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Feast of St. Sarkis the Captain, Patron of Love and Youth marked in Armenia
Panorama.am
15:20 30/01/2010
By the order of His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and
Catholicos of All Armenians, the Feast of St. Sarkis the Captain and
his soldiers-companions is proclaimed day of blessing of the youth.
Captain St. Sarkis 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 reign 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 of reign of the king Julianos the Betrayer
(360-363) the persecutions against Christians started, by God's will
St. Sarkis and his only son - Martyros, came to live in Armenia. From
Armenia St. Sarkis and his son went to Persia, and started serving in
the army of the Persian king Shapouh as the captain of regiments.
Finding 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 or 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 Christian faith.
For the Armenian nation St. Sarkis is one of the most beloved. It
isn't casual that St. Mesrop Mashtots brought the relics of the saint
to the village Karbi (Ashtarak Region) and the Church of St. Sarkis
was built over his relics.
Sts. Atomians were the Armenian captains Atom Gnouni and Manajihr
Reshtouni who together with their regiments served in the Persian
royal court during the period of reign of the idolater king Hazkert.
Upon the excitation of archimagi king Hazkert started persecutions
against Christians in order to eradicate Christian faith in Persia.
Captains Atom Gnouni and Manajihr Reshtouni received an edict from
Hazkert inviting the captains together with their regiments to the
royal palace with the intention of forcing them to apostasy. At first
the Armenian captains obeyed the order, but being aware of the trap
prepared by the king they started back home and on their way home they
stopped in the province of Andzevatsyats. Becoming aware of the
numerous Persian Army persecuting them, soldiers of the captain Atom
Gnouni, encouraged by the prophesy of a saint hermit living on the
mountain preferred voluntary martyrdom. Persian Army reaching the
Armenian regiment surrounded them and killed the saints. Whereas
Manajihr Reshtouni and his soldiers reached Reshtounik, where he
confessed his being Christian and was martyred in 449 AD.
Fast of Catechumens established by St. Gregory the Illuminator
precedes the feast. On the eve of St. Sarkis feast, in the evening,
young people eat salty cookies and relate the appearance of their
future bride or bridegroom in their dream to eating of the salty
cookie. Also, 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 gruel symbolizing the fulfillment of their dreams.
People in love present each other cards, flowers or sweets on the
occasion of the feast.
On the day of the feast a Divine Liturgy is celebrated in all churches
named after St. Sarkis. Following the Liturgy a special ceremony of
blessing of young people will be offered.
Panorama.am
15:20 30/01/2010
By the order of His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and
Catholicos of All Armenians, the Feast of St. Sarkis the Captain and
his soldiers-companions is proclaimed day of blessing of the youth.
Captain St. Sarkis 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 reign 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 of reign of the king Julianos the Betrayer
(360-363) the persecutions against Christians started, by God's will
St. Sarkis and his only son - Martyros, came to live in Armenia. From
Armenia St. Sarkis and his son went to Persia, and started serving in
the army of the Persian king Shapouh as the captain of regiments.
Finding 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 or 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 Christian faith.
For the Armenian nation St. Sarkis is one of the most beloved. It
isn't casual that St. Mesrop Mashtots brought the relics of the saint
to the village Karbi (Ashtarak Region) and the Church of St. Sarkis
was built over his relics.
Sts. Atomians were the Armenian captains Atom Gnouni and Manajihr
Reshtouni who together with their regiments served in the Persian
royal court during the period of reign of the idolater king Hazkert.
Upon the excitation of archimagi king Hazkert started persecutions
against Christians in order to eradicate Christian faith in Persia.
Captains Atom Gnouni and Manajihr Reshtouni received an edict from
Hazkert inviting the captains together with their regiments to the
royal palace with the intention of forcing them to apostasy. At first
the Armenian captains obeyed the order, but being aware of the trap
prepared by the king they started back home and on their way home they
stopped in the province of Andzevatsyats. Becoming aware of the
numerous Persian Army persecuting them, soldiers of the captain Atom
Gnouni, encouraged by the prophesy of a saint hermit living on the
mountain preferred voluntary martyrdom. Persian Army reaching the
Armenian regiment surrounded them and killed the saints. Whereas
Manajihr Reshtouni and his soldiers reached Reshtounik, where he
confessed his being Christian and was martyred in 449 AD.
Fast of Catechumens established by St. Gregory the Illuminator
precedes the feast. On the eve of St. Sarkis feast, in the evening,
young people eat salty cookies and relate the appearance of their
future bride or bridegroom in their dream to eating of the salty
cookie. Also, 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 gruel symbolizing the fulfillment of their dreams.
People in love present each other cards, flowers or sweets on the
occasion of the feast.
On the day of the feast a Divine Liturgy is celebrated in all churches
named after St. Sarkis. Following the Liturgy a special ceremony of
blessing of young people will be offered.