Everyone thinks they know Valentine’s Day, until someone asks why we hang the saint’s name on a day of romance, or which country eats black noodles to mark being single. The history behind February 14 is full of surprises, and a round of Valentine’s trivia is one of the best […]
Love and Romance
The Fast of Catechumens Before Saint Sarkis Day Explained
Every late January or early February, a hush falls over Armenian households around the world. Kitchens grow quieter. Meals become simpler. For five days, the faithful of the Armenian Apostolic Church enter a period of spiritual discipline that stretches back more than 1,700 years. This is the Fast of Catechumens […]
Saint Sarkis Day Activities for Couples and Families
Every year, as winter tightens its grip on the Armenian highlands, a holiday filled with warmth, love, and centuries-old folklore arrives. Saint Sarkis Day — known in Armenian as Surb Sarkis — is Armenia’s own celebration of love. Think of it as the Armenian Valentine’s Day, but older, richer in […]
Prayers and Blessings for Saint Sarkis Day
Every winter, when frost still clings to the rooftops of Yerevan and the scent of incense drifts through ancient stone churches, young Armenians prepare for one of the most romantic and spiritually rich holidays in the Christian calendar. Saint Sarkis Day — known in Armenian as Surb Sarkis (Սուրբ Սարգիս) […]
Saint Sarkis Day vs Valentine’s Day: Similarities and Differences — A Complete Guide to Two Love Holidays
Every February, millions of people around the world reach for red roses, heart-shaped cards, and boxes of chocolate. Valentine’s Day on February 14 is the holiday most people think of when they think of romance. But deep in the highlands of the South Caucasus — and across Armenian communities worldwide […]
The Legend of Saint Sarkis: Patron Saint of Love and Youth in Armenia
There is a winter Saturday in Armenia when the cold air carries something warmer than snow. It carries hope. Young men and women across the country wake up and check trays of flour left outside their doors. They look for a mark — the hoofprint of a white horse. That […]
Saint Sarkis Day Recipes: How to Make Traditional Salty Biscuits and Halva for Armenia’s Day of Love
Every winter, while much of the world prepares for Valentine’s Day, Armenian communities around the globe celebrate a holiday that is centuries older, far more mysterious, and, frankly, much more delicious. Saint Sarkis Day — known in Armenian as Surb Sarkis (Սուրբ Սարգիս) — is a feast day dedicated to […]
How to Celebrate Saint Sarkis Day: Customs, Rituals, and Traditions of Armenia’s Festival of Love
Every winter, as frost settles over the streets of Yerevan and the scent of toasted sesame fills Armenian kitchens from Glendale to Beirut, a beloved holiday approaches. Saint Sarkis Day — the Armenian celebration of love and youth — is a feast day unlike any other. It blends ancient Christian […]
Top 10 Traditions of Saint Sarkis Day in Armenia
Every nation has its own way of celebrating love. In France, couples stroll along the Seine on Valentine’s Day. In Japan, women gift chocolate on February 14 and men return the favor a month later. But in Armenia, the celebration of love has roots far older and deeper than any […]
When Is Saint Sarkis Day 2026? Date, Traditions, and Complete Celebration Guide
Every winter, as frost settles across the Armenian highlands and snow blankets the ancient churches of Yerevan, a feeling of warmth stirs in the hearts of Armenian youth. It is the season of Sourb Sarkis — the Feast of Saint Sarkis the Warrior — a holiday that blends deep Christian […]