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The Saint Sergius in this article is the Fourth Century martyr. For the spiritual leader and monastic reformer of medieval Russia, see Sergii Radonezhsky (Sergius of Radonezh) .
Saints Sergius and Bacchus were Roman soldiers who are commemorated as martyrs by the Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches. Their feast day is October 7.
Legend
Officers of the Roman Army, lovers (erotoi), and secretly Christians, their martyrology reports their religion was discovered when they attempted to avoid accompanying a Roman official into a pagan temple with the rest of his bodyguard. After they persisted in refusing to worship Roman gods they were exiled to the front lines in Syria circa 303 by order of Roman Emperor Maximian, where they were tortured and died. Bacchus is thought to have died during torture, while Sergius survived torture to later be beheaded. Both were killed in Syria; the traditional site of Sergius' death is Resafa.
Yale historian John Boswell considers these saints to be an example of an early Christian same-sex union, reflecting his controversial view of tolerant early Christians attitudes toward homosexuality. In this interpretation, the icon shown is believed to depict a religious wedding with Jesus uniting the lovers.
Popularity
In the Byzantine Empire, they were venerated as the protectors of the Army. A large monastery church was dedicated to them in Constantinople by Justinian I, probably in 527. Sergius was a very famous saint in Syria and Christian Arabia. The city of Resafa, which became a bishop's see, took the name of Sergiopolis, and preserved his relics in a fortified basilica. The church was adorned and the place further strengthened by Justinian.
External links
- Catholic Encyclopedia entry for SS Sergius and Bacchus
- Description and pictures of the Church of SS Sergius & Bacchus, from the website of the Patriarch of Constantinople
- Website describing details of icon shown above
"Saints Sergius and Bacchus"