Synopsis of the Feast of

Sts. Serge and Bacchus

Saints Serge and Bacchus were Roman soldiers of high standing in the late third/early fourth century who enjoyed such a close friendship with the emperor that they were able to have a friend appointed as a provincial governor. They were also Christians united in their love for their God and for each other. They were martyred on October 7, 309AD:

  “...It was then that Serge and Bacchus, like stars shining joyously over the earth, radiating the light of faith in Jesus Christ, began to grace the palace.

Being as one in their love for Christ, they were also undivided from each other in the army of the world, united not in the way of nature, but in the manner of faith, always singing and saying “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to abide in oneness!’

 In time, in fact, they provoked the envy of those less favored. The worst their enemies could think of as a denunciation was that they were Christians, which did provoke the wrath of the emperor. He ordered them to sacrifice to his idols. They refused.

Immediately the emperor ordered their belts cut off, their tunics and all other military garb removed, the gold torcs taken from around their necks, and women’s clothing placed on them; thus they were to be paraded around the middle of the city to the palace, bearing heavy chains around their necks.

The infuriated emperor appointed their accusers to their positions in the army and sent Serge and Bacchus off to the remote province to which he had appointed their friend as governor. He wrote a letter saying that if they repented they were to be pardoned and returned to their ranks. ‘But if they will not be persuaded and persist in their unholy religion, subject them to the severest penalties of the law and remove from them hope of long life with the penalty of the sword. Farewell.’

On their way, “the two chanted psalms together and prayed as if with one mouth.”

Bacchus was then flogged to death, leaving his executioners exhausted by the effort. Serge, to whom Antiochus specifically owed his position, was returned to jail.

The Duke, frustrated by his defeat, ordered that Bacchus’ remains not be buried, but thrown out and exposed as meat to the dogs, beasts and birds outside the camp. Then he rose and left. When the body was tossed some distance from the camp, a crowd of animals gathered around it. The birds flying above would not allow the bloodthirsty beasts to touch it, and kept guard throughout the night.

 Meanwhile the blessed Serge, deeply depressed and heartsick over the loss of Bacchus, wept and cried out, ‘No longer, brother and fellow soldier, will we chant together: Behold, how good and pleasant it is for brothers to abide in oneness! You have been unyoked from me and gone up to heaven, leaving me alone on earth, now single, without comfort.’

After he uttered these things, the same night the blessed Bacchus appeared to him with a face as radiant as an angel’s, wearing an officer’s uniform, and spoke to him. ‘Why do you grieve and mourn, brother? If I have been taken from you in body, I am still with you in the bond of union, chanting and reciting,’ I will run the way of thy commandments, when thou shalt enlarge my heart.’

Hurry then, yourself, brother, through beautiful and perfect confession to pursue and obtain me, when you have finished the course. For the crown of justice for me is to be with you.’

The next day Serge was forced to run nearly ten miles in shoes into which nails had been driven through the soles, pointing into the feet. Antiochus rode along beside him in a chariot. During the night, an angel healed his feet, which Antiochus claimed was sorcery when he saw the next day that Serge had no difficulty walking. He forced Serge to run another nine miles in the same cruel shoes, and when this did not dissuade him, he ordered his execution. For his executioners, Serge prayed, ‘...When you lay death upon them, accept their repentance, Lord, and do not remember the sin of ignorance which they have perpetrated against us for your sake.’

A great crowd of men, women and children followed to see the blessed one meet his end. Seeing the beauty blooming in his face, and the grandeur and nobility of his youth, they wept bitterly over him and bemoaned him. The beasts of the region left their lairs and gathered together with the people, doing no injury to the humans, and bewailed with inarticulate sounds the passing of the holy martyr.

 May the blessed merits of

Thy holy martyrs, Serge and Bacchus,

bide with us, 0 Lord,

and make us ever fervent in Thy love.