Armenia Celebrates Own Valentine's Day Feast

This year the feast of St. Sarkis is celebrated on February 7. Marking the feast day of St. Sarkis, the patron saint of young love, unmarried Armenian men and women eat a piece of salty bread, ideally after fasting all day, in the hope of dreaming about their future husband. Tradition says the man who brings them water in the dream will be the man they marry.

During the reign of Constantine the Great, St. Sarkis, then a Greek General, was recognized for his great military skill as a warrior, and was made a Roman General. Although he fought for the Roman armies under the authority of a pagan monarch, St. Sarkis, a Christian, spread the teachings of Christ. He destroyed pagan temples, and religious artifacts whenever possible and erected churches and crosses to replace them.

On the night preceding the feast of St. Sarkis 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 gruel symbolizing the fulfillment of their dreams.

Divine Liturgies will be celebrated in all churches named after St. Sarkis tomorrow. Following the Liturgy a special ceremony of blessing of young people will be offered.

By Armenian Radio. Sona Hakobyan - “Radiolur”