SERGIO and BACCO, saints, martyrs. - Greatly venerated in antiquity in the East; their names appear in the Hieronymian Martyrology; in the Roman liturgical books they occur only in the 11th century. Feast on 7 October, among both Greeks and Latins.
Of Roman origin, they were soldiers and served in the palace of Massimiano. When the persecution broke out, they were invited to apostatize; but, since they refused, they were degraded and, in mockery, led about the city in women’s clothing. Entrusted to the prefect of the East, Antioco, they were subjected to cruel torments, during which B. died. S. was taken to Rosàfa and there, when all threats and blandishments to make him sacrifice proved vain, he was beheaded. A Basilica was built over his tomb, which soon became a destination for pilgrimages and the centre of an urban settlement that took from the martyr the name Sergiopoli. Many other churches were built in their honour, both in the East and in the West. During the Byzantine period the two martyrs were venerated and invoked as protectors of the army. In Rome, under the pontificate of Adriano I, diaconia (v.) dedicated to the two martyrs. Their Passio is legendary.