Saint Sargis – The Holiday of Lovers in Armenia

Սուրբ Սարգիս. Սիրահարների տոն

Meanwhile the lovers all over the world celebrate the day of St. Valentine on February 14, in Armenia people in love have the holiday devoted to their patron, general St. Sargis. This holiday is also announced as the day of the youth blessing. It is celebrated 63 days before the Easter, on a Saturday between the January 18 and February 23.

Surb Sargis: Armenia marks its Valentine’s Day

Armenia marked the holiday of Surb Sargis (Saint Serkius) on January 30, patron saint of the young and those in love.According to Armenian Church tradition Sargis is said to have lived between 285 and 337 and was a military commander for the first Christian Roman Emperor Constantine and at a time served in Armenia. Armenian popular tradition has it that on the night before the holiday the young eat a salty pancake, without other food or drink, and would then expect to dream about their destined groom or bride.

Thirsting for a Mate: Tradition and faith meet on St. Sargis Day

St. Sargis is the patron of all loving couples. On St. Sargis’ Day single young women eat very salty pancakes and can't drink water afterwards. They go to sleep thirsty, and it is believed that the man who will give the young woman a cup of water in her dream will be her future husband. The Armenians also make a pastry called "pokhindz" and leave it in their yards at St. Sargis’ night. If the footstep of the saint’s horse is signed on the pastry the year will be successful.(Marking the feast day of St. Sargis, the patron saint of young love, unmarried Armenian women eat a piece of salty bread, ideally after fasting all day, in the hope of dreaming about their future husband. Tradition says the man who brings them water in the dream will be the man they marry.)

Salty cookies for the sweethearts: Armenian youth welcome St. Sargis holiday

On the night preceding the feast of Saint Sarkis, young women place a tray full of gruel before the door believing that while passing near their door at dawn Saint Sarkis will leave his footprint on the gruel symbolizing the fulfillment of their dreams. And as for salty cookies, they started guessing what the glass by which their future spouses gave them water looked like and how much water it contained.