Sergius and Bacchus
Sergius and Bacchus | |
|---|---|
Detail of a 7th-century icon of Saints Sergius and Bacchus | |
| Martyrs | |
| Died | 4th century Bacchus in Syria; Sergius at Resafa, Syria |
| Venerated in | Church of the East Eastern Orthodox Church Catholic Church Oriental Orthodox Church |
| Major shrine | Basilica of St. Sergius, Rasafa |
| Feast | 7 October |
| Attributes | Roman soldiers bearing palm branches |
| Patronage | Arabs, Arab Christians, Ghassanids, Syria, army, soldiers |
Sergius (or Serge) and Bacchus (Greek: Σέργιος & Βάκχος; Classical Syriac: ܣܪܓܝܤ ܘܒܟܘܤ, romanized: Sargīs wa Bākūs; Arabic: سركيس و باخوس, romanized: Sarkīs wa Bākhūs, also called Arabic: سرجيس و باكوس, romanized: Sarjīs wa Bākūs) were fourth-century Syrian Christian soldiers revered as martyrs and military saints by the Catholic, Eastern Orthodox and Oriental Orthodox Churches. Their feast day is 7 October.
According to their hagiography, Sergius and Bacchus were military officers in the army of the Roman Emperor Galerius and were held high in his favor until they were exposed as secret Christians. They were then severely humiliated and punished, forced to wear both feminine and commoner garments, with Bacchus dying during torture to his feet, and Sergius eventually decapitated.
Sergius and Bacchus were very popular throughout Late Antiquity for their fraternal and pious relationship, and churches in their honor were built in several cities, including Constantinople and Rome. The close friendship between the two is strongly emphasized in their hagiographies and traditions, making them one of the most famous examples of paired Christian saints. This closeness led the historian John Boswell to suggest that their relationship was a romantic one; though other historians have widely rejected this theory, it has led to popular veneration of Sergius and Bacchus in the gay Christian community.