JOURNÉE DES JEUNES ET DES AMOUREUX Cette année, la fête deSaint Sarkis, patron des jeunes et des amoureux, aura lieu le 16 février. Comme chaque année, nous invitons tous les jeunes et les amoureux à se rendre à la Cathédrale Arménienne Apostolique de Paris
pour la cérémonie de bénédiction spéciale qui se déroulera le samedi 16 février à 18h00 dans l’église(entrée libre).
Le Catholicos de tous les Arméniens, Karekin II, a annoncé l’année 2019 comme l’année de la FAMILLE. Ainsi, le Groupe de Jeunes Saint Jean-Baptiste de Paris invite tous les couples (amoureux et mariés), ainsi que les jeunes à se joindre à une réception organisée dans la salle de la Cathédrale, juste après la cérémonie de bénédiction.
Among Armenians’ most beloved saints, St. Sarkis (4th century) was believed to be a miracle worker whose army of 40 defeated an enemy of 10,000. The legend says that when all his soldiers were killed because of a plot, he was rescued with the help of God, there was a big storm and he was able to escape on horseback). As a young student in ARS Private Day School, I remember reading a story about the traditions of Sourp Sarkis: A young boy of 8 is forced to observe the fasting with his grandmother. The fast is one where one holds a fast from midnight to 6 am 2 days later, eating and drinking nothing. The child kept the fast until into the night before finally breaking it, begging his grandmother for a sip of water, which she denied him. This particular story stuck in my mind as the young boy dies during the night, having been deprived of water for too long and having dehydrated due to the dryness of winter. “Boud me chour, hajis” is what I remember from the conversation, as the child begs for any bot of water. Adults can survive the fasting because their bodies hold a lot more water, but it’s much harder for a child to manage. The tradition actually reminds me of an Indian ritual I have seen in a movie, where the women fast for a day and wait until their beloved gives them a bite to eat and a sip to drink. In our traditions, young lovers fast in hopes of seeing their beloved in their dreams with their food and drink and on the morning of Sourp Sarkis, attend Church and receive their blessing. The Church does not endorse the eating of the salty Sourp Sarkisi Halva cookies, but it does not ban it either. I know our Church in Toronto has often passed around to the school’s student the salty cookies, though not everyone enjoys their taste. The tradition is that the Church prepares a feast for the faithful and encourages love amongst the flock, in a manner also encouraging the love for God as well.
