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Feast of St. Sarkis at the Armenian Diocese in Georgia PDF Print E-mail

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Feast of St. Sarkis the Captain, his son Martyros and his 14 Soldiers-Companions is movable. In 2016 it was celebrated on January 23. In the Saint Gevorg Cathedral under the presidency of the Primate of the Armenian Diocese in Georgia, His Grace Bishop Vazgen Mirzakhanyan, in the Surb Khach(Holy Cross) Church in Akhalkalaki under the presidency of the Very Rev. Fr. Babken Salbiyan, the Prelate of Samtskhe-Javakheti and Tsalka's General Prelacy of the Armenian Diocese in Georgia, in the Surb Grigor Lusavorich Church (Saint Gregory the Illuminator) in Akhaltsikhe, in the Surb Sarkis Church in Ninotsminda and in the Surb Prkich Church (Saint Savior) in Batumi the celebration in honor of the saints, who were martyred for the sake of Christian faith, started on the eve of the feast, on January 22, after an evening service. On January 23, the Holy Mass was conducted in every church and pilgrimages to the Surb Sarkis Church in Diliska village of Akhalkalaki region and the Surb Sarkis Church in Sazeli village of Akhaltsikhe were organized.

By the order of His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, the feast was proclaimed as a day of blessing of the youth. At the end of the service the blessing ceremony was performed.

St. Sarkis is also the patron of love. At the end of the ceremony young people traditionally receive salty cookies; the appearance of the future bride or bridegroom in a dream is related to eating of the salty cookie.

The celebration began with traditional religious procession, Armenians of Tbilisi made their way to the old St. Sarkis Chapel in Kharpukh district. On January 22, the faithful gathered near the Saint Etchmiadzin Church, and headed by the Fathers of the Saint Etchmiadzin Church and the Saint Gevorg Cathedral, holding icons of St Sarkis and gonfalons, simultaneously singing Armenian church psalms, headed for the St. Sarkis Chapel in Kharpukh district.

After praying and lighting candles at the site of the ruins of the chapel, the participants of the procession, who were mainly young people, celebrated the pilgrimage and headed for the Saint Gevorg Cathedral, simultaneously singing Armenian church psalms. Here they were joined by hundreds of faithful.

The evening service on the eve of the feast was conducted in the crowded church. The Primate of the Armenian Diocese in Georgia, His Grace Bishop Vazgen Mirzakhanyan sanctified and blessed the icons of the Holy Virgin Mary and of Saint Sarkis painted by the young artists Gayane and Roza. The icons will be taken to the renovated church in Shahumyan village of Marneuli region. At the end of the ceremony young people received salty cookies.

On January 23, the festive Holy Mass was solemnly celebrated in the Saint Gevorg Cathedral. During the church services, the celebrant priest, Rev. Fr. Husik Harutyunyan spoke a sermon about the message of day, the Rev. Father wished everyone health and happiness.

Very Rev. Father Khoren Hovhannisyan, Pastor of Kvemo Kartli region at the Armenian Diocese in Georgia, celebrated the Divine Liturgy dedicated to the Feast of St. Sarkis in the Surb Astvatsatsin (Holy Mother of God) Church in the village of Shahumyan the same day. Following church services, Very Rev. Fr. Khoren handed over the icons of the Holy Virgin Mary and of Saint Sarkis, sanctified and blessed by the Primate.

The Armenian Diocese in Georgia thanks the Patrol Police Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia for convoying the procession.

 

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