Sergius and Bacchus were nobles of Rome, and despite their young age, they held important military positions during the time of Emperor Maximian. Once, as was the custom of emperors at that time, the emperor called for offering sacrifices to the pagan gods as an expression of loyalty to the lord of the throne. All the dignitaries and army leaders represented him except Sergius and Bacchus. When the emperor investigated the matter, he learned that they were Christians. Their response was: “We only serve in your earthly army, Your Majesty the Emperor.
“As for denying the only true God whom we worship and offering worship to lifeless gods, neither iron nor fire can force us to do so…” The emperor was extremely angry, and immediately ordered that their robes, rings, and all signs of nobility be removed from them and that they be dressed in women’s clothing. Then they put chains around their necks and led them through the middle of the city to be mocked and ridiculed. Finally, the emperor ordered them to be deported to a city on the Euphrates called Pals, which was the seat of the governor of the East, Antiochus, to humiliate them, since this Antiochus had served under Sergius and was famous for his ferocity and hostility towards the Christians.
Antiochus tried to outsmart his former ruler, but the age and steadfastness of Sergius and Bacchus made him feel weak, helpless and small, as if he were a dwarf. He then turned into a ferocious beast, so he threw Sergius into prison and handed Bacchus over to the torturers, who beat him severely until he died. As for Sergius, the ruler waited for a few days, then took him to a Syrian village known as Al-Rusafa, near Pals, about two hundred kilometers east of Aleppo, where he ordered his head to be cut off. The place where Sergius was buried became a shrine to which people flocked from all over, so much so that it became a city and became known by the name of Sergius: Sergiopolis, meaning the city of Sergius.
The diocese of Aleppo has a church in the name of Saints Sergius and Bacchus in the city of Thawra (Tabqa). The veneration of Sergius and Bacchus spread to many places in the East. It is said that the first church built for him was in Bosra Hauran in 512 AD. Emperor Justinian also built two great churches in the name of Saint Sergius (Sarkis), one in Constantinople and the other in Acre in Palestine (6th century). There are many churches and monasteries in Lebanon and Syria in the name of Sergius or Sergius and Bacchus together. It is noteworthy that Saints Sergius and Bacchus were among the most prominent patron saints of the Ghassanids.
The Church commemorates them on October 7th every year.
Troparia in the fourth tune
Your martyrs, O Lord, through their struggle, have received from You the crowns that do not fade, O our God, because they have attained Your power, so they have crushed the usurpers, and crushed the powerless might of the demons. Through their intercessions, O Christ God, save our souls.
Qandaq with the third tune
Let us gather and crown with honorable praises the two brave martyrs and brothers in faith, Sergius armed with the power of the Trinity, and Bacchus steadfast in tortures, praising Christ, the one who puts down the struggle and creates all.
