Hymn to Sts. Serge and Bacchus  

 Sixth Century Greek

P:

Of Serge and Bacchus, the pair filled with grace,

let us sing, 0 ye faithful! Glory to Him who worketh through his saints amazing and wonderful deeds!

C:

Let thy grace overshadow thy servant, beyond what words can say, O Christ, creator of all, cleanser of all my sins of word and deed, that I may appear before you pleasing and humbled, for I am full of weakness, But do thou accept me as thy servant, that I may call on thee in purity. Glory to him who worketh through his saints amazing and wonderful deeds!

P:

Be ye brightened, 0 people, by the noble memory of these warriors! By God Himself, as the prophet foretold, were in torture: divine coals, lighting the world, verily, in the bright splendor dazzling their enemies. Come, let us share in their virtues as in their joining together, proclaiming again to the creator, they consumed of their miracles,

Glory to Him who worketh through his saints amazing and wonderful deeds!

C:

Strengthen me now, in imitation of Christ, o ye warriors; for I am sickened in fear at the serpent’s assault on my soul; drive ye away vain thought as with a mallet; force ye my steps in the direction of the good, as the healing benefactors ye are to all

them that call on you in joy; Glory to Him who worketh through his saints amazing and wonderful deeds!

P:

Enjoying fame and wealth forasmuch as the beautiful pair had been found pleasing in the sight of the earthly king, possessing wisdom and courage, prudence and love for all, and for Christ.

planted within their hearts. In Him alone they placed their hopes, counting as dross the things of the earth, and eagerly hastening to heaven, singing out loudly, Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity.

P&C:

When, therefore, the evil ones realized that these two worshipped the Son of God, and would not sacrifice to idols, they came privately to denounce them, and barked such things as, “Majesty, those who eat thy bread have dared the worst, to raise their heels against thee. If they do not die, they will not stop proclaiming as if they had a single soul, Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity.”

C:

It was not desire for this world that captivated Serge for Christ, nor the empty life of worldly affairs that captivated Bacchus; rather, made one as brethren in the bond of love, they called out valiantly to the tyrant, “See in two bodies one soul and heart, one will and virtue. Take those that yearn to please God.” Glory to Him who worketh through his saints amazing and wonderful deeds!

P&C:

The haughty judge wickedly denieth

any return for their kindnesses to him, and repayeth them with the cloak of dishonor.

O madness! O thoughtless, unjust man!

In return for the good done to him he rusheth unto oblivion, showing himself an enemy unto his friends as Judas was to the creator. So the athletes

cry out, Glory to Him who worketh through his saints amazing and wonderful deeds!