Sts. Sergius and Bacchus [Updated]

Sergius (or Serge) and Bacchus were fourth-century Roman Christian soldiers revered as martyrs and saints by the Catholic, Eastern Orthodox and Oriental Orthodox Churches. Their feast day is October  7.

According to their hagiography, Sergius and Bacchus were officers in Galerius' 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. However, due to its historical anachronisms, the hagiography is considered ahistorical.

Sergius and Bacchus were very popular throughout Late Antiquity, and churches in their honor were built in several cities, including Constantinople and Rome. The close friendship between the two is strongly emphasized in their hagiographies and traditions, making them one of the most famous examples of paired saints. This closeness led the historian John Boswell to suggest that their relationship was a romantic one; though other historians have widely rejected this theory, it has led to popular veneration of Sergius and Bacchus in the gay Christian community.

Saints Sergius and Bacchus, pray for us! 

BTW, Boswell's work is often criticized, but I suspect it is as valid in most ways as that of many Christian historians whose agenda is perfectly obvious. For what it is worth, the hagiography -- the holy biography -- of most saints is ahistorical, especially those who lived more than a few hundred years ago. Their stories may, indeed often are, inspiring and edifying. Whether they bear much relationship to the people and acts described is open to question.

In one instance with which I am very familiar, a canonized saint who lived in the last century was described in friendly but highly critical terms by a  close associate in a book published in the saint's home country. When it became obvious that Pope John Paul II was going to canonize her -- to the delight of religious and political archconservatives, -- the book was withdrawn from publication and translations that had already been commissioned were cancelled.

In some ways it is a shame. The woman was well worth venerating for many qualities, but she was nonetheless human and made major mistakes in judgment that had a lasting and unfortunate influence on her community. The temptation to whitewash the lives of saints or to think every thought, word and deed was holy is a strong one. Sadly it deprives people of the opportunity to see that holiness is quite possible even for those of us who stumble and fall. 

When it was revealed that Mother Teresa of Calcutta struggled with matters of faith for many years, people were angry. We often do not want to know the truth when it does not match our fantasy. I wonder if this is because I think I am excused from striving to do better because I am weak.