Saints Sergius and Bacchus

High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! Saints Sergius and Bacchus (also Serge and Bacchus or Sergios kai Bakchos or Sarkis wa Bakhos), were third century Roman soldiers who are commemorated as martyrs by the Catholic, Eastern Orthodox and Oriental Orthodox churches. According to their hagiography Sergius and Bacchus were officers in Caesar Galerius Maximianus's army, and were held high in his favor until they were exposed as secret Christians. They were then severely punished, with Bacchus dying during torture, and Sergius eventually beheaded. Churches in their honor have been built in several cities, including Constantinople and Rome. Their feast day is October 7. The close friendship between Sergius and Bacchus is strongly emphasized in their hagiographies and traditions, making them one of the most famous examples of paired saints. This closeness has led the historian John Boswell to put forth the suggestion that their relationship was a romantic one; this suggestion has been challenged by several authors, including David Woods, Robin Darling Young, and Brent D. Shaw.