High ranking military officials Sergius & Bacchus were inseperable. They went from strength to strength in every thing they put their hand to which caused a great deal of envy among their contemporaries. It was this jealousy that drove one to denounce the two martyrs to the Emperor during a pagan festival. As Christians they did not participate in the sacrifices and feasting. Brought before Maximian they confessed their faith. They were favourites of the emperor, he tried various sorts of ridicule to get them to renounce their Christian faith – including stripping them of their military honours, dressing them in womens clothing and having them paraded through the streets. Later they were scourged – this is when Bacchus died. Sergius was taken to Syria where he was tortured and beheaded.

The “Passion” of Sergius & Bacchus is an important element of the Adelphopoeisis (Same Sex Union) rite. Most manuscripts of the rite refer to these two martyrs in one way or another. The central prayer of the blessing of union emphasises God’s protection for the couple against the envy of others.

Traditional iconography of Sergius & Bacchus is also interesting. The two are often shown side by side or on horseback and the colour schemes and details of their uniforms are opposites (thus complimentary). The effect is to demonstrate the interconnectedness of their bond of brotherhood and faith; and is evocative of the ideas set forth in Genesis about the complimentary natures of male and female.