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. This year the feast is celebrated on February 4.
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.
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 prayers audible to God. The day before the feast 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 else and pray waiting for the dream. Seeing future bride or bridegroom in the dream is the result of the wonder worked 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 gruel symbolizing the fulfillment of their dreams.
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