The Eve of Feast of St. Sarkis the Captain and Cross-March in Tbilisi

The Feast of St. Sarkis the Captain, his son Mardiros and his 14 soldiers-companions is a major feast․ In 2025 the Armenian Church celebrates in on February 15.

At the feast eve, a large number of pilgrims gathered in the courtyard of Holy Etchmiadzin church in Avlabari, after recieving blessing of Rev. Father Samvel Torosyan, and under the leadership of Rev. Father Kirakos Simonyan and Rev. Father Hovsep Harutyunyan and accompanied by deaconsm they marched with icons of St. Sarkis, crosses, prayers and singing hymns to the chapel named after St. Sarkis in Kharkhup district, built in 1883. The participants of the march stopped and prayed near the ruins of Shamkhoretsots Karmir Avetaran (Red Gospel) ancient church, praying for the salvation of the church.

All the participants of the cross-march lit candles and prayed in the chapel, after which they arrived at the Cathedral of Saint George and joined the faithful there, most of whom were young people, there were also Christians of other nations.

The large crowd of the faithful who came with desire to receive the intercession of the Saint could not be accommodated in the Cathedral of Saint George and its courtyard. The evening service for the eve of the feast was celebrated with the blessing of the Primate of the Armenian Diocese in Georgia and with the participation of the clergy.

At the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy, Rev. Father Virap Ghazaryan preached about the mystery of the day martyrdom of St. Sarkis, his son, and his companions for the sake of Christianity. He also touched upon the fact, that by the order of His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians the Feast of St. Sarkis the Captain was proclaimed as a day of the blessing of young people. He offered Blessing of Youth Service and wished the young people fulfillment of their goals.

At the end of the ceremony, dedicated to the eve of the feast, according to folk tradition, the young people received salty cookies made by members of the Diocesan Youth Department, which symbolizes the fulfillment of their dreams.

On February 15, on the day of the Feast of St. Sarkis, a festive Divine Liturgy will be celebrated at the Cathedral of Saint George in Tbilisi.