My Dear Brothers and Sisters

Sa i n t s Sa r k i s & Ba k h o sFe a s t Da y 7 Oc t o b e rBo t h Sarkis and Bakhos were officers in the army of Emperor CaesarMaximian - Sarkis being a Primicerius (Commander) of therecruits school of the army, and Bakhos being the Secundarius(Subaltern Officer). Sarkis was also a personal friend of theemperor. Both had distinguished themselves in militaryservice, despite both being Christian converts (allegedlythrough the miracles of Saint Peter).Certain of Sarkis and Bakhos’ associates were jealous oftheir position of closeness to the emperor and accused themin front of the emperor of being Christians who would notoffer praise or worship to Roman gods. Maximian’s responsewas quick and clear, he ordered them to the temple of Zeusto offer sacrifices but when they failed to come, claiming thatthey offer sacrifices only to the Living God, he gave theirpositions to their accusers and ordered them to be strippedof their robes and symbols of authority, dressed in women’sclothing and paraded through the streets, before being despatchedto Antiochus, governor of Augusto-Euphrates.Antiochus put them to trial. They were imprisoned, to allow them timeto recant, but in the military prison theyprayed together to confirm their faith andask for the strength to undergo the hardshipsthey knew would follow. Maximian sentthem a letter which read: “If you will nowobey me and sacrifice to the gods to earntheir goodwill, you could earn even greaterhonour and glory than before, and receiveback your military rank and more besides”.The two men stood fast in their resolve.“We have left all and followed Christ...Do, therefore, what you will; we will notsacrifice to wood, nor worship stones”. Thisenraged Antiochus, who ordered that Sarkisbe thrown back into prison, whilst Bakhos would be flogged.Bakhos was taken outside by Antiochus’ men, who whipped him untilthey themselves were exhausted. Their accuser then ordered that he beturned over and beaten with whips of rawhide. This torture went onfor hours, from the first hour until the evening - until “they woreaway his flesh; blood flowed everywhere” and his internal injurieskilled him.It is said that at the moment of his death a voice was heard fromHeaven saying “Come, rest henceforth in the kingdom preparedfor you, my noble athlete and soldier, Bakhos.” Antiochus, furiousthat he had failed, denied him a decent burial, decreeing that hebe left for the wild animals and dogs. The dogs and animals came,but were driven off by birds until local monks could collect hisremains, and bury them in a cave. The date of his martyrdom is1 October, 290.Meantime, Sarkis was told of his friend’s grisly end, and bemoanedhis fate and his loneliness until visited by his companion’s spirit, whoencouraged him to continue until the bitter end. Antiochus decided thathe would offer Sarkis another chance, and took him to Souros to offer sacrificeSaints celebrated in October’s Maronite CalendarDay Feast Letter Gospel1 St Theresa of the Infant Jesus (Confessor) Eph. 3:13-21 Lk. 12:6-102 St Cyprien & Justina (Martyrs) Heb. 10:23-39 Mt. 24:3-144 St Francis of Issisi (Confessor) Gal. 6:11-18 Mt. 11:25-307 St Sarkis & Bakhos (Martyrs) 2 Cor. 4:7-15 Mk 13:9-139 The Apostle James, Lord's Brother 2 Cor. 5:20-6:7 Lk. 6:12-1912 St Edna (Confessor) Heb. 7:11-17 Jn 15:1-814 St Isaiah the Monk (Confessor) Rom. 6:18-23 Mt. 10:28-3315 St Theresa of Avila (Confessor) Rom. 8:22-27 Lk. 10:38-4218 The Evangelist Luke 2 Cor. 8:16-22 Lk. 10:1-720 St Challita (Martyr) Phil. 1:21-30 Mt. 5:1-12but again, Sarkis declined.Finally, his fate was determined.Antiochus arranged for nailsto be driven into Sarkis shoes,and he was forced to run thenine miles (14km) to Rosafae,where he was finally gagged tostop his incessant witness toJesus, and taken outside, wherehe was beheaded. The date was7th October, 6 days after hiscompanion’s death.