On October 20, October 7, Old Style, the Orthodox Church honors the memory of the holy Martyrs Sergius and Bacchus. Their feat is a reminder of their loyalty to God, which neither promises of earthly well-being, humiliation, nor fear of death could shake.
According to the hagiography, Sergius and Bacchus held high positions in the Roman army and enjoyed the favor of Emperor Maximian. The ruler appreciated their service, but did not know that both military leaders were Christians. When his detractors reported this, he demanded that Sergius and Bacchus sacrifice to the pagan gods. They were faced with a choice: to maintain their position at the cost of renunciation, or to openly confess their faith, having lost everything.
They chose to be faithful to Christ. The enraged emperor ordered them to be stripped of their military insignia, dressed in women's clothes and led around the city with iron hoops around their necks, exposing them to ridicule. So honor and respect were replaced by public humiliation. But the attempt to break the martyrs proved unsuccessful: neither ridicule nor subsequent persuasion forced them to worship idols.
Then Sergius and Bacchus were sent to the ruler of the eastern part of Syria, Antiochus. In the past, he himself owed his rise to them. Now the fate of the benefactors was in his hands. Antiochus persuaded them to yield, and after refusing, ordered them to be tortured. Bacchus died from severe scourging. Sergius was forced to walk in iron shoes with nails inside, and then executed by beheading with a sword. The martyrs suffered for Christ at the turn of the third and fourth centuries.
Their response to the tormentors echoes the thought of the Apostle Paul: "For me, life is Christ, and death is gain" (Phil. 1:21). These words help to understand the basis of their resilience. Communion with Christ was their very life, so renunciation would mean the loss of what is more precious than ranks, honors and security. The hope of resurrection gave them the strength to go through suffering.
The memory of the ancient martyrs is especially close to the Russian Church. St. Sergius of Radonezh was named after the Martyr Sergius during his monastic tonsure. Therefore, on October 20, the Trinity Sergius Lavra also celebrates the namesake day of its founder. Through this name, the Christian's feat of the first centuries was connected with the life of one of the most revered Russian saints.
The lives of Sergius and Bacchus ask each of us what place faith occupies in our lives. Loyalty to God manifests itself in concrete actions: to tell the truth when it is more convenient to remain silent; to give up benefits acquired dishonestly; to support a person who is unjustly humiliated; to preserve mercy when the heart is inclined to anger.
On the memorial day of the holy martyrs, we ask for their prayerful help, so that the Lord will strengthen us in faith, teach us courage and patience, and help us follow the gospel in our daily lives.
Holy Martyrs Sergius and Bacchus, pray to God for us!