Holy Great Martyrs Sergius and Bacchus in the Hymnography of the Orthodox Church

By Fr. George Dorbarakis

1. These Saints lived during the reign of Maximian. Sergius was a Primicerius, that is, a leader, of the school of the Kintilians, while Bacchus was a Secundicerius, that is, second in rank, of the same school. From the beginning they were initiated into the Christian faith and learned the God-inspired Scriptures well. For this reason, they were accused before the emperor as Christians, and he ordered them to offer sacrifice with him to the idols. Because of their refusal, their belts and collars were removed, and they were dressed in women’s garments. With irons on their feet, they were paraded through the center of the city for mockery and insult, and afterward they were led to the governor Antiochus, in the city of Euphratesia. As they approached, an angel appeared to them and filled them with strength and courage. Bacchus, after being beaten for a long time with raw sinews, gave up his spirit amid these tortures, while Sergius, after being interrogated in various ways, had his feet fastened in iron sandals. After being forced to run for a long time, he was then shut up in prison, and again had his feet fastened in the same sandals, until finally his head was cut off with a sword.

Homilies from the Menaion for Every Day of the Year: October 7

The Month of October

Day 7

38. Angels Encourage and Strengthen Us in Times of Suffering

(From the Life of the Holy Martyrs Sergius and Bacchus)

It is known that the good Angels, fulfilling the will of God, bestow many benefits upon us human beings. Thus, they care for our salvation, inspire us with good thoughts and desires, turn us away from evil deeds and intentions, protect us from the attacks of evil spirits, carry our prayers before the throne of God, and, finally, intercede for us before God. But what do you think, brethren, have we listed all the benefits that the good Angels bestow upon us? No, you must learn of yet another, and the greatest, benefit that the good Angels render to us. And this benefit consists in the fact that the Angels do not abandon us even during sufferings, whenever we are called upon to endure them, but during them they comfort, encourage, and strengthen us.

Saints Sergius and Bacchus, Friends of Elder Damaskenos Katrakoules

 

By Fr. Achillios

Many were the divine visions that the late Elder Damaskenos Katrakoules (+ 2001), known as the Pappou and founder of the Monastery of Saint John the Forerunner in Makrinou of Megara, had received from his friends the Holy Martyrs Sergius and Bacchus. It is a fact that these two Holy Martyrs never ceased to guard and care for him.

He himself, who had tasted successive manifestations of their love, often sought their martyric protection in his various struggles.

Once, as their feast dawned on October 7th, they appeared to him fully alive in his sleep and told him to rise quickly and liturgize for them!

"I bow! It is done! But who are you?" the Elder exclaimed.

"We are Sergius and Bacchus!"

The Occupied Church of Saints Sergius and Bacchus in Ammochostos Awaits Its Freedom

The Sacred Metropolis of Constantia and Ammochostos has made reference to the history and spiritual and cultural value of the Church of Saints Sergius and Bacchus, which is located in the currently occupied village of Agios Sergios in the district of Ammochostos (also known as Famagusta) in Cyprus.

The Sacred Metropolis hopes that we will soon be able to celebrate their memory again and that the bells of freedom will ring in all the currently occupied churches of martyred Cyprus.

The Church of Saint Sergius and Bacchus was probably built in the 13th or 14th century, initially in the form of a compact cruciform with a dome and without a narthex. Later, a narthex covered with a blind dome was added to the western side. The walls are constructed of limestone sourced from the nearby ruins of Salamis-Constantia.

October: Day 7: Holy Martyrs Sergius and Bacchus

 

October: Day 7:
Holy Martyrs Sergius and Bacchus
 
(On Why Christians Should Always Rejoice in the Lord)

By Archpriest Grigory Dyachenko

I. The Holy Martyrs Sergius and Bacchus, distinguished warriors whose memory is celebrated today, were favorites of the Emperor Maximian and enjoyed great respect at the Roman court. Despite the general respect for them as "wise in counsel and brave in war," Maximian, a hater of Christians, having learned that they also belonged to the believers in Christ, first used all efforts to turn them away from the true faith, but, having failed to influence them either with promises or threats, sent them to Antiochus, the governor of one of the Syrian regions, with orders to persuade Sergius and Bacchus to renounce Christ or to subject them to the most severe tortures and death. The Christians joyfully made their way, not at all fearing torture.

On the Fortification of Sergiopolis (Procopius)

 

Writing in c.560 AD, the historian Procopius describes the fortification by the emperor Justinian I (527-65) of the Syrian city of Sergiopolis, formerly Resapha, the central site for the veneration of Saint Sergius, since it is where the martyrdom of Saints Sergius and Bacchus took place. He writes in The Buildings (2.9.3-9):

There is a certain church in Euphratesia, dedicated to Sergius, a famous saint, whom men of former times used to venerate and revere, so that they named the place Sergiopolis, and they had surrounded it with a very humble wall, just sufficient to prevent the Saracens of the region from capturing it by storm. For the Saracens are naturally incapable of storming a wall, and the weakest kind of barricade, put together with perhaps nothing but mud, is sufficient to check their assault. At a later time, however, this church, through its acquisition of treasures, came to be powerful and celebrated. And the Emperor Justinian, upon considering this situation, at once gave it careful attention, and he surrounded the church with a most remarkable wall, and he stored up a great quantity of water and thus provided the inhabitants with a bountiful supply. Furthermore, he added to the place houses and stoas and the other buildings which are wont to be the adornments of a city. Besides this he established there a garrison of soldiers who, in case of need, defended the circuit-wall. Chosroes, indeed, the King of the Persians, made a great effort to capture the city, sending a great army to besiege it; but because of the strength of the defences he accomplished nothing and abandoned the investment.

See also: Sergiopolis, the Site of the Martyrdom of Saints Sergius and Bacchus