The Armenian Apostolic Church today celebrates St. Sarkis Day. Known as the patron saint of love and young people, St. Sarkis (St. Sarkis the Warrior) was a non-Armenian military leader, born in Cappadocia, persecuted for his Christian faith during the reign of Constantine the Great.

It is said that Sarkis left for neighboring Armenia and was urged by the country’s king to fight for the Sassanid army. Realizing he was a Christian, the Sassanid emperor executed Sarkis and his retinue.

In Armenia, young people attend church services and are blessed by the clergy.

According to folk tradition, young girls eat salty biscuits before going to bed and hope to see their future husbands in their dreams. It was customary to put flour on the roof of the house or balcony and to wait for St. Sarkis’ arrival on horseback. People believed that great success awaited those plates of salt bore traces of the saint’s horse.