HYMN OF PRAISE The Holy Martyrs Sergius and Bacchus Author: Ted Fusby (1943 - living) USA The royal men, Sergius and Bacchus Served the King, but not the earthly one- Rather, Jesus, the Immortal King. The earthly king mocked the saints And removed the belts from their waists, But the Lord girded them with strength. The emperor removed their noblemen's togas, But the Savior clothed them more beautifully In an incorrupt garment of immortality; The emperor removed their rings from their right hands, But the Lord gave them far more glorious ones, In betrothing their souls to Himself. The emperor banished them from his court, But God welcomed them into the heavenly courts. The earth tortured these knights of Christ, The earth tortured them, but heaven gave them repose. Decay rejects purity, Evil rejects goodness, But Saints Bacchus and Sergius Returned all earthliness to the earth, And gave their holy souls over to God! Though exiled from the earthly kingdom, They illumine the earth even now; By their suffering, they conquered malice; By their death for the Cross, they are glorified. As victors over the powers of darkness, They show us the path to victory. Serbian Orthodox Church Diocese of Western America

HYMN TO STS SERGIUS AND BACCHUS Unknown - (If you have data and/or a better picture of these icons, please send us an e-mail. Thank you) Of Sergius and Bacchus, the pair Filled with grace, let us sing, O ye faithful! Glory to Him who worketh through his saints amazing and wonderful deeds! From a sixth century Greek hymn

HYMN TO STS SERGIUS AND BACCHUS Reading: These holy Martyrs were Romans of high rank in the service of the Emperor Maximian, to whom it was reported that they did not take part in the festivals of the idols. When he called them into his presence, they confessed their Faith in the one God. He had them arrayed in women's clothes and paraded through the streets in mockery. They were afterwards scourged, from which Saint Bacchus died. This was about the year 296. Saint Sergius was then taken to Resapha in Syria, where he was tortured and beheaded. His tomb in Resapha became a very famous shrine, to which pilgrims came from as far away as Western Europe; Resapha was later renamed Sergiopolis in his honour. Apolytikion in the Fourth Tone Thy Martyrs, O Lord, in their courageous contest for Thee received as the prize the crowns of incorruption and life from Thee, our immortal God. For since they possessed Thy strength, they cast down the tyrants and wholly destroyed the demons' strengthless presumption. O Christ God, by their prayers, save our souls, since Thou art merciful. Kontakion in the Third Tone As we gather, let us crown with sacred hymns of laudation those two brethren in the Faith, the great and valorous martyrs: Sergius was the Triune Godhead's most steadfast warrior; and with him, wise Bacchus manfully suffered torments; and they both confessed Christ Saviour as God, the Maker and sacred Trainer of all. From the Holy Transfiguration Monastery

PRAYER TO STS SERGIUS AND BACCHUS Saints Sarkis and Bakhos, the martyrs who knew the Christianity with the grace of the Lord, and believed in his Son Jesus Christ. You were the commanders in the Roman army, where you prayed to the Lord and your friends worshiping the pagan gods. And when they discovered that you were Christians, you were ordered to deny Jesus, you refused and you declared that you worship Jesus only and him only you adore, you died as martyrs for your love for Jesus. We ask you to intercede for us with God our Lord. Be an example of courage and obedience, and teach us to long for the heaven similar to you. And as you loved Jesus and bear witness to him in front of kings and governors, bestowing your lives because of your love for him, we ask you to pray for us that we also love Jesus and bear witnesses to him with our acts in front of everyone. Renew our Christian people in the East, and sow the seeds of faith in their hearts. Let your blood that was shed on the lake of Forat, be a pledge for a new covenant and new peace for the Church , so we can glorify God our Lord with you forever and ever. Amen. From the Maronite Church Book of Prayers (Icon data unknown)

A CONTEMPORARY ICON Anthony Gayton (1968 - living) Devon - U.K.

ANOTHER CONTEMPORARY ICON by Eshto (living) - U.S.A. Digital Art http://eshto.deviantart.com/