Saint
In Christianity, Christian belief, a saint is a person who is recognized as having an exceptional degree of sanctification in Christianity, holiness, imitation of God, likeness, or closeness to God in Christianity, God. However, the use of the ...
Sargis the General or Sergius Stratelates (; died 362/3) was a
Cappadocian Greek
Cappadocian Greek (, also known as Cappadocian is a dialect of modern Greek, originally spoken in Cappadocia (modern-day Central Turkey) by the descendants of the Byzantine Greeks of Anatolia. The language originally diverged from Medieval Gree ...
general who is revered as a
martyr
A martyr (, ''mártys'', 'witness' Word stem, stem , ''martyr-'') is someone who suffers persecution and death for advocating, renouncing, or refusing to renounce or advocate, a religious belief or other cause as demanded by an external party. In ...
and
military saint
The military saints, warrior saints and soldier saints are patron saints, martyrs and other saints associated with the military. They were originally composed of the early Christians who were soldiers in the Roman army during the persecution of ...
in the
Armenian Apostolic Church
The Armenian Apostolic Church () is the Autocephaly, autocephalous national church of Armenia. Part of Oriental Orthodoxy, it is one of the most ancient Christianity, Christian churches. The Armenian Apostolic Church, like the Armenian Catholic ...
and
Assyrian Church of the East
The Assyrian Church of the East (ACOE), sometimes called the Church of the East and officially known as the Holy Apostolic Catholic Assyrian Church of the East, is an Eastern Christianity, Eastern Syriac Christianity, Syriac Christian denomin ...
(January 5). The name Sargis (Sarkis) is the Armenian form of Sergius (Sergios).S. Peter Cowe, "Armenian Hagiography", in ''The Ashgate Research Companion to Byzantine Hagiography'' (Routledge, 2011), Vol. 1, pp. 312–13.
Sargis was a general (''
stratelates
''Stratēlatēs'' (, "driver/leader of the army") was a Greek term designating a general, which also became an honorary dignity in the Byzantine Empire. In the former sense, it was often applied to military saints, such as Theodore Stratelates.
...
'') in the
Roman Army
The Roman army () served ancient Rome and the Roman people, enduring through the Roman Kingdom (753–509 BC), the Roman Republic (509–27 BC), and the Roman Empire (27 BC–AD 1453), including the Western Roman Empire (collapsed Fall of the W ...
stationed in
Cappadocia
Cappadocia (; , from ) is a historical region in Central Anatolia region, Turkey. It is largely in the provinces of Nevşehir, Kayseri, Aksaray, Kırşehir, Sivas and Niğde. Today, the touristic Cappadocia Region is located in Nevşehir ...
. He went into exile in
Persia
Iran, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran (IRI) and also known as Persia, is a country in West Asia. It borders Iraq to the west, Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Armenia to the northwest, the Caspian Sea to the north, Turkmenistan to the nort ...
during the reign of the pagan Roman emperor Julian. There he fell foul of Shah
Shapur II
Shapur II ( , 309–379), also known as Shapur the Great, was the tenth King of Kings (List of monarchs of the Sasanian Empire, Shahanshah) of Sasanian Iran. He took the title at birth and held it until his death at age 70, making him the List ...
and was killed along with his son, Martiros, during Shapur's Forty-Year Persecution.
Sargis the General is not to be confused with Sergius, the companion of Bacchus, who was martyred in the Roman Empire early in the fourth century. An Armenian hagiography of Sergius and Bacchus also exists.Jean Michel Thierry, ''Monuments arméniens du Vaspurakan'' (Libraire Orientaliste Paul Geuthner, 1989), p. 508.
Hagiography
The ''History of the Life of Saint Sargis the General'', the main account of Sargis's life and martyrdom and that of his son, was commissioned by the Patriarch Nersēs Šnorhali (1102–1173). According to his own account, Nersēs received a request from Grigor Tutēordi, a monk of the Monastery of Haghpat, for an account of the saint's life because the
Georgians
Georgians, or Kartvelians (; ka, ქართველები, tr, ), are a nation and Peoples of the Caucasus, Caucasian ethnic group native to present-day Georgia (country), Georgia and surrounding areas historically associated with the Ge ...
had been questioning the saint's origins. Nersēs then procured an Armenian translation of a Syriac life from the monastery of Mor Bar Sauma in Melitene. Nersēs made some slight emendations to this text and sent it to Grigor.
The prominence of the
supernatural
Supernatural phenomena or entities are those beyond the Scientific law, laws of nature. The term is derived from Medieval Latin , from Latin 'above, beyond, outside of' + 'nature'. Although the corollary term "nature" has had multiple meanin ...
and
divine providence
In theology, divine providence, or simply providence, is God's intervention in the universe. The term ''Divine Providence'' (usually capitalized) is also used as a names of God, title of God. A distinction is usually made between "general prov ...
suggest that the ''History of the Life'' as it has come down to us originates long after the events it narrates purportedly took place.
Life
Little is known of the origins and early life of Sarkis. He lived during the 4th century and was a
Greek
Greek may refer to:
Anything of, from, or related to Greece, a country in Southern Europe:
*Greeks, an ethnic group
*Greek language, a branch of the Indo-European language family
**Proto-Greek language, the assumed last common ancestor of all kno ...
from
Cappadocia
Cappadocia (; , from ) is a historical region in Central Anatolia region, Turkey. It is largely in the provinces of Nevşehir, Kayseri, Aksaray, Kırşehir, Sivas and Niğde. Today, the touristic Cappadocia Region is located in Nevşehir ...
Constantine the Great
Constantine I (27 February 27222 May 337), also known as Constantine the Great, was a Roman emperor from AD 306 to 337 and the first Roman emperor to convert to Christianity. He played a Constantine the Great and Christianity, pivotal ro ...
as General in Chief of the region of Cappadocia bordering
Armenia
Armenia, officially the Republic of Armenia, is a landlocked country in the Armenian Highlands of West Asia. It is a part of the Caucasus region and is bordered by Turkey to the west, Georgia (country), Georgia to the north and Azerbaijan to ...
. He was reputed to possess the characteristics of piety, faith, and valour, and used his position to promote spiritual growth, teaching the gospel and encouraging church building.
Constantine's nephew
Julian the Apostate
Julian (; ; 331 – 26 June 363) was the Caesar of the West from 355 to 360 and Roman emperor from 361 to 363, as well as a notable philosopher and author in Greek. His rejection of Christianity, and his promotion of Neoplatonic Hellenism ...
became emperor in 361 and set about persecuting
Christians
A Christian () is a person who follows or adheres to Christianity, a monotheistic Abrahamic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. Christians form the largest religious community in the world. The words '' Christ'' and ''C ...
throughout the Roman Empire.St. Sarkis Armenian Church Sarkis was deeply concerned about these events and prayed for a solution.
Jesus
Jesus (AD 30 or 33), also referred to as Jesus Christ, Jesus of Nazareth, and many Names and titles of Jesus in the New Testament, other names and titles, was a 1st-century Jewish preacher and religious leader. He is the Jesus in Chris ...
is said to have appeared to Sarkis and uttered the words: "It is time for you to leave your country and your clan, as did
Abraham
Abraham (originally Abram) is the common Hebrews, Hebrew Patriarchs (Bible), patriarch of the Abrahamic religions, including Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. In Judaism, he is the founding father who began the Covenant (biblical), covenanta ...
the Patriarch, and go to a country which I will show you. There you will receive the crown of righteousness prepared for you." Sarkis then left his military position and authority and, with his son Saint Martiros, sought refuge in Armenia under the protection of King Tiran (Tigranes VII). As Julian and his army advanced towards
Antioch
Antioch on the Orontes (; , ) "Antioch on Daphne"; or "Antioch the Great"; ; ; ; ; ; ; . was a Hellenistic Greek city founded by Seleucus I Nicator in 300 BC. One of the most important Greek cities of the Hellenistic period, it served as ...
,
Syria
Syria, officially the Syrian Arab Republic, is a country in West Asia located in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Levant. It borders the Mediterranean Sea to the west, Turkey to Syria–Turkey border, the north, Iraq to Iraq–Syria border, t ...
, slaughtering Christians, Tiran urged Sarkis and Martiros to leave Armenia for the
Sassanid Empire
The Sasanian Empire (), officially Eranshahr ( , "Empire of the Iranians"), was an Iranian empire that was founded and ruled by the House of Sasan from 224 to 651. Enduring for over four centuries, the length of the Sasanian dynasty's reign ...
.
Sassanid emperor Shapur II, hearing of Sarkis' reputation as a skilled military commander, appointed him to command the Sassanid army. Sarkis credited God for his military victories, which included fending off Julian's troops, preventing their entry into Shapur's kingdom. Sarkis urged troops serving with him to believe in the Creator of Heaven and earth, that their hearts might never be shaken.
Some of Sarkis’ soldiers were baptized by travelling priests with the Sassanid army, but some who were not baptized went to Shapur II and told him about the religious beliefs of Sarkis. Having realised that Sarkis was a Christian, Shapur summoned Sarkis, his son Martiros, and their 14 soldier companions who were newly baptized back to his palace,Feast of St. Sarkis the Warrior with the intention of testing their faith.
Martyrdom
Shapur ordered Sarkis, Martiros, and their 14 companions to participate in a
Zoroastrian
Zoroastrianism ( ), also called Mazdayasnā () or Beh-dīn (), is an Iranian religion centred on the Avesta and the teachings of Zarathushtra Spitama, who is more commonly referred to by the Greek translation, Zoroaster ( ). Among the wo ...
ceremony in a
fire temple
A fire temple (; ) is a place of worship for Zoroastrians.
In Zoroastrian doctrine, ''atar'' and '' aban'' (fire and water) are agents of ritual purity.
Clean, white "ash for the purification ceremonies sregarded as the basis of ritual lif ...
, and offer sacrifices there. Sarkis refused Shapur's orders and said: ‘We should worship one God – the Holy Trinity, which has created the earth and the heaven. Whereas fire or idols are not gods and the human being may destroy them’.
After Sarkis had responded to the Sassanid King, he destroyed all the items in the fire temple. This annoyed the surrounding crowd who fell upon him and his son. Shapur, outraged by Sarkis’ actions, had his son Martiros killed before his eyes and had their 14 companion soldiers beheaded. Sarkis was put in prison, but when Shapur heard that Sarkis was strengthened by his relationship with his Lord in prison, he was outraged and ordered Sarkis’ execution.
At his execution Sarkis began to pray and an angel descended from heaven and told him, ‘Be strong. Do not fear the killers of your body; for the gate of the Kingdom of Heaven is open for you’. Sarkis, understanding the vision of the angel and the meaning of everlasting life, made one last passionate plea for people to accept Jesus, and was then killed. When he died, a mysterious light appeared over his body.
His remaining loyal followers retrieved Sarkis’ body, wrapped him in clean linen, and eventually sent his body to
Assyria
Assyria (Neo-Assyrian cuneiform: , ''māt Aššur'') was a major ancient Mesopotamian civilization that existed as a city-state from the 21st century BC to the 14th century BC and eventually expanded into an empire from the 14th century BC t ...
where it remained until the 5th century.
Saint Mesrob
Mesrop Mashtots (; , ' 362February 17, 440 AD) was an Armenian linguist, composer, theologian, statesman, and hymnologist. He is venerated as a saint in the Armenian Apostolic Church.
He is best known for inventing the Armenian alphabet AD, ...
took Sarkis’ relics back to Armenia to the village of Ushi where
Saint Sargis Monastery of Ushi
Saint Sarkis Monastery (; also Surp Sarkis Vank) is a large monastic complex, just outside the village of Ushi in the Aragatsotn Province of Armenia
Armenia, officially the Republic of Armenia, is a landlocked country in the Armenian High ...
was built over the relics. The museums of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin have now taken into their collection the relics of St. Sarkis, after they were uncovered during the excavation of St Sarkis church of Ushi village in 1999.
Veneration
Saint Sarkis is one of the most beloved Saints within modern Armenian culture, as he is the Armenian patron saint of love and youth, similar to
Saint Valentine
Saint Valentine (; ) was a 3rd-century Roman saint, commemorated in Western Christianity on February 14 and in Eastern Orthodoxy on July 6. From the High Middle Ages, his feast day has been associated with a tradition of courtly love. He is al ...
. His feast day is a
moveable feast
A moveable feast is an observance in a Christian liturgical calendar which occurs on different dates in different years. It is the complement of a fixed feast, an annual celebration that is held on the same calendar date every year, such as Chri ...
, held anywhere between January 11 and February 15 according to the date of Easter that year."St. Sarkis the Warrior", A1 Plus, Yerevan, February 2, 2007 /ref> Each year, just prior to his feast day, there occurs the five-day Fast of Catechumens (commonly known nowadays as the Fast of Saint Sargis), which was established by Saint
Gregory the Illuminator
Gregory the Illuminator ( – ) was the founder and first official Catholicos of All Armenians, head of the Armenian Apostolic Church. He Christianization of Armenia, converted Armenia from Zoroastrianism in Armenia, Zoroastrianism to Chris ...
. Young Armenians, especially girls, abstain of water and food for three consecutive days for what they call the Fast of Saint Sargis (Սուրբ Սարգսի ծոմ).
Saint Sarkis Cathedral, Yerevan is dedicated to him. There were also churches dedicated to him in Adiguzel, Xnjorgin, Ahamar, Karavans, Hiwrcuk, Paxur, Hurur, Kehs, Kotenc, Bales, Alamek, Xultik, Kaynameran, Xonjalu and Ernkani. He was especially popular in the regions of
Bitlis
Bitlis ( or ; ) is a city in southeastern Turkey. It is the seat of Bitlis District and Bitlis Province.Xizan. So widely venerated was Sargis, that he has even entered into
Kurdish folklore
Kurdish mythology () is the collective term for the beliefs and practices of the culturally, ethnically or linguistically related group of ancient peoples who inhabited the Kurdistan mountains of northwestern Zagros, northern Mesopotamia and southe ...
.
Customs
On the night preceding his feast day, faithful people place a tray full of flour or porridge before their door, believing that while passing by their door at dawn, Sarkis will leave the footprint of his horse in the flour symbolizing the fulfilment of their dreams.
On the eve of the feast young people eat salty biscuits and refrain from drinking water, so as to induce the appearance of their future bride or bridegroom in their dreams, bringing them water. These salty biscuits are named St Sarkis Aghablit. Traditionally eaten by girls, the practice is also now followed by boys.
On the feast day itself St Sarkis Halva, a sweet pastry stuffed with fruit and nuts, is widely eaten in Armenian communities to symbolise the blessings brought by the saint.Recipe a The Armenian Kitchen website.