaven.
Whereas fire idols
are not gods
and the human
being may destroy
them.” After these
words the saint
destroyed the temple.
The annoyed crowd
fell on the
saint and his
son. First the son of
the saint was
martyred. The saint
was put into
prison and remaining
unshaken in his
faith was beheaded. After the
martyrdom of the
saint light appeared
over his body.
14 soldiers-companions of the
saint also were martyred for the sake
of Christian faith.
Later St. Mesrop
Mashtots brought the
relics of the
saint to the village
Karbi and the
Church of St.
Sarkis was built
over his relics. According
to one of
the folk stories
upon return of
their victorious battle
Captain st. Sarkis
and his 39
soldiers- companions celebrated their
victory in the
royal palace all
of them were
drunk and went
to sleep, the king
ordered 40 young
women to kill
the brave soldiers.
39 of the woman
obeyed the order
and killed soldiers,
whereas one of
them seeing the
handsome and peaceful
face of sleeping
Sarkis fell in
love him and
instead of killing
kissed him. Getting
up and seeing
what had happened
St. Sarkis straddled
his white horse
and taking the
young woman with
him smashed the gates
of the city,
brought up violent
snow-storm and left
the city. It is
because of this
folk story people
in love started
to consider St.
Sarkis their intercessor
and protector. St. Sarkis
always helps and
supports all young
people asking his
help and support. According to
the studies of
Academician Karapet Melik-Ohanjanyan , St.
Sarkis was the
patron of David
of Sassoon and
all heroes of
Sassoon not only
in the field
of battle, but also in
love. The feast
of St. Sarkis
the Captain and his
soldiers-companions is celebrated
not only by
means of church
rites and prayer ,
but also folk
traditions.
Wonders are worked
by the mediation
of St. Sarkis .
on the day of the
feast young people pray
asking the saint
to make their pryers
audible to God.
The day before
the young people
eat salty cookies
and relate the
appearance of their
future bride or bridegroom
in their dream to eating
of the salty
cookie. After eating
the salty cookie they eat
nothing thanks to
sincere faith. There are
many miracles and folk
traditions related to the
saint. On the night preceding the
feast of St.
Sarkis the faithful
people 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 grul symbolizing
the fulfillment of their
dreams.
People in
love present each other cards, flowers or sweets on the
occasion of the feast.
