St. Sarkis’s Feast Day: Do Salty Cookies Help to Find your Love?
This morning is when many young people wake-up thirsty but happy for they might have dreamed about their future beloved one…
Today the Armenian Church and its followers celebrate the Feast Day of St. Sarkis - the Warrior, Patron of Love and Youth. He is Armenians’ one of the most beloved saints. He and his 14 soldiers are said to have martyred for the sake of their belief in Christianity.
According to Qahana.am, during the years when Armenia (which already accepted Christianity as state religion in 301) was under Persian hegemony (4th century) Armenian commander Sarkis was serving in the army of the Persian king Shapouh as the commander of regiments. When king Shapouh learnt that Sarkis was a Christian he ordered him to start worshiping fire and offered him to sacrifice to the pagan gods. But Sarkis refused to deny Christianity and start worshipping fire. This enraged the Persian king and Sarkis together with his son was martyred. After being martyred a sacred light appeared over Sarkis’s body. The 14 soldiers of the saint also were martyred for staying faithful to Christianity. It is said that later on Mesrop Mashtots, the inventor of the Armenian alphabet, brought St. Sarkis’s relics to the village Karbi (Ashtarak Region) and over them St. Sarkis Church was built.
On this day a mass is served in the Armenian churches. Then a special ceremony of blessing of lovers and young people follows. Many lovers ask St. Sarkis to make their prayers heard to God and help their love wishes to be realized.
Moreover, many Armenians celebrate this holiday according to not only church rituals and prayers, but folk traditions as well. There exist several legends about St. Sarkis. One of the most popular one, as Qahana.am presents, is that Gharib, a poor singer and Shah-Sanam, the daughter of a well-off man, fall in love. But Shah-Sanam’s father opposes their marriage as he wishes to marry his daughter to a rich man. Gharib decides to go abroad to work, earn some money and return to marry his beloved girl. Before leaving Gharib asked her to wait for him for seven years, and if he was late even for a day, then she could marry as her father wishes. After day-and-night work for seven years Gharib earned some money and came back to his beloved one. On his way back, though, he met a lot of difficulties, which made his journey as if endless. Then Gharib started praying to St. Sarkis for help. The latter listened to the young loving heart and immediately appeared with his white horse, took Gharib with him and instantly brought him to his beloved one. On seeing Gharib’s strong will, the deep and strong love Shah-Sanam and Gharib had, her father blessed them…
On the evening before the feast, single young people eat salty cookies and it is said, whoever appears in their dreams or brings them water is believed to be their future spouse. Another custom of the feast is that on the eve, at night the believers put a tray of oatmeal on the threshold waiting that at dawn St. Sarkis will pass near-by and his horse will leave the hoof print on the oatmeal which they believe will make their dreams come true. On this holiday those in love also give each other love-cards, flowers and/or sweets.
On the eve of this holiday various events around the country and the capital are being organized to keep the romantic mood and love atmosphere prevailing all around.
We believe that true love lies within us and multiplies in the universe… the more generous we are in granting love to others the more love will return to us!