СЯЮЧА КРАСА СВЯТИХ
Святі Мученики Сергій і Вакх
«Славетні Мученики, Сергію і Ваксу, ви голосно кличете одним серцем: ‘Як добре й приємно жити з Богом.’» (з Кондака Мученикам)

THE RADIANT BEAUTY OF THE SAINTS
Holy Martyrs Sergius and Bacchus
“Illustrious martyrs, Sergius and Bacchus, with one heart you cry aloud: ‘How good and pleasant it is to dwell with God.’” (from the Kontakion to the Martyrs)

            On October 20 on the Gregorian Calendar (which is October 7 on the Julian) we celebrate the memory of the Holy Martyrs Sergius and Bacchus, who glorified God by their faithful testimony during the reign of Emperor Galerius Maximianus in the year 303.

            Sergius and Bacchus were high ranking officers in the army of Rome, highly regarded by the emperor, until he heard that they were secret Christians. He resolved to test them by inviting them to offer sacrifices to Jupiter together with him. They responded that they could worship none other than the God Who created the heavens and the earth. Maximian furiously ordered the two friends and brothers in Christ to be dressed in female garments and paraded through the city. This was intended to humiliate them, perhaps implying that their unshakeable decision to follow a Saviour, Who called on those wronged to turn the other cheek (Luke 6:27-31), compromised their masculinity and made poor soldiers out of them.

            It is not terribly uncommon for unbelievers to perceive the compassion, mercy and kindness of Our Lord, which is reflected in the lives and characters of His followers as weakness, unsuitable for those living in “the real world”. The rather obvious fact that to consistently manifest such qualities requires discipline and immense effort on the part of Christians is somehow missed by those who honour those who carve out greater or smaller empires (which, however, are always temporary) by their aggressiveness and manipulation of others.

            On the other hand this particular gesture of humiliation coupled with the close friendship of these paired Saints has prompted some modern observers to conjecture that the relationship between Sergius and Bacchus was a romantic one, expressive of a same-sex orientation. It has even been suggested that the two were united in a rare Christian ritual called “adelphopoiesis” (literally “brother-making”, somewhat analogous to the tradition of “blood brothers” once practiced by some native Americans), which might imply an attitude of acceptance of same-sex unions in the early Christian community.

            However, such a position misses the mark, as to the place of romance and sexuality among the followers of Christ. On the one hand, there is absolutely no doubt that our Lord blessed marriage, sexual intimacy, pleasure and the celebration of these. His first miracle, according to the Gospel of John, was turning water into wine at the Marriage Feast in Cana of Galilee. On the other hand Jesus also spoke approvingly of those who had chosen to be “eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven’s sake” (Matthew 19:12).

            Christians profess that romance and sexual intimacy are intended for strengthening and deepening the growth in communion of two beings, which have made a commitment to each other in the Lord, before their brothers and sisters, the Church, in Marriage. The origins of this Holy Mystery, as we call it, derive from God’s creation of humans in the image of the Holy Trinity, as a unity in diversity - as Adam and Eve. The Forefathers are one in their common humanity and also diverse - primarily in their gender, which makes it possible for them to conceive, give birth to and nurture other humans. Outside of such a life of commitment, with all the challenges such a life brings in this world, romance and sexual intimacy simply do not hit the mark. Instead they often bring pain and confusion. This is especially due to their transitory nature. Like smoke or fog, the fleeting, partial moments of pleasure last for a short time and then are gone, leaving only bitter-sweet memories. Can such truly be considered pleasure?

            And so followers of Jesus tend to hold on to consecrated celibacy, asking Him to help them deal with their needs, their victories and their  defeats, until they find themselves blessed (as well as challenged) with  the opportunity to embark upon a life of commitment to a partner in Marriage as described above. At that time, romance and sexual intimacy become true and wonderful blessings. They strengthen, deepen and heal. They hold before the partners the vocation of becoming ever more united, while at the same time honouring and celebrating their distinctness.

            The love of the Martyrs Sergius and Bacchus for each other was certainly founded upon and in the love for them of our Lord, God and Saviour, Jesus Christ, Who gave them the courage and strength to boldly confess Him to their last breath. Emperor Maximian handed them over to Antiochus, the governor of eastern Syria, who was very hostile against Christianity, but who had gained his post due to the support of the two distinguished soldiers.

            Seeing that he was unable to sway them in their devotion to Christ, Antiochus became very angry and ordered Bacchus to be beaten to death. He then sent his special patron and benefactor, Sergius, to Resafa, in what is today Syria, where the Martyr was tortured and finally beheaded. The veneration of the Martyrs caught on so firmly that this city came to be known as Sergiopolis in his honour. Today it is an archeological site not far distant from the great modern city of Aleppo.

            There is an ancient Church of Sts. Sergius and Bacchus in Rome. It was given to Ukrainian Catholics, in 1630, shortly after the Union of Berestya by Pope Urban VIII and is considered to be the national Church for Ukrainian Catholics in Italy.