Saints Sergius and Bacchus.

          

Saints Sergius and Bacchos.
Byzantine icon,  Monastery of Saint Catherine, Sinai.

          Saints Sergius and Bacchus, were officers of high rank in the "Schola Gentilium" which was an equestrian body of men from all races. Sergius was one of the commanding officers of that equestrian body, and Bacchus was his second in command. According to their official functions and to their direct relation with the Emperor whose trust they had gained, these two young officers of high rank enjoyed great influence at the palace, and their prestige was felt in all the Orient, so much so that Antiochus, the commanding officer had been appointed to his post thanks to the influence of Saint Sergius.

          We do not know whether Saints Sergius and Bacchus were born Christians; but it is certain that they were so when they commanded that equestrian body. They had news about the martyrs, and listened to their stories with emotion. They may have seen martyrs being tormented, condemned and put to death; and it is possible that some of these military martyrs were their comrades.

          It is certain that there were many jealous fanatic pagans, or weak people paid by the authorities, who were ready to denounce the Christians to their persecutors. The Emperor learned that his devoted friends, these faithful military chiefs, these noble figures so familiar to him, whom he fully trusted, were Christians.

Saint Éliane de Homs. Anargyre et martyr du III siècle.

Le récit le plus complet de la vie de saint Éliane est rédigé en arabe et compris dans le manuscrit n° 652 de la Bibliothèque de l'Université Saint- Joseph de Beyrouth, lui-même la copie d'un texte plus ancien établi à l'intention de J. van Kasteren S.J., en 1860. 

Ce récit nous apprend que saint Éliane était le rejeton d'une famille notable de Homs. Doué de multiples vertus, il pratiquait la médecine non seulement pour guérir le corps de ses prochains, mais pour soigner leur âme aussi. En même temps, il pratiquait la charité, prenant sur le superflu qu'il trouvait dans la maison de son père. Celui-ci, grand dignitaire du duc (douqs, et dans la version arabe wâli) de Homs et portant un nom orthographié de maintes manières (Hastaris, Hattâris ou Fastâris) était idolâtre, donc ennemi naturel de la doctrine que son fils confessait. Le conflit devait éclater sous Numérien, cet empereur éphémère, débonnaire et ami du poète Némésien , mais persécuteur des chrétiens.