A HOMILY FOR THE FEAST OF THE HOLY MARTYRS SERGIUS AND BACCHUS
(Oct. 7/20)
About the Reasons Why Christians Should Ever Rejoice in the Lord
Brothers and sisters,
In course of time, it happens that many of the saints who were once among the most highly venerated fade into relative obscurity and are replaced in popular esteem by others. One of the clearest examples of this is Saint Thecla, first of the female martyrs, whose image adorns the north wall of our temple’s nave. She was once fervently revered throughout the Christian world, but today few know much about her. Two others are Sergius and Bacchus, the chief saints we commemorate today. They were high officials and eminent nobles at the court of the persecutor Maximian. A splendid church in Constantinople dedicated to these martyrs and built during the reign of Emperor Justinian survives in excellent condition to the present, although as a mosque. It is often called “Little Ayia Sophya” because it bears a resemblance to the great church of Agia Sophia, from which it is separated only by some hundreds of yards.
Sergius and Bacchus were secret Christians betrayed to Emperor Maximian by courtiers jealous of their favored position. However, because of his affection for the saints, Maximian could not bring himself to put them to death personally; therefore, he delivered them into the hands of one Antiochus, a governor. When Antiochus failed to persuade Sergius and Bacchus to worship the heathen gods, he subjected them to the ferocious tortures for which the pagan Romans were notorious. Bacchus, first to suffer, gave up the ghost amid torments when his belly was split open.
During the night following the day of his death, Saint Bacchus appeared in celestial glory to Sergius in the dungeon where the latter was being held. Bacchus assured Sergius that he had been translated to the realm of eternal rejoicing and encouraged his friend, urging him to embrace manfully the torture awaiting him. Saint Bacchus’ appearance greatly gladdened Sergius, who spent the rest of the night hymning the Lord with a cheerful heart.
The next day came Sergius’ turn to suffer. Shod in sandals with long sharp nails reaching up through the soles and piercing his feet, Sergius walked for two days to the town of Rozapha, joyously chanting psalms and reciting prayers. Upon reaching his destination, the saint was beheaded.
From this brief summary of the passion of the holy martyrs Sergius and Bacchus, is it not clear, dear brothers and sisters, that even when anticipating or suffering the most terrible tortures, the saints found cause to rejoice in the Lord? And is it not clear from it that amid difficult no less than easy circumstances, we too ought to be able to find good reasons for similar rejoicing? Wherefore, dear Christians, let us focus our thoughts and consider what might be some of those reasons, so that when we face temptations and trials (as inevitably we must), we will remember causes for Christian joy and summon them to our aid.
The very first and foremost wellspring of such joy is the recollection of God’s love for us. As the beloved Apostle John the Theologian puts it: In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because God sent His Only-Begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him[1] and that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.[2] In this connection we should recollect all the wonderful things the Son of God has done for the sake of our salvation. By His luminous, divine teaching He has enlightened our minds, dispelling the gloom of pagan error and pouring out upon the world true knowledge of God; by His most holy life He has provided us the perfect example of perfect holiness. On the Cross He offered up His life for the sins of the whole world,[3] cleansing our transgressions with His blood and reconciling us to our Heavenly Father. By His Resurrection He has granted us life eternal, and by His glorious Ascension He has opened for us the path to heaven.
Bringing to mind these things, beloved Christians, how can we not thank and bless the Lord? How can we not rise above every sorrow?
Redemption from sin, the conquest of death and Hades, the bestowal of everlasting life: these are the very greatest blessings possible, for they are celestial blessings. But besides this, the Lord in His providence also provides continuous earthly care for us, even in the littlest things. As He assured His apostles: Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? Yet one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.[4] Lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world,[5] He says in another place; meaning, He is with every generation of Christians, as He was with the apostles, to whom He was speaking. The same all-embracing care the Lord had for His closest disciples, He has for each of us, on both the spiritual and the material planes. Is this not another wonderful cause for rejoicing by the Christian soul?
Finally, let us consider more closely what the promise of eternal life entails. It means that when our bodies are laid in the grave, our souls will continue to live, for Christ states that God is not a God of the dead, but of the living: for all live unto Him.[6] Yet this is not the end of it: the Lord also explains that at His return – at His Second Coming – the corpses of the reposed will be restored to life, and the righteous will hear the beloved voice of the Judge declare, Come, ye blessed of My Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.[7] The saved will be clad in celestial glory and will shine forth as the sun;[8] they will surround the throne of God and will forevermore gaze upon the Lord face to face, enjoying a state of contemplative bliss such as eye hath not seen, nor ear heard.[9] What is more, they will not only behold the glory of the Lord, but will be utterly filled with it. And this – forever and ever!
Therefore, how can we not rejoice, dear brothers and sisters, amid trials and temptations, knowing – even if only in part – the things that God hath prepared for them that love Him?
But remember too that Christ has redeemed us from sin and death so that we, having been delivered from sin, should live unto righteousness.[10] The Saviour cares for us in His providence and sheds His saving grace upon us namely so that denying ungodliness and worldly desires, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world.[11] God has foreordained all Christians to eternal blessedness in the Kingdom of heaven, but He grants that blessedness only to the worthy; meaning, to the pure in heart, to those who hunger and thirst after righteousness , and to those who struggle to attain Christian virtues and become partakers of the divine nature.[12] As for the unrighteous, the Scriptures repeatedly testify that they shall not inherit the Kingdom of God.[13]
O Lord Jesus Christ, Who on the sixth day and at the sixth hour didst nail to the Cross the sin that Adam dared to commit in paradise, and Who didst rend also the handwriting of our sin, grant us remembrance of Thy countless temporal and celestial blessings, and the fullness of Thy supernal peace and joy on every day and at every hour of our life! Amen.
[1] I John 4:9
[2] John 3:16
[3] I John 2:2
[4] Matt. 10:29-31
[5] Matt. 28:20
[6] Luke 20:38
[7] Matt. 25:34
[8] Matt. 13:43
[9] I Cor. 2:9
[10] I Pet. 2:24
[11] Titus 2:12
[12] II Pet. 1:4
[13] I Cor. 6:9
