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Feast of St. Sarkis to be celebrated grandiosely
12:22, 26 January, 2013
YEREVAN, JANUARY 26, ARMENPRESS. The holiday of the patron of love St.
Sarkis will be celebrated grandiosely and excitedly. As "Armenpress'
reports, Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II has declared this day
as the day for blessing the youth. This year it is celebrated on
January 26.
General St. Sargis together with his son and 14 courageous soldiers
was martyred for the sake of Christian religion.
Sarkis was a Greek from the area of Cappadocia on the Anatolian plain.
He was a proud, brave Christian and served as a Roman army officer
during the reign of Emperor Constantine (roughly 337 A.D.). Sarkis'
valor, strength, and bravery earned him the rank of general.
Sarkis used his position of power for spiritual growth, going from
town to town purging the land of pagan idols, teaching the Gospel, and
building churches where pagan temples once stood. Sarkis had a good
model in the piety of the Emperor Constantine.
When Constantine died, Christianity throughout the region came under
attack from the new Roman leader, Julian the Apostate. Under his
leadership, pagans set about destroying churches and persecuting
Christians.
Seeing this, Sarkis prayed. Jesus appeared to him and said, 'It is
time for you to leave your country and your clan, as did Abraham the
Patriarch, and go to a country which I will show you. There you will
receive the crown of righteousness prepared for you."
Sarkis left behind his noble title and power and headed with his son,
Mardiros, to Armenia, where they were welcomed by King Diran, and
grandson of King Drtad.
While Sarkis and Mardiros were in Armenia, the Emperor Julian,
attempting to take over the known world, continued to move eastward
toward Antioch in Syria. Whenever the Roman army came upon Christians,
they were instantly killed. Many people fled the invading armies. King
Diran urged Sarkis to escape and seek refuge among the Persians.
When Sarkis and his son arrived in Persia, King Shapur, hearing of his
bravery, appointed him a commander of the Persian military. As he
continued to be victorious in battle, Sarkis also continued to give
the credit to God.
When Julian's troops started raiding lan Outnumbered by the Greek and
Roman forces, Sarkis' troops were frightened. He told them that if
they believed in the Creator of heaven and earth, their hearts would
never be shaken. Many of his soldiers were baptized by the priests
traveling with the army, and they succeeded in fending off a Roman
attack.
Some of Sarkis' soldiers, who had not been baptized, went to King
Shapur and told him that Sarkis was rebelling against the Persian
ruler by preaching belief in Jesus. The king called Sarkis back to the
palace, where he, his son, and the newly-baptized soldiers were
expected to attend a feast honoring the pagan gods.
At the temple, the king asked Sarkis to offer a sacrifice to the pagan
gods. Sarkis refused, saying he would only worship the one, true God.
The king began to criticize Sarkis and his faith. But Sarkis could not
tolerate such talk, so he spat in the king's face and knocked down the
temple idols. The king and his followers were enraged by Sarkis'
actions, so they killed his son, Mardiros, before his eyes.
The king then ordered Sarkis imprisoned. In prison Sarkis was
strengthened by his relationship with the Lord. King Shapur heard of
this and ordered Sarkis' execution.
At his execution, Sarkis began to pray. An angel descended from heaven
and told him, "Be strong. Do not fear the killers of your body; for
the gate of the Kingdom of Heaven is open for you." Upon seeing the
angel and understanding the power of everlasting life, many of the
pagans who had gathered for the execution became Christians.
Sarkis made one last passionate plea for people to accept Jesus
Christ, and then was killed.
On the occasion of the popular holiday various events will be held in
Yerevan on January 26. Events are also expected to be held in the
Lover's Park in Yerevan.
From: Baghdasarian
12:22, 26 January, 2013
YEREVAN, JANUARY 26, ARMENPRESS. The holiday of the patron of love St.
Sarkis will be celebrated grandiosely and excitedly. As "Armenpress'
reports, Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II has declared this day
as the day for blessing the youth. This year it is celebrated on
January 26.
General St. Sargis together with his son and 14 courageous soldiers
was martyred for the sake of Christian religion.
Sarkis was a Greek from the area of Cappadocia on the Anatolian plain.
He was a proud, brave Christian and served as a Roman army officer
during the reign of Emperor Constantine (roughly 337 A.D.). Sarkis'
valor, strength, and bravery earned him the rank of general.
Sarkis used his position of power for spiritual growth, going from
town to town purging the land of pagan idols, teaching the Gospel, and
building churches where pagan temples once stood. Sarkis had a good
model in the piety of the Emperor Constantine.
When Constantine died, Christianity throughout the region came under
attack from the new Roman leader, Julian the Apostate. Under his
leadership, pagans set about destroying churches and persecuting
Christians.
Seeing this, Sarkis prayed. Jesus appeared to him and said, 'It is
time for you to leave your country and your clan, as did Abraham the
Patriarch, and go to a country which I will show you. There you will
receive the crown of righteousness prepared for you."
Sarkis left behind his noble title and power and headed with his son,
Mardiros, to Armenia, where they were welcomed by King Diran, and
grandson of King Drtad.
While Sarkis and Mardiros were in Armenia, the Emperor Julian,
attempting to take over the known world, continued to move eastward
toward Antioch in Syria. Whenever the Roman army came upon Christians,
they were instantly killed. Many people fled the invading armies. King
Diran urged Sarkis to escape and seek refuge among the Persians.
When Sarkis and his son arrived in Persia, King Shapur, hearing of his
bravery, appointed him a commander of the Persian military. As he
continued to be victorious in battle, Sarkis also continued to give
the credit to God.
When Julian's troops started raiding lan Outnumbered by the Greek and
Roman forces, Sarkis' troops were frightened. He told them that if
they believed in the Creator of heaven and earth, their hearts would
never be shaken. Many of his soldiers were baptized by the priests
traveling with the army, and they succeeded in fending off a Roman
attack.
Some of Sarkis' soldiers, who had not been baptized, went to King
Shapur and told him that Sarkis was rebelling against the Persian
ruler by preaching belief in Jesus. The king called Sarkis back to the
palace, where he, his son, and the newly-baptized soldiers were
expected to attend a feast honoring the pagan gods.
At the temple, the king asked Sarkis to offer a sacrifice to the pagan
gods. Sarkis refused, saying he would only worship the one, true God.
The king began to criticize Sarkis and his faith. But Sarkis could not
tolerate such talk, so he spat in the king's face and knocked down the
temple idols. The king and his followers were enraged by Sarkis'
actions, so they killed his son, Mardiros, before his eyes.
The king then ordered Sarkis imprisoned. In prison Sarkis was
strengthened by his relationship with the Lord. King Shapur heard of
this and ordered Sarkis' execution.
At his execution, Sarkis began to pray. An angel descended from heaven
and told him, "Be strong. Do not fear the killers of your body; for
the gate of the Kingdom of Heaven is open for you." Upon seeing the
angel and understanding the power of everlasting life, many of the
pagans who had gathered for the execution became Christians.
Sarkis made one last passionate plea for people to accept Jesus
Christ, and then was killed.
On the occasion of the popular holiday various events will be held in
Yerevan on January 26. Events are also expected to be held in the
Lover's Park in Yerevan.
From: Baghdasarian