Day of Saint Sarkis (patron saint of lovers) in Armenia

Saint Sarkis Day is an Armenian holiday with centuries-old traditions, but it began to be officially celebrated in the country only in 2007. Every year the holiday date changes; it is celebrated on one of the days from late January to mid-February. This saint is one of the most revered and respected among Armenians; people turn to him for help and, as church ministers say: if you turn to the saint on this day, he will definitely hear the request. Saint Sarkis was a commander and lived under the ruler Constantine the Great. Thanks to his skill as an orator and the gift of persuasion, under his influence many soldiers decided to undergo the rite of baptism. Another beautiful legend has survived to this day, thanks to which Saint Sarkis became the heavenly patron of lovers. Legend says that, having returned from the campaign, he and his comrades went to the palace to celebrate the victory. The king gave a secret order to forty young beauties to kill all the warriors while they slept. 39 women could not disobey their king and carried out the assignment. Only one young woman, looking at the sleeping commander, could not do this, because she fell in love with him. Instead of taking his life, she took and kissed the sleeping man. This kiss saved his life, as he woke up and was able to leave the palace, taking his savior with him. Since then, Saint Sarkis has been considered the patron saint of lovers, and young couples on the feast of Saint Sarkis always pray for their love, asking for blessings and protection. For those who are still single, Saint Sarkis can show future love in a dream. To do this, the night before the holiday they eat a salty pancake, and no other food. If this condition has been met, then in a dream you can see your future destiny. In Yerevan, in the Church of St. Sarkis, a liturgy is held on the holiday, and the holiday itself is preceded by a five-day fast.